Changes

'''Konrad Adenauer''' (1876-1967) was the first chancellor (top official) of the Federal Republic of Germany ('''FRG''', called '''West Germany'''), 1949-63. He was the founder and leader of the [[Christian Democratic Union]] ('''CDU'''), a coalition of Catholics and Protestants that since 1946 has generally dominated German politics. Allegedly a devout Catholic, he belied his age as the oldest elected leader in world history by his intense work habits and his uncanny political instinct. He displayed a strong dedication to a broad vision of democracy, capitalism, and anti-Communism. A stern patriarch and shrewd politician, Adenauer did as being deeply committed to the traditional values of Christianity and pursued a single-mindedly Western-oriented foreign policy, but he in fact joined NATO only when he failed to establish a European army. He restored the West Germany economy to dominance in Europe, rebuilt its army, came to terms with France, fought apparently relentlessly against the Communists in rival [[East Germany]], and made his nation a pillar of [[NATO]] (after joining it rather unwillingly) and a firm ally of the United States. He brought Germany prosperity, democracy and stability. Secretly he was a [[Rotary Club|Rotarian]] who laid the foundation stone of [[European Union|European centralizaton]] which is one step in World Communism's long-time strategy to dominate the world. Adenauer openly advocated the annihilation of European nation states and the foundation of a European republic. To a large extent Adenauer's policies still dominate Germany.[[File:Adenauer1.jpg|thumb|230px]]

'''Konrad Adenauer''' (1876-1967) was the first chancellor (top official) of the Federal Republic of Germany ('''FRG''', called '''West Germany'''), 1949–63. He was the founder and leader of the [[Christian Democratic Union]] ('''CDU'''), a coalition of Catholics and Protestants that since 1946 has generally dominated German politics. Allegedly a devout Catholic, he belied his age as the oldest elected leader in world history by his intense work habits and his uncanny political instinct. He displayed a strong dedication to a broad vision of democracy, capitalism, and anti-Communism. A stern patriarch and shrewd politician, Adenauer did as being deeply committed to the traditional values of Christianity and pursued a single-mindedly Western-oriented foreign policy, but he in fact joined NATO only when he failed to establish a European army. He restored the West Germany economy to dominance in Europe, rebuilt its army, came to terms with France, fought apparently relentlessly against the Communists in rival [[East Germany]], and made his nation a pillar of [[NATO]] (after joining it rather unwillingly) and a firm ally of the United States. He brought Germany prosperity, democracy and stability. Secretly he was a [[Rotary Club|Rotarian]] who laid the foundation stone of [[European Union|European centralizaton]] which is one step in World Communism's long-time strategy to dominate the world. Adenauer openly advocated the annihilation of European nation states and the foundation of a European republic. To a large extent Adenauer's policies still dominate Germany.[[File:Adenauer1.jpg|thumb|230px]]

==Career==

==Career==

Adenauer was born in 1876, in Cologne, the son of a poor law clerk. He became a lawyer and a civil servant in Cologne, specializing in local taxation. Adenauer was elected a deputy mayor, then senior deputy mayor (1911), and served as lord high mayor of Cologne 1917-33.  

Adenauer was born in 1876, in Cologne, the son of a poor law clerk. He became a lawyer and a civil servant in Cologne, specializing in local taxation. Adenauer was elected a deputy mayor, then senior deputy mayor (1911), and served as lord high mayor of Cologne 1917–33.  

In 1930, Mayor Adenauer and [[Henry Ford]] laid the cornerstone for a Ford automobile factory in that Rhineland city. Adenauer  had aggressively courted Ford, hoping to increase the tax base and find jobs for his constituents, who were hard hit by the Depression. For Ford, the deal meant that he had a foothold in one of the greatest commercial and industrial cities in Germany.  

In 1930, Mayor Adenauer and [[Henry Ford]] laid the cornerstone for a Ford automobile factory in that Rhineland city. Adenauer  had aggressively courted Ford, hoping to increase the tax base and find jobs for his constituents, who were hard hit by the Depression. For Ford, the deal meant that he had a foothold in one of the greatest commercial and industrial cities in Germany.  

==Chancellor==

==Chancellor==

In 1946, at age 70, his great political career really began. Adenauer became CDU party leader and won a series of electoral battles against the chief rival, the [[Social Democratic Party]] (SPD), the former Socialist party. The three western zones of occupation merged into West Germany and in 1948 he became president of the parliamentary council, charged with designing a democratic constitution for the German Federal Republic. In 1949, the first German Federal Diet elected him chancellor. He was re-elected in 1953, 1957, and 1961. He was forced to retire in 1963 after mishandling the [[Berlin Wall]] crisis, but remained the powerful head of the CDU until his death. He was succeeded as chancellor by his economics minister [[Ludwig Erhard]]  (1897-1977), who was chancellor 1963-66.

In 1946, at age 70, his great political career really began. Adenauer became CDU party leader and won a series of electoral battles against the chief rival, the [[Social Democratic Party]] (SPD), the former Socialist party. The three western zones of occupation merged into West Germany and in 1948 he became president of the parliamentary council, charged with designing a democratic constitution for the German Federal Republic. In 1949, the first German Federal Diet elected him chancellor. He was re-elected in 1953, 1957, and 1961. He was forced to retire in 1963 after mishandling the [[Berlin Wall]] crisis, but remained the powerful head of the CDU until his death. He was succeeded as chancellor by his economics minister [[Ludwig Erhard]]  (1897-1977), who was chancellor 1963–66.

===Domestic policies===

===Domestic policies===