Werner Maihofer
Encyclopedia
Werner Maihofer was a German
jurist
and legal philosopher. He served as Germany's Federal Minister of the Interior
from 1974–1978 until he resigned after a scandal involving an illegal wiretapping of Klaus Traube
.
in Garmisch-Partenkirchen
. Maihofer served in the Wehrmacht
in World War II
. He studied law at the University of Freiburg
, and received his Doctor of Laws degree in 1950. Maihofer gained his habilitation
in 1953 and eventually obtained a professorship at the University of Saarbrücken.
Maihofer did not join the Free Democratic Party
until 1969. One of the leaders of thought of social liberalism
in Germany, he co-authored the Freiburg theses alongside Karl-Hermann Flach
and Walter Scheel
in 1971. In 1974, he succeeded Hans-Dietrich Genscher
as Federal Ministry of the Interior, and—during the German Autumn
—had to back several restraints of civil liberty.
, a nuclear industrialist, was sympathetic to groups opposed to nuclear power. He was suspected of passing secret information to left-wing radicals. In 1975, in a covert operation called "Operation Müll" ("operation trash"), the BND
, under the supervision of Maihofer planted a number of wiretaps in Traube's home. They also later informed his employer who, as a result, dismissed him. This illegal operation was uncovered in 1977 by the magazine Der Spiegel
. Maihofer resigned from his office in 1978, after taking responsibility for the illegal wiretapping. Maihofer returned to his chair at the University of Bielefeld which he held since 1970.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
jurist
Jurist
A jurist or jurisconsult is a professional who studies, develops, applies, or otherwise deals with the law. The term is widely used in American English, but in the United Kingdom and many Commonwealth countries it has only historical and specialist usage...
and legal philosopher. He served as Germany's Federal Minister of the Interior
Federal Ministry of the Interior (Germany)
The Federal Ministry of the Interior is a ministry of the German federal government. Its main office is in Berlin, with a secondary seat in Bonn. The current minister of the interior is Dr...
from 1974–1978 until he resigned after a scandal involving an illegal wiretapping of Klaus Traube
Klaus Traube
Klaus Traube is a German engineer and former manager in the German nuclear power industry and presently one of its leading opponents...
.
Biography
An avid speed skater in his youth, Maihofer was a member of the German national team at the 1936 Winter OlympicsSpeed skating at the 1936 Winter Olympics
At the 1936 Winter Olympics, four speed skating events were contested. The competitions were held on Tuesday, February 11, 1936, Wednesday, February 12, 1936, Thursday, February 13, 1936, and on Friday, February 14, 1936.-Medal summary:...
in Garmisch-Partenkirchen
Garmisch-Partenkirchen
Garmisch-Partenkirchen is a mountain resort town in Bavaria, southern Germany. It is the administrative centre of the district of Garmisch-Partenkirchen, in the Oberbayern region, and the district is on the border with Austria...
. Maihofer served in the Wehrmacht
Wehrmacht
The Wehrmacht – from , to defend and , the might/power) were the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany from 1935 to 1945. It consisted of the Heer , the Kriegsmarine and the Luftwaffe .-Origin and use of the term:...
in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. He studied law at the University of Freiburg
University of Freiburg
The University of Freiburg , sometimes referred to in English as the Albert Ludwig University of Freiburg, is a public research university located in Freiburg im Breisgau, Baden-Württemberg, Germany.The university was founded in 1457 by the Habsburg dynasty as the...
, and received his Doctor of Laws degree in 1950. Maihofer gained his habilitation
Habilitation
Habilitation is the highest academic qualification a scholar can achieve by his or her own pursuit in several European and Asian countries. Earned after obtaining a research doctorate, such as a PhD, habilitation requires the candidate to write a professorial thesis based on independent...
in 1953 and eventually obtained a professorship at the University of Saarbrücken.
Maihofer did not join the Free Democratic Party
Free Democratic Party (Germany)
The Free Democratic Party , abbreviated to FDP, is a centre-right classical liberal political party in Germany. It is led by Philipp Rösler and currently serves as the junior coalition partner to the Union in the German federal government...
until 1969. One of the leaders of thought of social liberalism
Social liberalism
Social liberalism is the belief that liberalism should include social justice. It differs from classical liberalism in that it believes the legitimate role of the state includes addressing economic and social issues such as unemployment, health care, and education while simultaneously expanding...
in Germany, he co-authored the Freiburg theses alongside Karl-Hermann Flach
Karl-Hermann Flach
Karl-Hermann Flach was a German journalist of the Frankfurter Rundschau and a politician of the liberal Free Democrats ....
and Walter Scheel
Walter Scheel
Walter Scheel is a German politician . He served as Federal Minister of Economic Cooperation and Development from 1961 to 1966, Foreign Minister of Germany and Vice Chancellor from 1969 to 1974, acting Chancellor of Germany from 7 May to 16 May 1974 , and finally as President of the Federal...
in 1971. In 1974, he succeeded Hans-Dietrich Genscher
Hans-Dietrich Genscher
Hans-Dietrich Genscher is a German politician of the liberal Free Democratic Party . He served as Foreign Minister and Vice Chancellor of Germany from 1974 to 1982 and, after a two-week pause, from 1982 to 1992, making him Germany's longest serving Foreign Minister and Vice Chancellor...
as Federal Ministry of the Interior, and—during the German Autumn
German Autumn
The German Autumn was a set of events in late 1977, associated with the kidnapping and murder of industrialist Hanns-Martin Schleyer, President of the Confederation of German Employers' Associations and the Federation of German Industries , by the Red Army Faction , and the hijacking of the...
—had to back several restraints of civil liberty.
Illegal wiretapping
During the German Autumn the Red Army Fraction increased their activities. Suspected contacts were monitored in the hope of gaining information that might lead to the capture of the militants. Klaus TraubeKlaus Traube
Klaus Traube is a German engineer and former manager in the German nuclear power industry and presently one of its leading opponents...
, a nuclear industrialist, was sympathetic to groups opposed to nuclear power. He was suspected of passing secret information to left-wing radicals. In 1975, in a covert operation called "Operation Müll" ("operation trash"), the BND
BND
BND may stand for:* Bundesnachrichtendienst, German intelligence agency* Bank of North Dakota* Buy Nothing Day* Brunei dollar * BTEC National Diploma...
, under the supervision of Maihofer planted a number of wiretaps in Traube's home. They also later informed his employer who, as a result, dismissed him. This illegal operation was uncovered in 1977 by the magazine Der Spiegel
Der Spiegel
Der Spiegel is a German weekly news magazine published in Hamburg. It is one of Europe's largest publications of its kind, with a weekly circulation of more than one million.-Overview:...
. Maihofer resigned from his office in 1978, after taking responsibility for the illegal wiretapping. Maihofer returned to his chair at the University of Bielefeld which he held since 1970.