Willy Brandt - Former Chancellor of Germany, Life Achievements and Life
Willy Brandt's Personal Details
Willy Brandt was a Nobel Peace Prize winning German statesman and politician, who was the chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany from 1969 to 1974
| Information | Detail |
|---|---|
| Birthday | December 18, 1913 |
| Died on | October 8, 1992 |
| Nationality | German |
| Famous | Nobel Peace Prize, Leaders, Political Leaders, Presidents, Former Chancellor of Germany |
| Spouses | Anna Carlotta Thorkildsen, Brigitte Seebacher, Gertrud Meye, Rut Brandt |
| Known as | Herbert Ernst Karl Frahm, Mayor Willy Brandt, Herbert Frahm, Gunnar Gaasland |
| Childrens | Lars Brandt, Matthias Brandt, Ninja Brandt, Peter Brandt |
| Universities |
|
| Birth Place | Lübeck |
| Political Ideology | Political party : (1930–1931; 1948–1992) - Social Democratic Party, (1931–1946) - Socialist Workers’ Party |
| Religion | Protestantism |
| Gender | Male |
| Father | John Möller |
| Mother | Martha Frahm |
| Sun Sign | Sagittarius |
| Born in | Lübeck |
| Famous as | Former Chancellor of Germany |
| Died at Age | 78 |
// Famous Former Chancellor of Germany
Konrad Adenauer
Konrad Adenauer was the first Chancellor of Germany after the World War II. This biography of Konrad Adenauer provides detailed information about his childhood, life, achievements, works & timeline
Helmut Kohl
Helmut Kohl was the former Chancellor of Germany and is regarded as the greatest European leader of the second half of the 20th century. With this biography, check out his life, childhood, profile, and timeline.
Willy Brandt's photo
Who is Willy Brandt?
Willy Brandt was the pseudonym adopted by the German youth Herbert Ernst Karl Frahm who fled to Scandinavia to escape the wrath of Hitler and his ever-rising Nazi empire only to return to Germany later on to become a prominent politician. Born in Lubeck, the future German statesman and leader of the Socialist Democratic Party suffered a poverty-stricken childhood with no father and witnessed the anguish and the sufferings of the common people firsthand. His childhood memories and the prevailing conditions edged him into entering the political scenario possibly to make a difference. The first party he joined was the Socialist Youth in 1929 before heading onto the Social Democratic Party in 1930 and finally he became a member of the more left wing Socialist Workers Party. After passing his university examinations he became an apprentice for F. H. Bertling, a shipbroker and agent. He left Germany on a ship for Norway to avoid Nazi persecution through his contacts with Bertling. After returning to Berlin after several years he joined the Social Democratic Party of Germany and served as their leader from 1964 to 1987. Another important post that he held was that of the Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany.
// Famous Political Leaders
Edi Rama
Edi Rama is the current Prime Minister of Albania. Check out this biography to know about his childhood, life, achievements, works & timeline.
Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan
Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan is the current President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Check out this biography to know about his birthday, childhood, family life, achievements and fun facts about him.
Leo Varadkar
Cam Leo Varadkar is the current Taoiseach—the Prime Minister—of the Republic of Ireland. Check out this biography to know about his childhood, family life, achievements and other facts about his life.
Childhood & Early Life
Willy Brandt was born as Herbert Ernst Carl Frahm on December 18, 1913 in Lubeck to an unwed mother, Martha Frahm, who worked as a cashier for a departmental store. He never met his father, John Moller.
Having lived a poverty-stricken childhood, he understood the necessity of bringing about drastic changes in the society and eventually became a member of the Socialist Youth (1929), the Socialist Democratic Party (1930) and the more left-wing Socialist Workers Party.
He passed his matriculation examination at the Johanneum zu Lübeck in 1932. In 1933, he fled to Norway to escape from being arrested by the gestapo (Official secret police of the Nazi Germany).
In Norway he adopted the pseudonym of Willey Brandt and ventured into journalism. In 1934, he helped in establishing the International Bureau of Revolutionary Youth Organisations return was elected to its secretariat.
In 1937, he reported as a journalist in the Spanish Civil War. Back home the German government revoked his citizenship in 1938 and he had to apply for a Norwegian citizenship. He became a Norwegian citizen in 1940; by this time he was well versed in Norwegian and Swedish languages.
Career
In 1946, Willy Brandt returned to Berlin as a Norwegian government employee and two years later joined the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SDP). He also adopted the pseudonym “Willy Brandt” legally and became a German citizen again.
In 1957, he was elected as the Governing Mayor of Berlin (1957–66) and the president of the Bundesrat (legislative body representing the 16 federal states of Germany at national level) in Bonn.
