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Black and white photo of Konrad Adenauer working on his memoirs in 1966
Image: -/dpa/picture alliance

Konrad Adenauer

Konrad Adenauer (5.1.1876–19.4.1967) was the first chancellor of West Germany (1949–1963). He worked to restore the economy and align West Germany firmly with Western Europe and the United States.

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Reports & Analysis

Friedrich Merz and his wife Charlotte in the cockpit of their plane bound for the island of Sylt in July 2022

Where Germany's leaders go on summer vacation

Where Germany's leaders go on summer vacation

Summer means vacation time — not just for Germans, but also for their chancellor.
TravelAugust 9, 202510 images
8 German chancellors:top from left, German chancellors Konrad Adenauer, Christian Democratic Party (CDU), Chancellor from 1949 until 1963, Ludwig Erhard (CDU), 1963-1966, Kurt Georg Kiesinger (CDU), 1966-1969. Willy Brandt of the Social Democratic Party (SPD), 1969-1974, bottom from left, Helmut Schmidt (SPD), 1974-1982, Helmut Kohl (CDU) 1982-1998, Gerhard Schroeder (SPD), 1998 - 2005, and Angela Merkel (CDU), 2005

Germany's chancellors

Germany's chancellors

Friedrich Merz is Germany's tenth chancellor. Who were his predecessors?
PoliticsJune 6, 202510 images
Gabon's interim President General Brice Oligui Nguema (R) salutes

Gabon moves towards democracy one year after coup

Gabon moves towards democracy one year after coup

The new junta had promised a swift return to constitutional order, sparking hope that the worst was behind, but is it?
PoliticsAugust 30, 2024
black and white photo of a man casting his ballot in the polling station at Frankfurt train station

Germany remembers its first post-WWII national election

Germany remembers its first post-WWII national election

In 1949, four years after the end of dictatorship and war, Germans could once again elect a democratic parliament.
HistoryAugust 13, 2024
oil painting showing Erasmus of Rotterdam, 1466

German far-right foundation to get state funding

German far-right foundation to get state funding

A foundation that is aligned with the far-right Alternative for Germany is set to get access to taxpayer funds
PoliticsFebruary 23, 2023
A German flag is raised in front of the German parliament in Berlin

The story of Germany's national anthem

The story of Germany's national anthem

After "Deutschlandlied" was sullied by the Nazis, West Germany restricted its national anthem to only the third verse.
CultureMay 2, 2022
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