Theodor Heuss facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Theodor Heuss
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President Heuss in 1953
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| President of Germany | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office 12 September 1949 – 12 September 1959 |
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| Chancellor | Konrad Adenauer | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Karl Arnold (acting) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | Heinrich Lübke | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Leader of the Free Democratic Party | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office 12 December 1948 – 12 September 1949 |
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| Deputy | Franz Blücher | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Position established | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | Franz Blücher | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Leader of the Free Democratic Party in the Bundestag |
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| In office 4 September 1949 – 12 September 1949 |
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| Preceded by | Position established | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | Hermann Schäfer | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Personal details | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 31 January 1884 Brackenheim, Kingdom of Württemberg, German Empire |
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| Died | 12 December 1963 (aged 79) Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg, West Germany |
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| Political party | FVP (1910–1918) DDP (1918–1933) DPD (1947–1948) FDP (1948–1963) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Spouse |
Elly Knapp
(m. 1908; died 1952) |
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| Children | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Alma mater | LMU Munich | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Profession | Journalist | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Signature |  |
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Theodor Heuss (born January 31, 1884 – died December 12, 1963) was a German liberal politician. He served as the first president of West Germany from 1949 to 1959.
Heuss was known for his friendly personality. This was quite different from the serious nature of Chancellor Konrad Adenauer. His calm approach helped make democracy strong in West Germany. This happened during the time of the Wirtschaftswunder, which means "economic miracle." Before becoming a politician, Heuss worked as a journalist.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Theodor Heuss was born in Brackenheim. This is a small town in Württemberg, Germany. It is known for making wine.
He went to the Karlsgymnasium in Heilbronn. He finished school there in 1902. This school is now called the Theodor-Heuss-Gymnasium. It was renamed to honor him.
Heuss studied many subjects at university. He learned about economics, art history, and political science. He studied at the universities in Munich and Berlin.
He earned his doctorate degree in Munich in 1905. His teacher for this was Lujo Brentano. Heuss also learned from Friedrich Naumann, a German politician. In 1908, he married Elly Heuss-Knapp. They had one son together. A close friend of Elly's, Albert Schweitzer, led their wedding ceremony.
Personal Life
Theodor Heuss was a member of the Evangelical Church in Germany.
Career as a Journalist and Politician
After his studies, Heuss worked as a political journalist. He worked in Berlin from 1905 to 1912. During this time, he led a magazine called Die Hilfe ("The Aid"). From 1912 to 1918, he was the main editor of the Neckarzeitung in Heilbronn. He also edited a weekly newsletter called Deutsche Politik in Berlin.
In 1903, Heuss joined the Free-minded Union. This party later joined with the Progressive People's Party. He stayed active in this party until it ended in 1918.
After World War I, Heuss published a magazine. It was called Die Deutsche Nation ("The German Nation"). He was a member of the German Democratic Party (DDP). This party was later renamed the German State Party. Heuss was a member of the Reichstag parliament. He served from 1924 to 1928 and again from 1930 to 1933.
During Nazi Germany
On March 23, 1933, Heuss voted for the Enabling Act. This law gave Adolf Hitler special powers. Heuss had planned to not vote, but he followed his party's decision.
After Germany became a one-party state, his party was dissolved. Heuss lost his position in the Reichstag in July 1933. He then went back to his private life. During the Nazi era, he kept in touch with other liberals. He had some contact with the German resistance towards the end of the war. However, he was not an active member.
In 1936, Heuss was not allowed to publish his writings. But in 1941, he started working for the Frankfurter Zeitung. This was one of the few liberal newspapers left. Heuss wrote under different names. The paper was finally stopped in 1943. He then spent years writing a book about Robert Bosch.
Heuss also wrote for the Nazi newspaper Das Reich. This paper was started by Joseph Goebbels. It was meant to be a more educated version of other Nazi publications.
After World War II
After World War II, the US military government gave Heuss a job. On September 24, 1945, he became the first Minister of Education and Cultural Affairs. This was in the German state of Württemberg-Baden. He left this job in 1946.
Heuss helped start the Democratic People's Party. This party later became the Free Democratic Party (FDP). He was a member of the Württemberg-Baden state parliament from 1946 to 1949. Heuss also taught history at the Stuttgart Institute of Technology. He became an honorary professor there in 1948.
Heuss wanted to unite all liberal parties in West Germany. In December 1948, he was chosen to lead the new Free Democratic Party. In 1948, he helped write West Germany's constitution. This was called the Basic Law for the Federal Republic of Germany.
Becoming President of West Germany
Heuss was elected to the first German Bundestag. But he gave up his seat on September 12, 1949. This was because he was elected President. He won against Kurt Schumacher, the leader of the Social Democrats.
Heuss took an oath to serve as president. He refused to be called “Excellency”. He preferred to be called “Herr Heuss”. Today, the German president is called Herr Bundespräsident. Heuss wanted a new national anthem. But Chancellor Adenauer decided to keep the third verse of the old Deutschlandlied. This happened in 1952.
Heuss's wife died in 1952. He was re-elected president in 1954. There was almost no opposition. The Social Democrats did not nominate another candidate. In May 1956, he made his first state visit. He was invited by King Paul of Greece. Heuss received a very warm welcome in Athens. This was important because Germany had occupied Greece during World War II.
Heuss stayed in office until September 12, 1959. Heinrich Lübke became the next president. Heuss did not want a third term. This would have meant changing the constitution.
Heuss shaped the role of president by being fair to all parties. He represented Germany's democratic and cultural traditions. He helped other countries trust the new Federal Republic of Germany. His visits to Turkey, Italy, Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom helped improve Germany's image.
Heuss was against re-arming Germany. He also opposed creating the new West German Army in 1955. But he could not stop it. His ironic speech at the swearing-in of the first new soldiers is famous. He said, "Nun siegt mal schön!" which means "Happy war-winning!"
In 1959, Heuss received the important Friedenspreis des Deutschen Buchhandels award. He talked about the memory of Nazism and the Holocaust. He used the idea of collective shame, not collective guilt. He encouraged Germans to never forget the Holocaust. He clearly described the crimes against Jewish people.
Theodor Heuss died in Stuttgart on December 12, 1963. He was 79 years old.
In 1957, Heuss gave a sculpted entrance to a cemetery in Vatican City. This entrance was made by sculptor Elmar Hillebrand. It leads from the Teutonic Cemetery to a church.
Legacy and Honors
Since 1964, the Theodor Heuss Prize has been given out. It honors people who show good democratic behavior. Heuss's old home is now a public museum. It is called the Theodor-Heuss-Haus.
His picture appeared on a two-mark coin. Many streets and squares in Germany are named after him. His image was also on stamps in West Germany from 1954 to 1960. An Airbus A340 plane used by the German government is also named after him.
Awards and Recognition
- Honorary doctorate from the Free University of Berlin (1949)
- Special Class of the Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany (1952)
- Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (1953)
- Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of the Falcon (Iceland, 1955)
- Justus Moser Medal|de|3=Justus-Möser-Medaille (Osnabrück, 1956)
- Honorary Citizen of Olympia (1956)
- Great Star of Honour for Services to the Republic of Austria (1956)
- Honorary doctorate from the Laval University (1958)
- Theodor Heuss Chair at The New School
Images for kids
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President Heuss in 1953
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Theodor Heuss's signature
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Heuss with King Paul of Greece and Mayor Pafsanias Katsotas in Athens in May 1956.
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Konrad Adenauer and Heuss on 14 September 1959.
See also
In Spanish: Theodor Heuss para niños