He became the Chairman of the SDP in 1964 but lost the chancellorship election of 1961 to Konrad Adenauer and in 1965 to Ludwig Erhard. But Erhard's government proved to be unstable and short-lived.
In 1966, the SDP and Christian Democratic Union of Germany (CDU) formed a coalition government and Brandt was appointed as the Vice-Chancellor and the Foreign Minister.
In the 1969 chancellorship elections the SDP showed improved results and formed a coalition government with the Free Democratic Party of Germany (FDP). Brandt was the lead candidate before the elections and thus was elected as the Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany.
As Chancellor, he adopted Neue Ostpolitik (New Eastern Policy) as his foreign policy. He chose the means of peace and rapprochement for re-building ties with East Germany, Soviet Union, Poland, Czechoslovakia and other communist countries.
On the domestic front he launched countless domestic reform programmes related to social security benefits, free hospital care, health care coverage, and extended the welfare state and broadened the social assistance programme.
Although he achieved incredible feats on the national and the international level with his policies, several of the coalition’s senior members were opposed to them. They left the coalition and joined the CDU. Willy Brandt was still the Chancellor but lost his majority in the house and as a result several of his initiatives failed.
The 1972 Chancellorship elections were won by the SPD with a landslide victory as Brandt's policies of Ostpolitik and domestic reforms proved to be a big hit with the younger generation.
He resigned from his position as the Chancellor in 1974 in shock after learning that one of his personal assistants, Gunter Guillaume, was a spy for the East German intelligence services. However, he stayed as the Chairman of the SDP till 1987.
In 1987 he stepped down to become the Honorary Chairman of the SDP and he also served as a member of the European Parliament from 1979 to 1983.
Major Works
Willy Brandt received much acclaim for his successful efforts in negotiating a peace treaty with Poland, parallel treaties and agreements with Czechoslovakia, and his policy of rapprochement with East Germany.
Awards & Achievements
In 1970 Willy Brandt was named the Man of the Year by ‘Time’ magazine.
He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1971 for his work in improving relations with East Germany, Poland, and the Soviet Union.
Personal Life & Legacy
Willy Brandt married Anna Carlotta Thorkildsen in 1941 and the couple had a daughter named Ninja Brandt. They got divorced in 1948.
He married Rut Hansen in 1948 and had three sons: Peter, Lars and Matthias from the marriage. They got divorced in 1980 after 32 years of marriage.
His third marriage was to Brigitte Seebacher in 1983 and lasted till his death in 1992.
Willy Brandt died of colon cancer on October 8, 1992 at his home in Unkel. He was given a state funeral and was buried at the Zehlendorf cemetery in Berlin.
// Famous Leaders
Edi Rama
Edi Rama is the current Prime Minister of Albania. Check out this biography to know about his childhood, life, achievements, works & timeline.
Tecumseh
Tecumseh was a Native American leader of the Shawnee clan. This biography profiles his childhood, life and timeline.
Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan
Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan is the current President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Check out this biography to know about his birthday, childhood, family life, achievements and fun facts about him.
Willy Brandt's awards
| Year | Name | Award |
|---|---|---|
Other | ||
| 0 | Nobel Peace Prize | |
Willy Brandt biography timelines
- // 18th Dec 1913Willy Brandt was born as Herbert Ernst Carl Frahm on December 18, 1913 in Lubeck to an unwed mother, Martha Frahm, who worked as a cashier for a departmental store. He never met his father, John Moller.
- // 1929 To 1930Having lived a poverty-stricken childhood, he understood the necessity of bringing about drastic changes in the society and eventually became a member of the Socialist Youth (1929), the Socialist Democratic Party (1930) and the more left-wing Socialist Workers Party.
- // 1932 To 1933He passed his matriculation examination at the Johanneum zu Lübeck in 1932. In 1933, he fled to Norway to escape from being arrested by the gestapo (Official secret police of the Nazi Germany).
- // 1934In Norway he adopted the pseudonym of Willey Brandt and ventured into journalism. In 1934, he helped in establishing the International Bureau of Revolutionary Youth Organisations return was elected to its secretariat.
- // 1937 To 1940In 1937, he reported as a journalist in the Spanish Civil War. Back home the German government revoked his citizenship in 1938 and he had to apply for a Norwegian citizenship. He became a Norwegian citizen in 1940; by this time he was well versed in Norwegian and Swedish languages.
- // 1941 To 1948Willy Brandt married Anna Carlotta Thorkildsen in 1941 and the couple had a daughter named Ninja Brandt. They got divorced in 1948.
- // 1946In 1946, Willy Brandt returned to Berlin as a Norwegian government employee and two years later joined the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SDP). He also adopted the pseudonym “Willy Brandt” legally and became a German citizen again.
