Klaus Pielert: The new image of Germany, 1971
© Stiftung Haus der Geschichte der Bundesrepublik Deutschland
Willy Brandt
born 18.12.1913 in Lübeck, died 8.10.1992 in Unkel/Rhein
Willy Brandt was forced to emigrate in 1933 and worked in resistance movements
against National Socialism in various countries until 1945. He was elected to the
Bundestag as an SPD Member in 1949. From 1957 to 1966, he was Governing
Mayor of Berlin. In the "Grand Coalition" he was Foreign Minister from 1966 to 1969.
The first SPD-led federal government was formed in 1969 with Brandt as Chancellor.
Brandt adopted a new approach to detente and ostpolitik and was awarded the
Nobel Peace Prize in 1971. He resigned as Chancellor three years later when his
close associate Günter Guillaume was revealed to be a GDR spy. He remained party
chairman, a position he had held since 1964, until 1987.
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