Editing Konrad Adenauer (section)

==Early Political Career==
Adenauer joined the Catholic Centre Party in 1906, rising through Cologne’s municipal politics. In 1917, at age 41, he was elected Mayor of Cologne, a position he held until 1933. His tenure was marked by urban development, including parks and infrastructure, earning him national prominence. He also served as president of the Prussian State Council (1920–1933) during the Weimar Republic, advocating for Rhineland interests. A devout Catholic, Adenauer opposed socialism and communism, shaping his conservative worldview. His principled stance against the Nazis led to his dismissal as mayor in 1933, after refusing to fly the Nazi flag. He faced harassment, including brief arrests in 1934 and 1944, and spent time in hiding, notably at Maria Laach monastery, fearing reprisals.
===Post-War Leadership and Chancellorship===
(1949–1963)
After World War II, Adenauer co-founded the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) in 1945, merging Catholic and Protestant conservatives into a broad-based party. He led the CDU from 1946 to 1966, becoming its first chancellor candidate. At age 73, he was elected the first Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany) on September 15, 1949, serving until October 16, 1963. His 14-year tenure, known as the “Adenauer Era,” transformed West Germany from a war-ravaged state into a prosperous, democratic nation.
===Key achievement===
Economic Miracle (Wirtschaftswunder): Under Adenauer and Economics Minister Ludwig Erhard, West Germany achieved rapid industrial recovery, driven by Marshall Plan aid, currency reform (1948), and market-oriented policies. By the 1950s, it was a global economic powerhouse.

Western Integration: A staunch anti-communist, Adenauer aligned West Germany with the West, joining [[NATO]] in 1955 and fostering ties with the U.S., U.K., and France. He negotiated the London Debt Agreement (1953), halving Germany’s war debts, and supported the Treaty of Rome (1957), laying the foundation for the European Economic Community (EEC), a precursor to the EU.

Franco-German Reconciliation: Adenauer’s partnership with French President Charles de Gaulle culminated in the Élysée Treaty (1963), ending centuries of rivalry and cementing European cooperation.

Rearmament and Security: Adenauer advocated for West German rearmament, establishing the Bundeswehr in 1955, despite domestic opposition, to counter Soviet threats, especially after the Korean War heightened Cold War tensions.