- // 1948 To 1980He married Rut Hansen in 1948 and had three sons: Peter, Lars and Matthias from the marriage. They got divorced in 1980 after 32 years of marriage.
- // 1957In 1957, he was elected as the Governing Mayor of Berlin (1957–66) and the president of the Bundesrat (legislative body representing the 16 federal states of Germany at national level) in Bonn.
- // 1961 To 1965He became the Chairman of the SDP in 1964 but lost the chancellorship election of 1961 to Konrad Adenauer and in 1965 to Ludwig Erhard. But Erhard's government proved to be unstable and short-lived.
- // 1966In 1966, the SDP and Christian Democratic Union of Germany (CDU) formed a coalition government and Brandt was appointed as the Vice-Chancellor and the Foreign Minister.
- // 1969In the 1969 chancellorship elections the SDP showed improved results and formed a coalition government with the Free Democratic Party of Germany (FDP). Brandt was the lead candidate before the elections and thus was elected as the Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany.
- // 1970In 1970 Willy Brandt was named the Man of the Year by ‘Time’ magazine.
- // 1971He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1971 for his work in improving relations with East Germany, Poland, and the Soviet Union.
- // 1972The 1972 Chancellorship elections were won by the SPD with a landslide victory as Brandt's policies of Ostpolitik and domestic reforms proved to be a big hit with the younger generation.
- // 1974 To 1987He resigned from his position as the Chancellor in 1974 in shock after learning that one of his personal assistants, Gunter Guillaume, was a spy for the East German intelligence services. However, he stayed as the Chairman of the SDP till 1987.
- // 1979 To 1987In 1987 he stepped down to become the Honorary Chairman of the SDP and he also served as a member of the European Parliament from 1979 to 1983.
- // 1983 To 1992His third marriage was to Brigitte Seebacher in 1983 and lasted till his death in 1992.
- // 8th Oct 1992Willy Brandt died of colon cancer on October 8, 1992 at his home in Unkel. He was given a state funeral and was buried at the Zehlendorf cemetery in Berlin.
// Famous Nobel Peace Prize
Emily Greene Balch
Emily Greene Balch was an American economist, sociologist and pacifist who won the 1946 Nobel Peace Prize. This biography of Emily Greene Balch provides detailed information about her childhood, life, achievements, works & timeline.
Norman Borlaug
Norman Borlaug was an American biologist known as the “Father of the Green Revolution”. This biography of Norman Borlaug provides detailed information about his childhood, life, achievements, works & timeline.
Albert Schweitzer
Albert Schweitzer was a German born French theologian, organist, philosopher, physician, and medical missionary. Check out this biography to know about his childhood, family life, and achievements.
Mother Teresa
All through her life, Mother Teresa served people selflessly. Read the biography and learn about Mother Teresa’s childhood, life and timeline.
Muhammad Yunus
Muhammad Yunus is the founder of the Grameen Bank in Bangladesh and the recipient of the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize. This biography of Muhammad Yunus provides detailed information about his childhood, life, achievements, works & timeline.
Wangari Maathai
Wangari Maathai was an environmentalist who won the prestigious Nobel Peace Prize Award. Go through this biography to explore details about her life, childhood, and timeline.
Willy Brandt's FAQ
What is Willy Brandt birthday?
Willy Brandt was born at 1913-12-18
When was Willy Brandt died?
Willy Brandt was died at 1992-10-08
Where was Willy Brandt died?
Willy Brandt was died in Unkel
Which age was Willy Brandt died?
Willy Brandt was died at age 78
Where is Willy Brandt's birth place?
Willy Brandt was born in Lübeck
What is Willy Brandt nationalities?
Willy Brandt's nationalities is German
Who is Willy Brandt spouses?
Willy Brandt's spouses is Anna Carlotta Thorkildsen, Brigitte Seebacher, Gertrud Meye, Rut Brandt
Who is Willy Brandt childrens?
Willy Brandt's childrens is Lars Brandt, Matthias Brandt, Ninja Brandt, Peter Brandt
What was Willy Brandt universities?
Willy Brandt studied at University of Oslo
What is Willy Brandt's political ideology?
Willy Brandt's political ideology is Political party : (1930–1931; 1948–1992) - Social Democratic Party, (1931–1946) - Socialist Workers’ Party
What is Willy Brandt's religion?
Willy Brandt's religion is Protestantism
Who is Willy Brandt's father?
Willy Brandt's father is John Möller
Who is Willy Brandt's mother?
Willy Brandt's mother is Martha Frahm
What is Willy Brandt's sun sign?
Willy Brandt is Sagittarius
How famous is Willy Brandt?
Willy Brandt is famouse as Former Chancellor of Germany