Fritz ERLER
Mitglied des Deutschen Bundestages

53 Bonn, den 3. Dezember 1966

Fernruf 2 06....2681

Die Wahl dieser Rufnummer vermittelt den gewünschten Hausanschluß.

Kommt ein Anschluß nicht zustande, bitte
Nr. 2061 (Bundeshaus-Vermittlung) anrufen.

DEC 7 1966

Herrn
Professor Henry A. KISSINGER,
Harvard University,
Center for International Affairs,

6 Divinity Avenue,
Cambridge, Mass. 02138

Lieber Freund Kissinger,

über Ihren Brief vom 22. November habe ich mich sehr gefreut.

Leider bin ich immer noch nicht aus der Klinik heraus, hoffe aber, es zu Weihnachten zu sein. Von dem Aufenthalt zuhause wird es dann abhängen, wann und wie ich meine Arbeit wieder aufnehmen kann.

Mit herzlichen Grüssen an Sie und meine zahlreichen Freunde in Ihrer Nähe

Ihr

SPECIAL REFLEX SPECIAL REFLEX

FRITZ ERLER

Stellvertretender Vorsitzender der Sozialdemokratischen Partei Deutschlands
Vorsitzender der SPD-Bundestagsfraktion

Träger des Großen Verdienstkreuzes mit Stern und Schulterband des
Verdienstordens der Bundesrepublik Deutschland

* 14. Juli 1913

† 22. Februar 1967

Die Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands und die Sozialdemokratische Bundestagsfraktion zeigen in tiefer Trauer den Tod ihres stellvertretenden Parteivorsitzenden und Fraktionsvorsitzenden, Fritz Erler, an.

Fritz Erler hat die Geschichte der modernen Sozialdemokratischen Partei Deutschlands entscheidend mitgeprägt. Er verkörperte ein Stück der Geschichte unserer Partei; der einfache Mann, der stolz auf seine Herkunft vom Prenzlauer Berg war und aus sich selbst so viel zu machen wußte. Der ungebrochen durch die dunkelsten Jahre in unserem Lande ging, der ihm zugefügtes Leid überwand und zu einem Mann wurde, der seinen großen Anteil hat an dem, was die Sozialdemokratische Fraktion im Deutschen Bundestag wurde.

Seine Arbeit in der Sozialdemokratischen Partei Deutschlands, im Bundestag und an vielen anderen Stellen hat maßgeblich dazu beigetragen, daß diese unsere Partei zum gestaltenden Faktor der deutschen Politik werden konnte. Sein Dienst am Volk ist noch größer, als es die hohen Ämter ahnen lassen, die er in unserer Partei innehatte. Im Ausland war er einer der glaubwürdigsten und wirksamsten Sprecher unseres Landes. Aufrecht und tapfer hat sich Fritz Erler stets für Freiheit und soziale Gerechtigkeit eingesetzt. Mutig bot er dem nationalsozialistischen Gewaltregime die Stirn und nahm dafür das schwere Schicksal der Verfolgung und den Verlust seiner Freiheit in Kauf.

Sein Leben war schöpferische Leistung für die Demokratie.

In dieser Stunde der tiefen Erschütterung angesichts des schweren Verlustes, den unser Volk und die Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands erlitten haben, gilt unser tiefes Mitgefühl seiner Frau und seinen Kindern.

Vorstand der Sozialdemokratischen
Partei Deutschlands

Willy Brandt
Herbert Wehner
Alfred Nau

SPD-Bundestagsfraktion

Helmut Schmidt
Egon Franke
Martin Hirsch
Dr. Alex Möller
Prof. Dr. Ernst Schellenberg

Bonn, den 22. Februar 1967

Der Herr Bundespräsident hat ein Staatsbegräbnis angeordnet. Die kirchliche Trauerfeier wird am Dienstag, dem 28. Februar 1967, um 11.30 Uhr von Bischof D. Hermann Kunst D. D. in der Schloßkirche in Pforzheim gehalten. Anschließend an den Trauergottesdienst erfolgen die feierliche Überführung und die Beisetzung auf dem Hauptfriedhof. Die Trauerfeier im Plenarsaal des Bundeshauses beginnt am Freitag, dem 24. Februar 1967, 11.00 Uhr. Freundlich zugedachte Blumenspenden werden zum Hauptfriedhof erbeten.

