Eberhard Diepgen facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Eberhard Diepgen
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Diepgen in 2023
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| Governing Mayor of Berlin | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office 24 January 1991 – 16 June 2001 |
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| Mayor |
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| Preceded by | Walter Momper (West Berlin) Tino Schwierzina (East Berlin) |
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| Succeeded by | Klaus Wowereit | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office 9 February 1984 – 16 March 1989 |
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| Mayor |
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| Preceded by | Richard von Weizsäcker | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | Walter Momper | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Personal details | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 13 November 1941 Wedding, Berlin, Nazi Germany (now Germany) |
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| Political party | Christian Democratic Union (1963–) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Residence | Berlin | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Alma mater | Free University of Berlin | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Eberhard Diepgen (born 13 November 1941) is a German lawyer and politician. He was the Mayor of West Berlin from 1984 to 1989. Later, he became the Mayor of a united Berlin from 1991 to 2001. He is a member of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) political party.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Eberhard Diepgen was born in Berlin on 13 November 1941. He was the first person born in Berlin to become its governing mayor. After finishing high school in 1960, Diepgen studied law at the Free University of Berlin.
He became active in politics early on. In 1962, he joined the Christian Democratic Union (CDU). He even led a student committee at the Free University for a short time in 1963. After his studies, he became a lawyer in 1972.
Political Career
Starting in the Abgeordnetenhaus
Diepgen first focused on education policy within the Berlin CDU party. In 1971, he became a member of the state board. In the same year, he joined the Abgeordnetenhaus, which is like Berlin's state parliament. By 1980, he became the leader of the CDU group in the parliament. He played an important role in supporting the city's government policies.
Mayor of Berlin
Leading West Berlin
In February 1984, Eberhard Diepgen became the new Mayor of West Berlin. He took over from Richard von Weizsäcker, who became the President of West Germany. Under Diepgen's leadership, the CDU party won the state elections in 1985.
During his time as mayor, Diepgen visited Washington, D.C. to meet with important US leaders. Berlin also celebrated its 750th anniversary with big events. Queen Elizabeth II and US President Ronald Reagan visited the city. There were some challenges during this time, including issues with party funding. In 1988, Diepgen called for an early election. He hoped to win again, but his party lost its majority. The CDU remained the strongest party, but they could not form a government. Diepgen then became the leader of the opposition.
Leading Unified Berlin
After Germany reunited in October 1990, East and West Berlin became one city again. The first election for the united Berlin took place in December 1990. The CDU won the most votes.
On 24 January 1991, the parliament elected Diepgen as the governing mayor of the newly united Berlin. He quickly moved the mayor's office to Berlin's historic town hall in the Mitte district. During his second term, the German parliament (Bundestag) and most government offices moved from Bonn to Berlin.
In 1991, Diepgen ordered the removal of a large statue of Lenin. He wanted to remove symbols of the past dictatorship. In 1996, Diepgen helped decide that the new Berlin Brandenburg Airport would be built in Schönefeld. He also supported a plan to unite Berlin and the state of Brandenburg, but this idea did not pass in a public vote.
In 2000, Diepgen signed an agreement to make Berlin a twin city with Windhoek, the capital of Namibia. In June 2001, his political partners withdrew their support. They accused him of mismanagement. Diepgen then resigned, and Klaus Wowereit became the acting mayor. Diepgen also stepped down as the head of the CDU in Berlin.
Life After Politics
After leaving his role as mayor in 2001, Diepgen joined a law firm in Berlin. He has also been involved in many organizations. For example, he is the Chairman of the Board of Trustees for the Zoological Gardens of Berlin since 2010. He continues to be a respected figure in German politics.
Selected Awards
- Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany (1999)
- Honorary Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (1994)
See also
In Spanish: Eberhard Diepgen para niños
- Timeline of Berlin, 1980s–2000s
