Willy Brandt

Willy Brandt (18 December 1913 – 8 October 1992) was a German chancellor from 1969 until 1974. He was born Herbert Ernst Karl Frahm in Lübeck, Germany. He was the leader of the Social Democratic Party of Germany 1964–1987 and winner of the Nobel Peace Prize (1971). He died on 8 October 1992 in Unkel on the Rhine.

 Biography 
He was born as son of Martha Frahm and John Möller in 1913 in Lübeck. He never met his father and grew up with his mother and his grandfather.

He fled to Norway when the Nazis took over government in Germany. He led a contact office for the resistance against the Nazi regime. After he lost his German citizenship, he became Norwegian. The Germans arrested him when they occupied Norway. He fled to Sweden. In 1945, Brandt returned to Germany as writer for Scandinavian newspapers.

He was married three times:
 Carlotta Thorkildsen - 1940 to 1948
 Rut (Hansen) Bergaust - 1948 to 1980
 Ruth Seebacher - 1983 to 1992

 Political life 
His political career started in 1948. He became a representative for the SPD in the Bundestag for a district of Berlin. He was member of the state parliament of Berlin from 1950 until 1971.

He became president of the Parliament of Berlin (1955) and Mayor of Berlin (1957). Willy Brandt started to campaign for the position as Chancellor (Bundeskanzler) for the Social Democrats (SPD) in 1961. In 1966, he became Vice-Chancellor of the "Grand Coalition" of SPD and the Christian Democratic Union of Germany (CDU) under Chancellor Kurt Georg Kiesinger. He started the social-liberal coalition between the SPD and the Free Democratic Party of Germany (FDP). Willy Brandt became Chancellor in 1969.

He made many changes in several political areas. For example:

Societal policies

 The right to vote at the age of 18 was introduced.The Man Who Built the Berlin Wall
The Rise and Fall of Erich Honecker By Nathan Morley, 2023, P.112

 Efforts to remove the inferior status of women were made.Germany Since 1815: A Nation Forged and Renewed by David G. Williamson

 More rights at work for employees were granted through a new Works Constitution Act.DER SPIEGEL 16/1972 »Anders als zu Kaisers und zu Katzers Zeiten«, 09.04.1972

 A modernization of the criminal law was carried out. The criminal law was also made more humane.Germany Since 1815: A Nation Forged and Renewed by David G. Williamson

 Laws against homosexuality were relaxed.Germany Since 1815: A Nation Forged and Renewed by David G. Williamson

 Environmental protection laws were introduced. The Man Who Built the Berlin Wall The Rise and Fall of Erich Honecker By Nathan Morley, 2023, P.112

 Censorship was relaxed.Germany Since 1815: A Nation Forged and Renewed by David G. Williamson

Educational policies

 Fees were eliminated while new higher education institutions were established.Socialists in the Recession: The Search for Solidarity by Radice, Giles; Radice, Lisanne, P.18

 The number of scholarships was increased.The Velvet Chancellors: A History of Post-war Germany by Terence Prittie, P.184 

 An Educational Support Law was introduced in 1971 that provided grants to students from lower income groups.Germany Since 1815: A Nation Forged and Renewed by David G. Williamson

 The school leaving age was raised to 16. This allowed for 10 years of compulsory schooling.The Velvet Chancellors: A History of Post-war Germany by Terence Prittie, P.184 

Housing policies

 New housing legislation was introduced that improved protection for tenants and procedures for rent control.The Federal Republic of Germany: The End of an Era edited by Ewa Kolinsky, P.229

 A new Housing Benefit was introduced, aimed at providing better economic security for low-income tenants.DeutscherBundestag 151. Sitzung Bonn, Donnerstag, den 11. November 1971, P.8699

 A long-term housebuilding programme was launched in 1971.Verhandlungen des Deutschen Bundestages Stenographische Berichte · Volume 212 By Germany (West). Bundestag · 1975, P.1391

Health and welfare policies

 The costs of preventive measures were added to the obligations of sickness funds. The Federal Republic of Germany: The End of an Era edited by Ewa Kolinsky, P.229

