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Willy Brandt
The West German chancellor whose Ostpolitik opened dialogue with Eastern Europe during the Cold War.
Warsaw Treaty · Nobel Peace Prize
- Born
- 18 December 1913
- Birthplace
- Germany
- Died
- 8 October 1992
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Willy Brandt pursued reconciliation while leading West Germany from 1969 to 1974. His diplomacy recognised realities created by war without abandoning the hope of a less divided Europe.
Early life
Lübeck
Born Herbert Frahm and raised in a working-class household.
Exile
Fled Nazi Germany and lived in Norway and Sweden.
Career
- 1957
Berlin mayor
Became governing mayor of West Berlin.
- 1966
Foreign minister
Joined the West German coalition government.
- 1969
Chancellorship
Became federal chancellor and advanced Ostpolitik.
- 1976
International leadership
Became president of the Socialist International after leaving the chancellorship.
Major initiatives
Warsaw Treaty
Recognised the postwar Polish border.
Nobel Peace Prize
Recognised his work for East-West dialogue.
Brandt Report
Led a commission examining inequality between rich and poor countries.
Beyond work
Resistance
Opposed Nazism from exile and worked as a journalist.
Socialist International
Led the international organisation of socialist and social-democratic parties.
Sources & photo credit
Life, career and references ↗Career and work — willy-brandt.de ↗Photo: Engelbert Reineke. CC BY-SA 3.0 de · Original image. Cropped and displayed in monochrome.
