Konrad Adenauer
- Born:
- January 5, 1876, Cologne, Germany
- Died:
- April 19, 1967, Rhöndorf, West Germany
- Nationality:
- German
- Profession(s):
- Politician, Lawyer
Early Life and Education
- Studied law and political science at the Universities of Freiburg, Munich, and Bonn.
- Began his legal career in Cologne in 1901.
Career and Major Achievements
- Served as Deputy Mayor of Cologne from 1909 to 1917.
- Mayor of Cologne from 1917 to 1933.
- Konrad Adenauer in 1932 alone some 30 percent of the city's budget was going to social welfare, as mayor he tried to keep the city afloat during the hyperinflation.
- Removed from office by the Nazis in 1933.
- Imprisoned briefly after the failed July 20, 1944, plot against Hitler.
- Co-founder and first leader of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU).
- First Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany) from 1949 to 1963.
- Oversaw West Germany's reconstruction and integration into Western Europe.
- Played a key role in the establishment of the European Economic Community (EEC).
Legacy and Impact
Konrad Adenauer is considered one of the founding fathers of post-war Germany. His leadership was instrumental in the country's economic recovery, democratic development, and integration into the Western alliance.
Notable Works
- Erinnerungen 1945-1953 (Memoirs 1945-1953)
- Erinnerungen 1953-1955 (Memoirs 1953-1955)
- Erinnerungen 1955-1959 (Memoirs 1955-1959)