Konrad Hermann Josef Adenauer, who was bornKonrad Hermann Josef Adenauer, who was bornon 5th January 1876 and died on 19 Aprilon 5th January 1876 and died on 19 April

1967, was a German statesman. 1967, was a German statesman.

Although his political career spanned sixty years,Although his political career spanned sixty years,beginning as early as 1906, he is most noted forbeginning as early as 1906, he is most noted forhis role as the first Chancellor of West Germanyhis role as the first Chancellor of West Germanyfrom 1949–1963 and chairman of the Christianfrom 1949–1963 and chairman of the Christian

Democratic Union from 1950 to 1966. He was theDemocratic Union from 1950 to 1966. He was theoldest chancellor ever to serve Germany, leavingoldest chancellor ever to serve Germany, leaving

at the age of eighty-seven.at the age of eighty-seven.

Early lifeEarly life Konrad Adenauer was born as the third of five children ofKonrad Adenauer was born as the third of five children of

Johann Konrad Adenauer (1833-1906) and his wife HeleneJohann Konrad Adenauer (1833-1906) and his wife Helene(1849-1919) ((1849-1919) (néenée Scharfenberg) in Cologne, Rhenish Scharfenberg) in Cologne, Rhenish

Prussia. His siblings were August (1872-1952), JohannesPrussia. His siblings were August (1872-1952), Johannes(1873-1937), Lilli (1879-1950) and Elisabeth, who died(1873-1937), Lilli (1879-1950) and Elisabeth, who diedshortly after birth in c. 1880. In 1894, he completed hisshortly after birth in c. 1880. In 1894, he completed his

Abitur and started to study law and politics at theAbitur and started to study law and politics at theuniversities of Freiburg, Munich and Bonn. He was auniversities of Freiburg, Munich and Bonn. He was a

member of several Roman Catholic students’ associationsmember of several Roman Catholic students’ associationsunder the K.St.V. Arminia Bonn in Bonn. He finished hisunder the K.St.V. Arminia Bonn in Bonn. He finished hisstudies in 1901. Afterwards he worked as a lawyer at thestudies in 1901. Afterwards he worked as a lawyer at the

court in Cologne. court in Cologne.

Political careerPolitical careerAs a devout Roman Catholic, he joined the Centre Party in1906 and was elected to Cologne’s city council in the same

year. In 1909, he became Vice Mayor of Cologne. From 1917to 1933, he served as Mayor of Cologne. He had the

unpleasant task of heading Cologne in the era of Britishoccupation following the First World War and lasting until 1926.

He managed to establish faithful relations with the Britishmilitary authorities and flirted with Rhenish separatism (a

Rhenish state as part of Germany, but outside Prussia). Duringthe Weimar Republic, he was president of the Prussian StateCouncil (Preußischer Staatsrat) from 1922 to 1933, whichwas

the representative of the Prussian cities and provinces.

When the Nazis came to power in 1933, the Centre Party When the Nazis came to power in 1933, the Centre Party lost the elections in Cologne and Adenauer fled to thelost the elections in Cologne and Adenauer fled to the

abbey of Maria Laach, threatened by the new governmentabbey of Maria Laach, threatened by the new governmentafter he refused to shake hands with a local Nazi leader.after he refused to shake hands with a local Nazi leader.

His stay at this abbey, which lasted for a year, was cited byHis stay at this abbey, which lasted for a year, was cited byits abbot after the war, when accused by Heinrich Böll andits abbot after the war, when accused by Heinrich Böll and

others of collaboration with the Nazis.others of collaboration with the Nazis.

He was imprisoned briefly after the Night of the LongHe was imprisoned briefly after the Night of the LongKnives in mid 1934. During the next two years, he changedKnives in mid 1934. During the next two years, he changed

residences often for fear of reprisals against him by theresidences often for fear of reprisals against him by theNazis. In 1937, he was successful in claiming at least someNazis. In 1937, he was successful in claiming at least some

compensation for his once confiscated house andcompensation for his once confiscated house andmanaged to live in seclusion for some years.managed to live in seclusion for some years.

In 1945 he took part in the foundation of theIn 1945 he took part in the foundation of theDemocratic Christian Union (CDU) and became Democratic Christian Union (CDU) and became

the new president of the zone of British occupation. When the new president of the zone of British occupation. When the Federal Republic of Germany was founded in 1949, the Federal Republic of Germany was founded in 1949,

Adenauer became chancellor. During the following Adenauer became chancellor. During the following fourteen years he headed a coalition composed by the fourteen years he headed a coalition composed by the CDU, the Social Christian Bavarian Union and the Free CDU, the Social Christian Bavarian Union and the Free

Democrats. From 1951 until 1955 also he was the Democrats. From 1951 until 1955 also he was the minister of Exteriors of the Federal Republic of Germany. minister of Exteriors of the Federal Republic of Germany. Adenauer's principal objective was to do of the Federal Adenauer's principal objective was to do of the Federal

Republic of Germany. In 1955, under Adenauer's Republic of Germany. In 1955, under Adenauer's leadership, the Federal Republic joined the Organization leadership, the Federal Republic joined the Organization

of the Agreement of the North Atlantic (NATO) and of the Agreement of the North Atlantic (NATO) and obtained the recognition as independent State. obtained the recognition as independent State.

Adenauer's principal objective was to do of the Federal Adenauer's principal objective was to do of the Federal Republic of Germany. In 1955, under Adenauer's Republic of Germany. In 1955, under Adenauer's

leadership, the Federal Republic joined the Organization leadership, the Federal Republic joined the Organization of the Agreement of the North Atlantic (NATO) and of the Agreement of the North Atlantic (NATO) and

obtained the recognition as independent State. Under his obtained the recognition as independent State. Under his mandate, the Federal Republic of Germany also was mandate, the Federal Republic of Germany also was

one of the charter members of the Economic European one of the charter members of the Economic European Community or Common Market (nowadays the Community or Common Market (nowadays the

European Union). In 1963, after signing the Agreement European Union). In 1963, after signing the Agreement of Friendship German Franc who was putting end to of Friendship German Franc who was putting end to

almost hundred years of rivalry itch France, Adenauer almost hundred years of rivalry itch France, Adenauer

gave up his post at the age of 87.gave up his post at the age of 87.

Death Death

Adenauer died on April 19, 1967 in his family home inAdenauer died on April 19, 1967 in his family home inRhöndorf. According to his daughter, his last words wereRhöndorf. According to his daughter, his last words were

""Da jitt et nix zo kriesche!Da jitt et nix zo kriesche!" (Kölsch slang for "There's" (Kölsch slang for "There'snothin' to weep about!")nothin' to weep about!")

His state funeral in Cologne Cathedral was attended by aHis state funeral in Cologne Cathedral was attended by alarge number of world leaders, among them US presidentlarge number of world leaders, among them US president

Lyndon B. Johnson on his only visit to a European country.Lyndon B. Johnson on his only visit to a European country.After the service, his body was brought back to RhöndorfAfter the service, his body was brought back to Rhöndorfon the Rhine aboard on the Rhine aboard KondorKondor, a Jaguar class fast attack, a Jaguar class fast attack

craft of the German Navy. He is interred on thecraft of the German Navy. He is interred on theWaldfriedhofWaldfriedhof..