March 8, 1967

Mrs. Fritz Erler
Friedenstrasse 8
Pforzheim
Germany

Dear Mrs. Erler:

When I learned of your husband's death, my first instinct
was to wire you. But then it seemed to me that words are in any
case banal, and a brief message could not have done justice to what
Fritz Erler's friends felt. To say that he died too soon is obvious;
we would have felt that had he lived twenty-five years longer. I
can, therefore, only try to convey in a few paragraphs a few of the
things I knew of your husband and why I miss him so much.

I first met him twelve years ago at a Bilderberg conference.
I had never heard of him. I was told that a German Socialist--an
epithet in those days--would present a somewhat "extreme" point of
view of a neutralist nature. You will not be surprised to learn that
nothing of the sort happened. Your husband was never a neutralist
where ultimate values were involved. He was one of those rare people
who gave one strength, even when one disagreed, because one knew that one
was dealing with a deep and utterly reliable human being. As things
turned out, your husband was one of the stars of the conference--moving
even those who disagreed by the brilliance of his argument and the inte-
grity of his demeanor.

We stayed in close touch since, and I am proud that we came
increasingly to share common views. I invited your husband to
Harvard. On several occasions he stayed at my house, and my daughter--
now eight--still inquires after the nice gentleman from Germany who
played with her so sweetly. I observed your husband's role in the
leadership of the SPD, in the European movement, and in shaping At-
lantic relationships. He was brilliant and wise; but above all he had
integrity. He ennobled whatever group he led.

integrity. He engrafted whatever from he fed, iatric relationship. He was brilliant and wise; but aboved all he had leadership of the SD, in the European movement, and in shaping Vat-b displayed with her so sweetly. I observed your husband's role in the now eight--attili induires after the nice gentleman from Germany who Harvard. On several occasions he stayed at my house, and my daughter--increasingly to share common views. I invited your husband to stay in close touch with me, and I am proud that we came

gritty of his demeanor. even those who disagreed by the brilliance of his argument and the intu-
cured out, your husband was one of the stars of the conference--moving
was dealing with a deep and utterly reliable human being. Ve things
who gave one strength, even when one disagreed, because one knew that one
where ultimate values were involved. He was one of those rare people
nothing of the sort happened. Your husband was never a neutralist
view of a neutralist nature. You will not be surprised to learn that
either in those days--would present a somewhat "extreme" point of
I had never heard of him. I was told that a German Socialist--an
I first met him twelve years ago at a Bilderberg conference.

things I knew of your husband and why I was him so much.
can, therefore, only try to convey in a few paragraphs a few of the
we would have felt that had he lived twenty-five years longer. I
Frits Erler's friends felt. To ask that he died too soon is optional;
case personal, and a brief message could not have done justice to what
was to wire you. But then it seemed to me that words are in any
When I learned of your husband's death, my first instinct

Dear Mrs. Erler:

Germany
Börzheim
Friedensraße 8
Mrs. Frits Erler

March 8, 1967

I saw your husband last in January 1966. I had been asked to chair a dinner in his honor at the Council on Foreign Relations. I cut short a trip to the West Coast to do so--for selfish reasons I did not want to miss any opportunity of seeing your husband. It was obvious that he was ill and very tired, but he conducted himself with the dignity and intelligence and will-power which need no further description to you.

In the light of what he suffered since, it would be tempting to say that death was merciful. But those who loved him will not accept so trite a formulation. They know that they would have held on to every day of his life, for their existence will be forever emptier without him. But they realize, too, that sad as these times must be, they have had a great good fortune: in a time of little purpose, they have known a man of high ideals; among so much concern with the everyday, they have been privileged to be associated with an individual whose sights were always set high; when motivations are so often tactical they were recalled to fundamentals, not so much by your husband's words as by his example. And therefore what your husband stood for will go on in all those whose lives he touched-- however briefly.

I hope you will permit me to call on you personally on my next visit to Germany.

With warm good wishes,

Henry V. Krasinger

Sincerely yours,

With warm good wishes,

next visit to Germany.

I hope you will permit me to call on you personally on my
however briefly.

Your husband's words as by his example. And therefore what your
so often tactical they were recalled to fundamentals, not so much by
individual whose sights were always set high; when motivations are
with the everyday, they have been privileged to be associated with an
embryo, they have had a great good fortune: in a time of little
accept so trite a formulation. They know that they would have held
to say that death was merciful. But those who loved him will not
In the light of what he suffered since, it would be tempting
further description to you.

with the dignity and intelligence and will-power which need no
was obvious that he was ill and very tired, but he conducted himself
I did not want to miss any opportunity of seeing your husband. It
I cut short a trip to the West Coast to do so--for selfish reasons
to chair a dinner in his honor at the Council on Foreign Relations.
I saw your husband last in January 1966. I had been asked