View source for Erhard Eppler

{{Short description|German politician (1926–2019)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2021}}
{{Infobox Politician 
| name = Erhard Eppler
| image = Bundesarchiv B 145 Bild-F039410-0008, Hannover, SPD-Bundesparteitag, Eppler (cropped).jpg
| birth_date = {{birth date|1926|12|09|df=yes}} 
| birth_place = [[Ulm]], [[Weimar Republic]]
| death_date = {{death date and age|2019|10|19|1926|12|09|df=yes}} 
| death_place = [[Schwäbisch Hall]], Germany
| office = [[Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development|Minister for Economic Cooperation]]
| term_start = 1968 
| term_end = 1974 
| predecessor = [[Hans-Jürgen Wischnewski]] 
| successor = [[Egon Bahr]] 
| party = [[Social Democratic Party of Germany|Social Democratic Party]]
| occupation = Teacher}}

'''Erhard Eppler''' (9 December 1926 – 19 October 2019)<ref name="Spiegel" /> was a German politician of the [[Social Democratic Party of Germany|Social Democratic Party]] (SPD) and founder of the [[Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit]] (GTZ).<ref>{{cite interview|url=http://www.gtz.de/en/top-themen/7222.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927172928/http://www.gtz.de/en/top-themen/7222.htm |archive-date=27 September 2007|title=30 years GTZ – An interview with Erhard Eppler|subject=Erhard Eppler|work=GTZ|date=27 September 2007|access-date=5 July 2013|interviewer=Lena Traub}}</ref> He studied English, German and history in [[Frankfurt University|Frankfurt]], [[Bern University of Applied Sciences|Bern]] and [[Tübingen University|Tübingen]], achieved a PhD and worked as a teacher. He met [[Gustav Heinemann]] in the late 1940s, who became a role model. Eppler was a member of the [[Bundestag]] from 1961 to 1976. He was appointed [[Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development|Minister for Economic Cooperation]] first in 1968 during the [[Grand coalition (Germany)|grand coalition]] of [[Kurt Georg Kiesinger]] (CDU) and [[Willy Brandt]] (SPD), continuing under Chancellor Brandt in 1969 and Chancellor [[Helmut Schmidt]] (SPD) in 1974, when he stepped down.

An early thinker on [[environmental sustainability]] and peace movements, Eppler was involved in various controversies within his party. He was president of the [[Deutscher Evangelischer Kirchentag]] (German Protestant Church Assembly) from 1981 to 1983 and again from 1989 to 1991.

== Early years ==
Born in [[Ulm]] on 9 December 1926, Eppler grew up in [[Schwäbisch Hall]] where his father was the headmaster of the local grammar school.<ref name="Munzinger" /> His grandfather was pastor at the [[Ulmer Münster]].<ref name="Munzinger" /> During World War II, Eppler served from 1943 to 1945 in an anti-aircraft unit.<ref name="Hofmann" /> He passed his [[Abitur]] in 1946, and studied English, German and history at the [[Frankfurt University]], in [[Bern University of Applied Sciences|Bern]] and in [[Tübingen University|Tübingen]].<ref name="Munzinger" /> In 1951, he completed his [[PhD]] with a thesis on [[Elizabethan theater|Elizabethan tragedy]]. He worked as a teacher at the [[Gymnasium (Germany)|Gymnasium]] in [[Villingen-Schwenningen|Schwenningen]] from 1953 until 1961.<ref name="Munzinger" />

== Eppler and political parties ==
Eppler became a member of the [[National Socialist German Workers Party|NSDAP]] in September 1943, at the age of 16. Later he spoke of this decision as "stupidity",<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dradio.de/dlf/sendungen/interview_dlf/646690/ |title=Eppler nennt NSDAP-Antrag eine Dummheit |publisher=Dradio |date=16 July 2007 |access-date=5 July 2013}}</ref> but also said, "It wasn't against my will that I ended up on some list [of members of the NSDAP], but I accepted it. Things were like that in those times."<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.focus.de/politik/deutschland/focus_aid_66578.html |title=Neue prominente Namen in NSDAP-Kartei |work= [[Focus (German magazine)|Focus]] |date=28 June 2013 |access-date=5 July 2013}}</ref>

