Birth of Conrad Adenauer
Birth of Conrad Adenauer, the "Old Fox"
Historical biography archive · Updated 2026-11-03
Konrad Adenauer Biography and Timeline
Follow Konrad Adenauer through 59 dated historical records for Germany.
Konrad Adenauer, historical timeline
A chronological timeline drawn from matching World History Database records.
59Distinct records
1 of 2Page
1876–1956Years on this page
1876
1909
Deputy Mayor
Appointed Deputy Mayor of Cologne
1917
Mayor
Appointed Mayor of Cologne
Role range: 1917-1933
1921
President of Germany
Appointed President of the Prussian Council
Role range: 1921-1933
1933
Exile of Konrad Adenauer
Forced to flee to Switzerland because of his opposition to Hitler
Dismissal
Dismissed by the Nazis
Role range: 1921-1933
1934
Arrest of Konrad Adenauer
Arrested by the Gestapo
1944
Arrest of Konrad Adenauer
Arrested because of his opposition to Hitler
1945
Christian Democratic Union of Germany
Rather than revive the Centre Party Adenauer creates the CDU. Founds & leads the Christian Democratic Union
Role range: 1945-1963
1948
Chairman
Appointed Chairman of the Parliamentary Council, West Germany's ruling body
Constitution of Germany
The Basic Laws are drawn up to provide West Germany with a working constitution. The Basic Law rests on the will of the people of the western Lander. A Federal Assembly, the Bundestag, is to be elected every 4 yrs by universal suffrage. A Constitution is postponed until re-unification
Legislation
The Basic Law rests on the will of the people of the western Lander
Universal Suffrage
A Federal Assembly, the Bundestag, is to be elected every 4 yrs by universal suffrage
1949
Basic Law
The Basic Law (Grundgesetz), invests the Chancellor (German, Bundeskanzler) with broad powers to initiate Government policy & for that reason, some observers refer to the German political system as a "Chancellor democracy"
Role range: 1949-1963
Basic Law
The Chancellor's authority emanates from the provisions of the Basic Law and in practice from his or her status as leader of the party (or coalition of parties) holding a majority of seats in the Bundestag (federal Parliament)
Role range: 1949-1963
Constitution of Germany
The Basic Law (Grundgesetz), invests the Chancellor (German, Bundeskanzler) with broad powers to initiate Government policy & for that reason, some observers refer to the German political system as a "Chancellor democracy"
Role range: 1949-1963
Constitution of Germany
The Chancellor's authority emanates from the provisions of the Basic Law and in practice from his or her status as leader of the party (or coalition of parties) holding a majority of seats in the Bundestag (federal Parliament)
Role range: 1949-1963
Constitution of Germany
With the founding of the Federal Republic, the German Chancellor is now officially addressed as "Herr Bundeskanzler"
Role range: 1949-1963
Federal Republic
Establishes the Federal Republics constitution
Role range: 1949-1963
Legislation
The Basic Law (Grundgesetz), invests the Chancellor (German, Bundeskanzler) with broad powers to initiate Government policy & for that reason, some observers refer to the German political system as a "Chancellor democracy"
Role range: 1949-1963
Chancellor
Appointed Chancellor of Germany
Role range: 1949-1963
Government
Forms a coalition Government of the CDU, CSU, FDP & DP parties
Role range: 1949-1963
Election
Wins the 1st post war election for the CDU & heads a coalition Government
Role range: 1949-1963
Chancellor
The CDU wins a majority in the elections to the Federal Parliament
Role range: 1949-1963
Election
The CDU wins a majority in the elections to the Federal Parliament
Role range: 1949-1963
1950
Economy of Germany
Rationing ends in West Germany, apart from sugar
Role range: 1949-1963
Rationing
Rationing ends in West Germany, apart from sugar
Role range: 1949-1963
Advocates economic union with France
Advocates economic union with France
Role range: 1949-1963
Economy of Germany
Advocates economic union with France
Role range: 1949-1963
Schuman Plan
The Schuman Plan is launched in Paris. The French & German coal, iron & steel industries are placed under a single authority
Role range: 1949-1963
EPU
The European Payments Union is founded which regularizes trade payments
Role range: 1949-1963
1951
Treaty of Paris
Signs the European Coal and Steel Community treaty as West Germany enters postwar European cooperation.
Role range: 1951-1951 – 1949-1963
Constitution of Germany
The FDR & DDR agree to send reresentatives to the United Nations to discuss free elections. Russia opposes free elections in Germany
Role range: 1949-1963
Election
The FDR & DDR agree to send reresentatives to the United Nations to discuss free elections. Russia opposes free elections in Germany
Role range: 1949-1963
1953
Chancellor
Appointed Chancellor
Role range: 1949-1963
1955
German Membership of NATO
West Germany joins NATO
German Membership of NATO
West Germany promises bot to violate the defensive NATO charter and invade East Germany to achieve German reunification
Referendum
A referendum in the Saar votes for reunification with Germany
Role range: 1949-1963
Rule of Saarland
A referendum in the Saar votes for reunification with Germany
Role range: 1949-1963
1956
Spaak Report Approval
Supports using the Spaak Report as the basis for treaty negotiations.
Role range: 1956-1956 – 1949-1963
Records, sources and methodology
These dates and descriptions come from the historical_events database. Exact duplicate records have been collapsed. Names are grouped by the country, Name 2 and Name 1 fields; records with missing Name 2 cannot be reliably assigned to an individual biography. Check the underlying sources before formal citation.