 An expansion of social assistance was carried out.Politics of Segmentation: Party Competition and Social Protection in Europe By Georg Picot, P.58

 Legislation on hospital building, according to one study, “established a new system of joint funding of capital programmes according to explicit planning criteria.” The Federal Republic of Germany: The End of an Era edited by Ewa Kolinsky, P.229

 A Pension Reform Act was introduced in 1972 which, according to one study, “made the rights to a pension less dependent on past financial contributions.”Germany Since 1815: A Nation Forged and Renewed by David G. Williamson

 A flexible retirement age as introduced.The Federal Republic of Germany: The End of an Era edited by Ewa Kolinsky, P.229

 Dynamic state pensions for war victims were introduced.DER SPIEGEL 34/1971 Wenn's mies wird, 15.08.1971

 Low pensions were improved through “the employment of a notional minimum wage in the calculation procedure” according to one study.The Federal Republic of Germany: The End of an Era edited by Ewa Kolinsky, P.229

 The retirement age was reduced to 63 in 1973.Willy Brandt Life of a Statesman By Hélène Miard-Delacroix, 2016, P.147

 Health and Accident Insurance was made more effective.Germany Since 1815: A Nation Forged and Renewed by David G. Williamson

 More people became entitled to child benefit.DeutscherBundestag 151. Sitzung Bonn, Donnerstag, den 11. November 1971, P.8708

 Unemployment and family allowances were increased.Germany Since 1815: A Nation Forged and Renewed by David G. Williamson

Agricultural policies

 Various forms of assistance were provided to farmers. These included soft loans, high-quality seeds, financial grants and subsidies.

 Old age assistance for farmers was improved.Sozialpolitik:Mehr Recht am Arbeitsplatz 28. April 1972, 7:00 Uhr

 Water management and cultural building measures for peasants were strengthened.

 Health insurance for farmers was introduced.

 Sewage treatment measures were adopted to protect plantings.

 Agricultural information and advice was increased.

Military policies

 The position of non-commissioned officers was improved.Helmut Schmidt, West German chancellor – obituary 5:40PM GMT 10 Nov 2015

 Volunteers were attracted through measures such as improving barracks life.

 Measures were carried out to provide officers with an academic education.Helmut Schmidt Statesman, Strategist, Bundeswehr Reformer By Michael Staack, 2016, P.10

 Conscription was reduced to 18 months.Helmut Schmidt, West German chancellor – obituary 5:40PM GMT 10 Nov 2015

Foreign policies

 The New Eastern Politics of Western Germany.

He travelled to East Germany, Warsaw and Moscow to improve relationships. His acceptance the Oder-Neisse Line and many of controversies in the Parliament and society followed.

In 1971, he got the Nobel Peace Prize for his politics.

In 1972, Rainer Barzel of the CDU believed he could end the Brandt administration, but he failed to win the vote of no-confidence. Brandt was re-elected to a second term later that year. In 1974, Günther Guillaume who worked in Brandt's office was discovered to be a spy. Brandt resigned and Helmut Schmidt became chancellor.

Brandt stayed leader of the SPD, and later of the Socialist International too. He was member of the European Parliament from 1978 to 1983. He gave up the position as chief of the SPD in 1987. Willy Brandt died of colon cancer at his home in Unkel, a town on the River Rhine, on 8 October 1992, at the age of 78. He was given a state funeral and was buried at the cemetery at Zehlendorf in Berlin.

References

 Other websites 
 Biography of Willy Brandt
 New Berlin Airport to be named after Willy Brandt

Category:1913 births
Category:1992 deaths
Category:Chancellors of Germany
Category:Members of the German Bundestag
Category:German Nobel Prize winners
Category:Foreign ministers of Germany
Category:MEPs for Germany
Category:People from Lübeck
Category:Politicians from Schleswig-Holstein
Category:Politicians of the Social Democratic Party of Germany
Category:Recipients of the Decoration for Services to the Republic of Austria
Category:Socialist International
Category:Time People of the Year
Category:Vice Chancellors of Germany
Category:Nobel Peace Prize winners