While he was studying in Bern at the end of the 1940s, Eppler got to know [[Gustav Heinemann]], one of the founders of the [[Christian Democratic Union (Germany)|Christian Democratic Union]] (CDU).<ref name="Munzinger" /> Heinemann became Minister of the Interior from 1949 to 1950, but then left the cabinet, and later the CDU, together with several other party members who disagreed with Chancellor [[Konrad Adenauer]]'s policy of complete integration into the Western world. Eppler joined Heinemann's new party, the [[All-German People's Party]] (Gesamtdeutsche Volkspartei), in 1952,<ref name="Hofmann" /> but like most members of the GVP, including Heinemann, he changed over to the [[Social Democratic Party of Germany]] (SPD) in 1956.<ref name="Munzinger" /><!-- after the GVP only attracted small numbers of voters in elections. The fact that active members of the [[Evangelische Kirche in Deutschland|Protestant Church]] like Eppler and Heinemann joined the SPD helped that party to overcome the prejudices that it was an "atheist" party and that Christian values were only represented in the CDU.<ref>[http://www.geest-verlag.de/tageskalender/5-maerz-historisches-ereignis-gustav-heinemann-wird-bundespraesident ] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719031707/http://www.geest-verlag.de/tageskalender/5-maerz-historisches-ereignis-gustav-heinemann-wird-bundespraesident |date=19 July 2011 }}</ref>-->

For most of the time between 1970 and 1991 Eppler belonged to the SPD's National Executive Committee. He chaired an SPD commission on tax reform, and from 1973 to 1991 served on a commission for formulating the party's basic values (''Grundwertekommission''), where he supported opposition to atomic energy.<ref name="Krauel" />

From 1973 to 1981 Eppler was the leader of the regional SPD in [[Baden-Württemberg]]. He was the SPD's candidate for the office of [[minister-president]] in that state, but his party was defeated by the CDU in two state elections.<ref name="SWR" />

== Member of parliament and minister ==
<!--[[File:Eppler3.jpg|thumb|2002]] -->
Eppler was a member of the [[Bundestag]], the parliament of the Federal Republic of Germany, from 1961 to 1976.<ref name="Appenzeller" /><!-- Between 1972 and 1976 he represented the constituency of [[Heilbronn]] there. From 1976 he represented the constituency of [[Rottweil]] in the [[Landtag of Baden-Württemberg]], the state parliament. Until 1980 he was leader of the parliamentary SPD in the Landtag. On 30 June 1982, he resigned as a member of parliament after his election defeats of 1976 and 1980.-->

On 16 October 1968, Eppler was appointed [[Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development (Germany)|Minister for Economic Cooperation]] in the [[Grand coalition (Germany)|grand coalition]] government of Chancellor [[Kurt Georg Kiesinger]] (CDU) and Foreign Minister [[Willy Brandt]] (SPD). He continued in that office when Willy Brandt became Chancellor in 1969,<ref name="Hofmann" /> but after his department was subject to severe budget cuts under the following Chancellor, [[Helmut Schmidt]] (SPD) in 1974, he stepped down in protest.<ref name="Hofmann" /><ref name="Appenzeller" />

== Political views ==
Eppler has always been considered to be a proponent of the left within the SPD. During [[Gerhard Schröder]]'s second term as Chancellor (2002–2005), however, he supported the government's economic and social reforms, which were widely criticized as [[Neoliberalism|neo-liberal]] ([[Agenda 2010]]). Moreover, although he had been close to the [[peace movement]] of the 1980s,<ref name="Tagesschau" /> he supported the foreign policy of the Schröder government and approved of German participation in the military interventions in [[Kosovo]] in 1999 and [[Afghanistan]] since 2001. He was an early adopter of views about ecological topics and environmental protection.<ref name="Tagesschau" /> In spite of his general loyalty to his party's leadership, he was especially unhappy with much of its economic policy during the party's time in power.<ref>Erhard Eppler, ''Eine Partei für das zweite Jahrzehnt: die SPD?'', Vorwärts-Buch, 2008, {{ISBN|978-3-86602-175-4}}</ref>

In his book ''Not much time for the Third World'',<ref>Erhard Eppler, ''Not much time for the Third World'', translated by Gerard Finan, London (Wolff) 1972</ref> Eppler was one of the first to point out the connections between environmental protection and international development.<ref name="Hofmann" />

== Social involvement ==
[[File:2015-12 Erhard Eppler SPD Bundesparteitag by Olaf Kosinsky-2.jpg|thumb|Eppler in 2015]]
After his withdrawal from federal politics, Eppler involved himself more in his work in the [[Evangelical Church in Germany|Protestant Church]]. From 1981 to 1983 and again from 1989 to 1991, he was president of the [[Deutscher Evangelischer Kirchentag]] (German Protestant Church Congress).<ref name="Hofmann" />

Eppler was also a member of the Wacholderhof Association, which promotes international cooperation, fair trade, and environmental sustainability<!--, and of the Association of Protestant Academics in Germany-->. Eppler's numerous publications also show his political and social involvement. They deal with a wide range of subjects that concern not only the political situation in Germany and the economy but also general questions of developments in politics and society.<ref name="Hofmann" /> In 2006, one of his books on the role of the state was honoured with the ''Das politische Buch 2006'' prize of the [[Friedrich Ebert Foundation]].<ref>Erhard Eppler, ''Auslaufmodell Staat?'' Edition Suhrkamp no. 2462, 2005, {{ISBN|3-518-12462-5}}</ref>

