Peter Struck (politician) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Peter Struck
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Struck in 2010
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| Leader of the Social Democratic Party in the Bundestag | |
| In office 22 November 2005 – 27 September 2009 |
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| Chief Whip | Olaf Scholz Thomas Oppermann |
| Preceded by | Franz Müntefering |
| Succeeded by | Frank-Walter Steinmeier |
| In office 27 October 1998 – 19 July 2002 |
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| Chief Whip | Wilhelm Schmidt |
| Preceded by | Rudolf Scharping |
| Succeeded by | Ludwig Stiegler |
| Federal Minister of Defence | |
| In office 19 July 2002 – 22 November 2005 |
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| Chancellor | Gerhard Schröder |
| Preceded by | Rudolf Scharping |
| Succeeded by | Franz-Josef Jung |
| Member of the Bundestag for Celle – Uelzen |
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| In office 27 September 1998 – 27 September 2009 |
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| Preceded by | Klaus-Jürgen Hedrich |
| Succeeded by | Henning Otte |
| Member of the Bundestag for Lower Saxony |
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| In office 5 October 1980 – 27 September 1998 |
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| Constituency | Social Democratic Party List |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 24 January 1943 Göttingen, Lower Saxony, Germany |
| Died | 19 December 2012 (aged 69) Berlin, Germany |
| Political party | Social Democratic Party |
| Alma mater | University of Göttingen University of Hamburg |
| Profession | Lawyer |
Peter Struck (born January 24, 1943 – died December 19, 2012) was an important German politician. He was a lawyer and a member of the Social Democratic Party (SPD). From 2002 to 2005, he served as Germany's Minister of Defence under Chancellor Gerhard Schröder.
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Peter Struck: A German Politician
Peter Struck was a well-known figure in German politics for many years. He was known for his calm and thoughtful approach to difficult issues. He played a key role in shaping Germany's defense policies and was a respected leader within his political party.
Early Life and Education
Peter Struck was born in Göttingen, Germany, on January 24, 1943. After finishing high school in 1962, he decided to study law.
He attended two famous universities in Germany: the University of Göttingen and the University of Hamburg. In 1971, he earned his law degree, becoming a "Doctor of Laws." This strong educational background helped him in his later political career.
His Time in Politics
Peter Struck was a member of the Bundestag, which is Germany's parliament, for a long time. He served there from 1980 until 2009. He first joined the Bundestag in 1980.
Over the years, he became very popular. Because of this, he was directly elected by voters in 1998, 2002, and 2005. From 1990 to 1998, he was the "whip" for the SPD group in parliament. This means he helped make sure party members voted together. Later, from 1998 to 2002, he became the chairman of the SPD's group in the Bundestag.
Serving as Defence Minister
In 2002, Peter Struck became Germany's Federal Minister of Defence. He held this important job until 2005. During his time as minister, Germany was working to make its military more flexible. The goal was to create a force that could respond quickly to smaller conflicts around the world.
Struck believed in keeping conscription, where young people have to serve in the military. However, in 2003, he announced that Germany would make its military smaller. The plan was to reduce the number of troops to 250,000 by 2010. He also ordered a big reduction in the number of heavy Leopard 2 tanks. These changes were needed because of money issues and new security challenges.
One of his most famous quotes came during this time. He said that "German security is being defended in the Hindu Kush." This meant that Germany's safety was linked to its military efforts in places like Afghanistan. In 2004, he made it clear that Germany would not agree to combine the NATO-led forces in Afghanistan with other military groups. He worried this could lead to more dangers for German soldiers.
Leading the SPD Group
After the 2005 elections, Peter Struck returned to his role as the chairman of the SPD parliamentary group. He continued in this leadership position until he retired from politics in 2009.
Between 2007 and 2009, Struck also helped lead a special group. This group worked on reforming how power was shared between Germany's federal government and its states.
Later Years and Legacy
After leaving active politics in 2009, Peter Struck became the chairman of the Friedrich Ebert Foundation. This organization is a political think tank connected to the SPD party.
Sadly, Peter Struck had health problems in his later years. He passed away from a heart attack on December 19, 2012, in Berlin. Many important people attended his funeral. These included former chancellors, other politicians, and military leaders. They all spoke about his important contributions to Germany.
Famous Sayings
Peter Struck is remembered for two well-known quotes:
- "The security of the Federal Republic of Germany is being defended in the Hindu Kush too."
- He said this as Minister of Defence. It helped explain why Germany's army, traditionally for defense, was involved in conflicts far away.
- "Legislation always obeys the First Struckian Law: No bill comes out of Parliament in the form it came into Parliament."
- As the SPD whip, he humorously described how laws change a lot as they go through parliament.
See also
