Wilhelm Külz
Encyclopedia
Wilhelm Külz was a German
politician
(DDP, LDPD
). In 1926 he was interior minister of the Weimar Republic
. After 1945 he took actively part in establishing the LDPD. He founded the Berlin branch of LDPD in summer, 1945 and acted as the LDPD chairman after the initial leader Waldemar Koch
was deposed by Soviet orders.
On March 17, 1947 in a conference in Rothenburg ob der Tauber
Külz and Theodor Heuss
were elected co-chairmen of the planned German Democratic Party aimed at uniting liberals of both Soviet and West occupation zones.
These plans never realized, though, as Wilhelm Külz, unlike East German CDU
leader Jakob Kaiser
, participated in SED
-dominated German People's Congress for Unity and True Peace that took place on December 6, 1947. This brought about internal fights both within the LDPD as well as between East and West German partners of DPD. Although the LDPD leadership criticized that participation, it was unable to take any further steps demanded by the West German liberals.
On a session of the united leadership of DPD that took place on January 18, 1948 and which Külz refused to attend, Theodor Heuss
argued that Liberal Democrats' unwillingness to take any measures against Külz proved their commitment to 'the Russian conception of German unity'. Upon in, Arthur Lieutenant, the spokesman of LDPD on the matter, declared that under those circumstances and considering reproaches laid against East German liberals, no further co-operation was possible. This was in fact the end of DPD.
Together with Otto Nuschke
(CDU) and Wilhelm Pieck (SED), Wilhelm Külz led the German People's Council (Deutscher Volksrat), forerunner of Volkskammer
of GDR. From 1945 on, Külz was the publisher of LDPD daily Der Morgen.
Wilhelm-Külz-Stiftung, a foundation close to FDP, is named after him.
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...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
(DDP, LDPD
Liberal Democratic Party of Germany
The Liberal Democratic Party of Germany ) was a political party in East Germany. Like the other allied parties of the SED in the National Front it had 52 representatives in the Volkskammer.-Foundation:...
). In 1926 he was interior minister of the Weimar Republic
Weimar Republic
The Weimar Republic is the name given by historians to the parliamentary republic established in 1919 in Germany to replace the imperial form of government...
. After 1945 he took actively part in establishing the LDPD. He founded the Berlin branch of LDPD in summer, 1945 and acted as the LDPD chairman after the initial leader Waldemar Koch
Waldemar Koch
Waldemar Koch was a German liberal politician and economist.He was born in Bad Harzburg, Lower Saxony. Koch studied Economy and worked for years for AEG....
was deposed by Soviet orders.
On March 17, 1947 in a conference in Rothenburg ob der Tauber
Rothenburg ob der Tauber
Rothenburg ob der Tauber is a town in the district of Ansbach of Mittelfranken , the Franconia region of Bavaria, Germany, well known for its well-preserved medieval old town, a destination for tourists from around the world. In the Middle Ages, it was an Imperial Free City...
Külz and Theodor Heuss
Theodor Heuss
Theodor Heuss was a liberal German politician who served as the first President of the Federal Republic of Germany after World War II from 1949 to 1959...
were elected co-chairmen of the planned German Democratic Party aimed at uniting liberals of both Soviet and West occupation zones.
These plans never realized, though, as Wilhelm Külz, unlike East German CDU
Christian Democratic Union (East Germany)
The Christian Democratic Union of Germany ) was an East German political party founded in 1945. It was part of the National Front with the Socialist Unity Party of Germany until 1989....
leader Jakob Kaiser
Jakob Kaiser
Jakob Kaiser was a German politician and resistance leader during World War II.Jakob Kaiser was born in the Franconian town of Hammelburg. Following in his father’s footsteps, Kaiser began a career as a bookbinder...
, participated in SED
Socialist Unity Party of Germany
The Socialist Unity Party of Germany was the governing party of the German Democratic Republic from its formation on 7 October 1949 until the elections of March 1990. The SED was a communist political party with a Marxist-Leninist ideology...
-dominated German People's Congress for Unity and True Peace that took place on December 6, 1947. This brought about internal fights both within the LDPD as well as between East and West German partners of DPD. Although the LDPD leadership criticized that participation, it was unable to take any further steps demanded by the West German liberals.
On a session of the united leadership of DPD that took place on January 18, 1948 and which Külz refused to attend, Theodor Heuss
Theodor Heuss
Theodor Heuss was a liberal German politician who served as the first President of the Federal Republic of Germany after World War II from 1949 to 1959...
argued that Liberal Democrats' unwillingness to take any measures against Külz proved their commitment to 'the Russian conception of German unity'. Upon in, Arthur Lieutenant, the spokesman of LDPD on the matter, declared that under those circumstances and considering reproaches laid against East German liberals, no further co-operation was possible. This was in fact the end of DPD.
Together with Otto Nuschke
Otto Nuschke
Otto Nuschke was a German politician.Nuschke was born in Frohburg in the Kingdom of Saxony. In 1910 he was elected General Secretary of the liberal Progressive People's Party of Kassel...
(CDU) and Wilhelm Pieck (SED), Wilhelm Külz led the German People's Council (Deutscher Volksrat), forerunner of Volkskammer
Volkskammer
The People's Chamber was the unicameral legislature of the German Democratic Republic . From its founding in 1949 until the first free elections on 18 March 1990, all members of the Volkskammer were elected on a slate controlled by the Socialist Unity Party of Germany , called the National Front...
of GDR. From 1945 on, Külz was the publisher of LDPD daily Der Morgen.
Wilhelm-Külz-Stiftung, a foundation close to FDP, is named after him.