Kurt Georg Kiesinger

Kurt Georg Kiesinger (1904-1988), chancellor of West Germany (now part of the United Federal Republic of Germany) from 1966 to 1969. He was born in Ebingen, Württemberg, educated in law, and served in the German foreign ministry during World War II (1939-1945); he was later cleared of Nazi associations. As the leader of the Christian Democrats after the fall from power of Ludwig Erhard, he formed the “grand coalition” government with the Social Democrats that served the latter as a springboard to their hold on power after 1969.