Biography of Konrad Adenauer

Visions of a future European Teutonic

5 January 1876 19 April 1967 Konrad Hermann Josef Adenauer was born in Cologne (Germany) on 5 January 1876. Son of a wealthy civil servant, he studied law and Economics in Freiburg, Munich and Bonn. Young lawyer, enters in the judiciary and at the age of twenty he started to devote himself to public activity by joining the Center (Catholic party) and became part of the administration of the colony. He was elected Mayor of the city and he is from 1917 to 1933, helping to promote the economic and cultural development, establishing a new University, supporting the building of the motorway Cologne-Bonn and the international fair. Member and President of the Council of State of Prussia loses every charge with the Nazis and, in June 1934, he was arrested on suspicion of involvement in subversive conspiracy. Released, he retired to private life for ten years. Adenauer back to political activity and, following the failed assassination attempt on Hitler of July 20, 1944, imprisoned twice, albeit for short periods of time. At the end of the war was again appointed mayor of Cologne, a position he held until October 1945, when removed for decision by the British Government. That same year he was one of the founders of the Christian Democratic Union (Cdu) party heir and continuator of the Center, which will be President from 1950 to 1966. Anticommunist and without ties to the Nazis, when, in 1949, West Germany, the occupying powers is created the nominated Chancellor of the new State. Keep this charge through three successive elections, until 1963, leading a coalition Government consisting of the Cdu, the Christian Social Union and Liberals. From 1951 to 1955 is also Foreign Minister. In recent years, increasingly concerned to enter the Federal Republic of Germany in the political context of the Western world, with the aim of making Germany the West a bastion to contain Soviet expansion in Europe. To this end, tighten relations with the United States, start a policy of reconciliation with France and encourages the country's entry into NATO. Within this political and economic rehabilitation plan of the Federal Republic internationally, Adenauer also strives to promote the realization of the European Economic Community or common market. Manages the aim, by among other things end with France a Treaty of cooperation solemnly celebrated in the Cathedral of Reims in July 1962, but his policies also creates the malcontents within his own party and, in 1963, at the age of 87 years was forced to resign and retire to private life. Konrad Adenauer died in Bad Honnef on April 19, 1967 at the age of 91 years. His memoirs are collected in four volumes of 1965 and 1967 Erinnerungen, composed between the

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