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==West Germany==
==West Germany==
Adenauer became one of the founders of the [[Christian Democratic Union]] (CDU), a conservative coalition of Catholics and Protestants whose aim was to rebuild a shattered Germany in the Christian spirit. Adenauer insisted there be harmony between Protestants and Catholics in the new party.
Adenauer became one of the founders of the [[Christian Democratic Union]] (CDU), a conservative coalition of Catholics and Protestants whose aim was to rebuild a shattered Germany in the Christian spirit. Adenauer insisted there be harmony between Protestants and Catholics in the new party.
After the religious nihilism of the Nazi era the moral and political authority of the Catholic Church grew immensely. The Church participated in the working out of the West German constitution. The Church acknowledged the authority of the state as a guarantor of law and order, as long as that order concurred with Christian-Humanistic doctrine. The Church formed an independent organism within the state. By the 1960s, however, German society was becoming much more secular, and the Catholic Church also lost its unity.
In the state of [[Bavaria]] the counterpart of the CDU is the entirely separate '''Christian Social Union''' ('''CSU'''), which operates only in Bavaria. The CDU stays out of Bavaria and in national affairs the CDU and CSU always collaborate.
==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 retired in 1963, but remained the powerful head of the CDU until his death.
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 retired in 1963, but remained the powerful head of the CDU until his death. He was succeeded as chancellor buy his finance minister [[Ludwig Erhard]], who was chancellor 1963-66.
===Domestic policies===
===Domestic policies===
Adenauer's always hewed to a few fundamental principles. He opposed the agglomeration of economic and political power in the hands of the state--the goal of the Socialists, saying it was a danger for the freedom of the individual. he promoted a division of power between business and the state, in which a limited, controlling function devolves upon the state, offers greater guarantees for the preservation of personal liberties.
Adenauer's always hewed to a few fundamental principles. He opposed the agglomeration of economic and political power in the hands of the state--the goal of the Socialists, saying it was a danger for the freedom of the individual. he promoted a division of power between business and the state, in which a limited, controlling function devolves upon the state, offers greater guarantees for the preservation of personal liberties.
Adenauer worked with the finance minister [[Ludwig Erhard]] (1897-1977) to promote free enterprise, reduce regulation, and promote economic "liberalism" especially in copllaboration with the small but influential Free Democratic Party ('''FDP''')<ref>The term "liberalism" in Germany is similar to "libertarianism" in the U.S.</ref> He did not oppose labor unions because he needed their support for his foreign policy.
Adenauer worked with the finance minister [[Ludwig Erhard]] (1897-1977) to promote free enterprise, reduce regulation, and promote economic "liberalism" especially in collaboration with the small but influential Free Democratic Party ('''FDP''')<ref>The term "liberalism" in Germany is similar to "libertarianism" in the U.S.</ref> He did not oppose labor unions because he needed their support for his foreign policy.
Opposed to extremism, Adenauer acted to make the neo-Nazi Socialist Reich Party illegal in 1952 and the Communist Party illegal in 1956.
Opposed to extremism, Adenauer acted to make the neo-Nazi Socialist Reich Party illegal in 1952 and the Communist Party illegal in 1956.
He tried but failed to make radio broadcasting a government monopoly.1
===Foreign policies===
===Foreign policies===
In foreign policy Adenauer regarded as essential the conclusive settlement of Germany's see-saw policy between East and West, which in his opinion brought to the German people the disasters of the two world wars. He bound Germany firmly to the democratic West. His uncompromising hostility toward the Soviet Union was major element in the [[Cold War]], as it led to rearmament and the creation of a strong German army.
In foreign policy Adenauer regarded as essential the conclusive settlement of Germany's see-saw policy between East and West, which in his opinion brought to the German people the disasters of the two world wars. He bound Germany firmly to the democratic West. His uncompromising hostility toward the Soviet Union was major element in the [[Cold War]], as it led to rearmament and the creation of a strong German army.