Konrad Adenauer

Konrad Adenauer (January 5, 1876 – April 19, 1967) was a conservative German statesman. Although his political career spanned 60 years, beginning as early as 1906, he is most noted for his role as West Germany's first chancellor from 1949-1963 and chairman of the Christian Democratic Union from 1950 to 1966.

Political scandals

In 1962 a scandal erupted when police under cabinet orders arrested five Der Spiegel journalists, charging them with high treason, specifically for publishing a memo detailing alleged weaknesses in West German armed forces. The cabinet members, belonging to the Free Democratic Party, left their positions in November 1962, and Defense Minister Franz Josef Strauss, himself the chairman of the Christian Social Union, was dismissed, followed by the remaining Christian Democratic Union cabinet members. Adenauer managed to remain in office for almost another year, but was eventually forced to resign and was succeeded as Chancellor by Ludwig Erhard. He did remain chairman of the CDU until 1966.

Related Topics:
1962 - A scandal erupted - Police - Der Spiegel - High treason - Armed forces - Free Democratic Party - Franz Josef Strauss - Christian Social Union - Ludwig Erhard - 1966

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