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Ludwig ErhardGerman economist, politician
Date of Birth: 04.02.1897
Country:  Germany |
Content:
Biography of Ludwig Erhard
Early Life and EducationLudwig Erhard was born on February 4, 1897, in Fürth, Bavaria. From 1913 to 1916, he studied commerce in Nuremberg and then worked as a salesman in his father's small shop. Despite suffering from childhood polio, which left his right leg impaired, Erhard joined the military during World War I and served as an artilleryman in Romania. In September 1918, he sustained a severe injury to his left arm in the battle of Ypres. After multiple surgeries, his arm was not fully restored, and in 1919, Erhard retired from the military.
Erhard then pursued economics at Nuremberg, where he received a degree in trade. He furthered his studies in Frankfurt am Main, earning a degree in business administration and sociology. In 1925, he obtained his doctorate under the guidance of renowned economist Franz Oppenheimer. During his time in Frankfurt, Erhard married Luise Lotter, an economist as well, and they had a daughter named Elisabeth.
Career and Contributions
After completing his education, Erhard returned to Fürth and took over his parents' business in 1925. However, the family business went bankrupt in 1928 due to the global economic crisis. From 1928 to 1942, Erhard worked as a research associate and deputy director at the Institute for Economic Observation of German Finished Goods in Nuremberg. He also taught at the Nuremberg College of Commerce.
Even during the early 1930s, Erhard advocated for a competitive economy and a free market. Due to his old injury, he did not serve in the military during World War II. Instead, he developed economic concepts for the post-war world, although these studies were officially banned by the Nazis. Erhard also had connections to the German Resistance during the war.
In 1945, Erhard became an economic advisor to the American military administration in Bavaria and served as the Minister of Economy in the Bavarian cabinet. In 1947, during the Bizone period, he led an expert commission to prepare monetary and economic reforms. The following year, as the Director of the Economic Administration of the Bizone, he introduced the German mark, abolished state planning and economic regulation, and promoted market-oriented policies.
In September 1949, Erhard was appointed as the Minister of Economy in Chancellor Konrad Adenauer's cabinet. His decision to remove controls on the pricing of most goods in 1948 and his consistent advocacy for a free market, despite strong opposition, played a crucial role in West Germany's remarkable post-war economic recovery and integration of millions of refugees from the East.
After Adenauer's resignation in 1963, Erhard was elected as the Chancellor of West Germany on October 16. He was reelected in 1965 and served until his resignation on December 1, 1966. Despite stepping down as Chancellor, Erhard remained politically active and continued as a member of the West German parliament until his death.
Legacy and Personal Life
Ludwig Erhard passed away on May 5, 1977, in Bonn due to heart failure. Throughout his life, Erhard was often seen with a cigar, which became an iconic part of his image. He was known to smoke 15 to 20 cigars a day. Erhard's love for cigars is captured in numerous photographs, portraits, and even postage stamps released in his honor.
