Kurt Georg Kiesinger

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{{Infobox PM 

| name=Kurt Georg Kiesinger
| image=No image.png
| country-de=Germany
| term=December 1, 1966–October 21, 1969
| before=Ludwig Erhard
| after=Willy Brandt
| date_birth=April 6, 1904
| date_death=March 9, 1988
| party=CDU, 1933-45 NSDAP

}} Kurt Georg Kiesinger (April 6, 1904–March 9, 1988) was a conservative German politician and Chancellor of Germany from 1 December, 1966 until 21 October , 1969.

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Early life

Born in Ebingen, Germany Kiesinger was educated in Berlin and became a lawyer. He joined the NSDAP in 1933. From 1940, Kiesinger worked at the German foreign ministry's radio propaganda department where he was responsible for that ministry's connection with the propaganda ministry. After the war, he was interned and spent several months in the Ludwigsburg camp before being acquitted by the denazification courts. He was exonerated by a protocol of the RSHA which noted that he had hampered and averted anti-Jewish actions in his department.

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Political career

By the time the first national elections were held in the Federal Republic in 1949, Kiesinger had joined the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and won a seat in the Bundestag, the German parliament. In 1951 he became a member of the CDU executive board. During that time, he became known for his rhetorical brilliance, as well as his in-depth knowledge of foreign affairs. However, despite the recognition he enjoyed within the Christian Democrat parliamentary faction, he was passed over during various cabinet reshuffles. Consequently, he decided to switch from federal to state politics: He was appointed prime minister (Ministerpräsident) of Baden-Württemberg state on 17 December 1958, an office in which he served until 1 December 1966).

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Chancellorship

In 1966 following the collapse of the existing CDU/CSU-FDP coalition Kiesinger was elected to replace Ludwig Erhard as Chancellor, heading a new CDU/CSU-SPD alliance. The government formed by Kiesinger remained in power for nearly three years with the SPD leader Willy Brandt as Deputy Federal Chancellor and Foreign Minister. Kiesinger reduced tensions with the Soviet bloc nations establishing diplomatic relations with Czechoslovakia, Romania and Yugoslavia but he opposed any major conciliatory moves.

One of his low points as chancellor was in 1968 when activist Beate Klarsfeld publicly slapped him in the face during the 1968 Christian Democrat convention, while calling him a Nazi. She did so in French but - whilst being dragged out of the room by two ushers - repeated her words in German saying "Kiesinger! Nazi! Abtreten!" ("Kiesinger! Nazi! Step down!") Kiesinger, holding his left cheek and being close to tears, did not respond. Up to his death he refused to comment on the incident.

In the election of 1969, the SPD preferred to form a coalition with the FDP, ending the uninterrupted post-war reign of the CDU chancellors. Kiesinger was succeeded as Chancellor by Willy Brandt.

Kiesinger continued to head the CDU/CSU in opposition until July 1971 and remained a member of the Bundestag until 1980.

Kiesinger was known for great eloquence and nicknamed "Häuptling Silberzunge" - "Chief Silver Tongue".

He died in Tübingen. His funeral procession war followed by protesters (mainly students) who castigated him - even after his death - for his former membership in the NSDAP.

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Kiesinger's Ministry

1 December 1966 - 21 October 1969

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