What JFK was for the American was Willy for the West Germans.
After twenty years with three chancellors from the Christ Democrats and one year after massive protest from the APO (außerparlamentarische Opposition/ outer parliament opposition) it was time for a change. This change was embodied in Willy Brandt, the former Mayor of West Berlin and first social democratic Chancellor.
In his tenure, which lasted four years, he pushed a policy of reconciliation with the eastern states, namely Poland, with the acceptance of the after war borders, an act which was not welcomed by the Christ Democrats. Most prominent is his prostration before the memorial for the victims of the Ghetto in Warsaw.
There were also slight changes in the federal Law, to let it fit in the modern times. For example they revise the rules for divorce, so that there was no more the question if someone is guilty for the failing of the marriage.His real name was Herbert Ernst Karl Frahm, Willy Brandt was his alias which originates from his time in the underground movement during the second World War. He emigrated to Denmark and later to Norway, because his party was very fast prohibited after the NSDAP gained power.
Unlike other leaders he was never a real man who searched for power. He was charming and a Ladies man and he is maybe the only chancellor the Germans really loved. They maybe respected Adenauer and Schmidt and liked Kohl and Erhardt, but they didn’t love them.
After his close colleague Guillome was exposed as a spy from the East German intelligence STASI, he didn’t have had too much trouble with giving up his position. This had several reasons, but he was most likely tired of the fights inside his party.
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