Konrad Adenauer

Became West Germany's first Chancellor at seventy-three and led West Germany into the Western fold.

Life

Mayor of Cologne

Adenauer was a Catholic Center Party politician and served as Mayor of Cologne from 1917 to 1933. After the Nazi seizure of power he was removed from office and arrested twice.

Western integration

After the war he founded the Christian Democratic Union. When West Germany was established in 1949, he was elected its first Chancellor at seventy-three and held the office until 1963. He insisted on alliance with the West, brought West Germany into NATO and the European Coal and Steel Community, reconciled with France and in 1963 signed the Élysée Treaty with de Gaulle; under his leadership West Germany achieved its "economic miracle."

Franco-German reconciliation

In 1955 he visited Moscow and secured the release of the last German prisoners of war. He died in 1967.

Legacy

Adenauer is regarded as the father of West Germany and one of the founders of European integration.

Did you know? He was already over seventy when he became chancellor, and people called him "the Old Man" (Der Alte).

Key dates

• 1917Mayor of Cologne
• 1933Removed from office by the Nazis
• 1949Becomes West Germany's first Chancellor
• 1955Visits Moscow; secures return of POWs
• 1963Signs the Élysée Treaty; leaves office
• 1967Died