Georg Leber facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Georg Leber
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Leber in 1974
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| Federal Minister of Defence (West Germany) |
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| In office 7 July 1972 – 1 February 1978 |
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| Chancellor | Willy Brandt Helmut Schmidt |
| Preceded by | Helmut Schmidt |
| Succeeded by | Hans Apel |
| Federal Minister of Transport (West Germany) |
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| In office 1 December 1966 – 7 July 1972 |
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| Chancellor | Kurt Georg Kiesinger Willy Brandt |
| Preceded by | Hans-Christoph Seebohm |
| Succeeded by | Lauritz Lauritzen |
| Federal Minister of Post and Communications (West Germany) |
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| In office 21 October 1969 – 7 July 1972 |
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| Chancellor | Willy Brandt |
| Preceded by | Werner Dollinger |
| Succeeded by | Lauritz Lauritzen |
| Vice President of the Bundestag (West Germany) |
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| In office 12 September 1979 – 29 March 1983 |
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| President | Richard Stücklen |
| Member of the German Bundestag | |
| In office 15 October 1957 – 29 March 1983 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born | 7 October 1920 Obertiefenbach (Beselich), Germany |
| Died | 21 August 2012 (aged 91) |
| Political party | Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  Nazi Germany |
| Branch/service |  Luftwaffe |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
Georg Leber (born October 7, 1920 – died August 21, 2012) was an important German Trades Union leader and a politician. He was a member of the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD).
Contents
Who Was Georg Leber?
Georg Leber was a well-known German politician. He served in several important government jobs. He was also a strong voice for workers as a trade union leader.
Early Life and Military Service
Georg Leber was born in a town called Obertiefenbach in Germany. When he was young, he joined the Luftwaffe, which was the German air force. He served during World War II.
A Career in Politics
After the war, in 1947, Georg Leber joined the SPD. This is one of Germany's main political parties. In 1957, he was elected to the Bundestag. The Bundestag is like Germany's parliament or main law-making body. He stayed a member of the Bundestag until 1983. He represented the area of Frankfurt am Main I.
Important Government Roles
In 1966, Georg Leber became the Minister for Transportation. This was part of a "grand coalition" government. A grand coalition happens when the two biggest political parties work together. He continued in this role and also became the Minister for Postal Service and Long-Distance Communication. This was under a government formed by the SPD and another party called the FDP.
Leading the Defence Ministry
In 1972, Georg Leber took on a new and very important role. He became the Minister of Defence. In this job, he was in charge of Germany's armed forces, called the Bundeswehr. During his time as minister, the Bundeswehr grew. He also helped start the Universities of the Bundeswehr in Munich and Hamburg. These universities help train future leaders for the armed forces.
In 1978, he left his position as Defence Minister. This happened after some issues came up within the ministry. From 1979 to 1983, he served as the Deputy Speaker of the Bundestag. This meant he helped lead the meetings of the parliament.
Later Years and Legacy
Georg Leber decided to leave politics in 1986. He and his wife moved to the countryside in Bavaria to enjoy their retirement. He also served on an advisory board for a foundation called the Bertelsmann Stiftung from 1990 to 1993. Georg Leber passed away in 2012 in Schönau.
