Kurt Waldheim

Kurt Waldheim (born December 21, 1918) is an Austrian diplomat and conservative politician. He was Secretary-General of the United Nations from 1972 to 1981, and Federal President of Austria from 1986 to 1992.

Related Topics:
December 21 - 1918 - Austria - Diplomat - Politician - Secretary-General - United Nations - 1972 - 1981 - Federal President of Austria - 1986 - 1992

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Born at St. Andrä-Wördern near Vienna, Waldheim served as a German military officer during World War II. In 1945, he surrendered to British forces in Carinthia, at which point he said he had fled his command (Heeresgruppe D), where he was serving with General Löhr, who was seeking a special deal with the British. Questions were later raised about Waldheim's truthfulness as to his World War II service (see "The Waldheim Affair," below).

Related Topics:
St. Andrä-Wördern - Vienna - World War II - Carinthia

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Waldheim joined the Austrian diplomatic service in 1945, after finishing his studies in law at the University of Vienna. He served as First Secretary of the Legation in Paris from 1948, and in the Ministry for Foreign Affairs in Vienna from 1951 to 1956. In 1956 he was made Ambassador to Canada, returning to the Ministry in 1960, after which he became the Permanent Representative of Austria to the United Nations in 1964. For two years beginning in 1968, he was the Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs in Austria serving for the Austrian People's Party, before going back as Permanent Representative to the U.N. in 1970. He was defeated in the Austrian presidential elections in 1971, but was then elected to succeed U Thant as United Nations Secretary-General the same year (Video of Kurt Waldheim sworn in as UN-Secretary-General). He was re-elected in 1976 despite some opposition. In 1981, his bid for a third term was blocked by a veto by China, and he was succeeded by Javier Pérez de Cuéllar of Peru.

Related Topics:
1945 - University of Vienna - Paris - 1948 - 1951 - 1956 - Canada - 1960 - United Nations - 1964 - 1968 - Austrian People's Party - 1970 - 1971 - U Thant - United Nations Secretary-General - 1976 - 1981 - Veto - China - Javier Pérez de Cuéllar - Peru

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