Kiesinger, Kurt Georg (1904-1988), was chancellor of West Germany from 1966 to 1969. As chancellor, Kiesinger favored European unity and Great Britain’s entry into the European Common Market. He tried to improve West Germany’s relations with East Germany and other Communist nations.
Kiesinger was born in Ebingen, and studied law at the universities of Tubingen and Berlin. Kiesinger joined the Nazi Party in 1933, but he has stated that he opposed Adolf Hitler after 1934. He held a minor post in the German foreign office during World War II. From 1949 to 1958, he served in the Bundestag in the West German Parliament. From 1958 to 1966, he was minister president of Baden-Wurttemberg state. Kiesinger served as chairman of the Christian Democratic Union Party from 1967 to 1971.
