Erich Ollenhauer

Erich Ollenhauer (March 27 1901 – December 14 1963) was the leader of the Social Democratic Party of Germany 1952-1963.

Leadership of the SPD

After Schumacher's unexpected death in 1952, the SPD elected Ollenhauer as its leader. He ran as the SPD's candidate for Chancellor of Germany in the 1953- and 1957 German elections, both of which were lost to Konrad Adenauer's CDU.

Related Topics:
1952 - Chancellor of Germany - 1953- - 1957 German elections - Konrad Adenauer - CDU

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In 1957 Ollenhauer called for a trans-European security alliance (in place of NATO and the Warsaw Pact), in which a reunified Germany would serve as an equal partner. While the plan was denounced as radical at the time, it helped pave the way for Brandt's Ostpolitik as well as indirectly influencing some developments within the European Union (such as a European common security policy), not to mention German unification. Ollenhauer's proposal is also known as the Ollenhauer Plan.

Related Topics:
NATO - Warsaw Pact - Brandt - Ostpolitik - European Union - European common security policy - German unification - Ollenhauer Plan

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In 1961 Ollenhauer neglected to run for Chancellor a third time, instead supporting the candidacy of Berlin mayor Willy Brandt.

Related Topics:
1961 - Berlin - Willy Brandt

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Ollenhauer died on December 14 1963.

Related Topics:
December 14 - 1963

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