== Works ==
Eppler's books are held by the [[German National Library]], including:<ref>[https://portal.dnb.de/opac.htm?method=simpleSearch&reset=true&cqlMode=true&query=auRef%3D11853064X&selectedCategory=any Publications by Erharde Eppler] [[German National Library]]</ref>
* ''Die tödliche Utopie der Sicherheit.'' Rowohlt, Reinbek bei Hamburg 1983, {{ISBN|3-498-01631-8}}.
* ''Plattform für eine neue Mehrheit. Ein Kommentar zum Berliner Programm der SPD'' (= ''Politik im Taschenbuch.'' Band 1). Dietz, Bonn 1990, {{ISBN|3-8012-0158-9}}.
* ''Kavalleriepferde beim Hornsignal. Die Krise der Politik im Spiegel der Sprache'' (= ''Edition Suhrkamp'' 1788 = NF 788). Suhrkamp, Frankfurt am Main 1992, {{ISBN|3-518-11788-2}}.
* ''Privatisierung der politischen Moral?'' (= ''Edition Suhrkamp. Standpunkte'' 2185). Suhrkamp, Frankfurt am Main 2000, {{ISBN|3-518-12185-5}}.
* ''Komplettes Stückwerk. Erfahrungen aus fünfzig Jahren Politik.'' Insel-Verlag, Frankfurt am Main u. a. 1996, {{ISBN|3-458-16770-6}}.
* ''Eine Partei für das zweite Jahrzehnt: die SPD?'' Vorwärts-Buch, Berlin 2008, {{ISBN|978-3-86602-175-4}}.
* ''Der Politik aufs Maul geschaut. Kleines Wörterbuch zum öffentlichen Sprachgebrauch.'' Dietz, Bonn 2009, {{ISBN|978-3-8012-0397-9}}.
* ''Eine solidarische Leistungsgesellschaft. Epochenwechsel nach der Blamage der Marktliberalen.'' Dietz, Bonn 2011, {{ISBN|978-3-8012-0422-8}}.
* ''Links leben. Erinnerungen eines Wertkonservativen.'' Propyläen Verlag, Berlin 2015, {{ISBN|978-3-549-07465-7}}.

== References ==
{{Reflist
| refs =

<ref name="Appenzeller">{{cite news
| last = Appenzeller
| first = Gerd
| url = https://www.tagesspiegel.de/politik/zum-tod-von-erhard-eppler-er-war-das-gewissen-der-spd/25134500.html
| title = Zum Tod von Erhard Eppler / Er war das Gewissen der SPD
| newspaper = [[Der Tagesspiegel]]
| date = 19 October 2019
| language = de
| access-date = 20 October 2019
}}</ref>

<ref name="Hofmann">{{cite news
| last = Hofmann
| first = Gunter
| url = https://www.zeit.de/politik/deutschland/2019-10/erhard-eppler-spd-politiker-nachruf/komplettansicht
| title = Erhard Eppler / Seiner Zeit weit voraus
| newspaper = [[Die Zeit]]
| date = 19 October 2019
| language = de
| access-date = 20 October 2019
}}</ref>

<ref name="Krauel">{{cite news
| last = Krauel
| first = Torsten
| url = https://www.welt.de/politik/deutschland/article202173876/Nachruf-auf-Erhard-Eppler-Gebeugt-und-gestaerkt-vom-Kreuz-seiner-Zeit.html
| title = Nachruf auf Erhard Eppler / Gebeugt und gestärkt vom Kreuz seiner Zeit
| newspaper = [[Die Welt]]
| date = 19 October 2019
| language = de
| access-date = 20 October 2019
}}</ref>

<ref name="Munzinger">{{cite web
| url = https://www.munzinger.de/search/go/document.jsp?id=00000012072
| title = Erhard Eppler
| website = Munzinger Online / Persons – International Biographical Archive
| language = de
| access-date = 19 October 2019
}}</ref>

<ref name="Spiegel">{{cite news
| url = https://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/erhard-eppler-spd-vordenker-ist-im-alter-von-92-jahren-gestorben-a-1292353.html
| title = SPD-Urgestein Erhard Eppler ist tot
| newspaper = [[Der Spiegel]]
| date = 19 October 2019
| access-date = 19 October 2019
}}</ref>

<ref name="SWR">{{cite news
| url = https://www.swr.de/swraktuell/baden-wuerttemberg/spd-urgestein-gestorben,erhard-eppler-tot-100.html
| title = SPD-Urgestein Erhard Eppler gestorben
| work = [[Südwestrundfunk|SWR]]
| date = 19 October 2019
| access-date = 19 October 2019
}}</ref>

<ref name="Tagesschau">{{cite web
| url = https://www.tagesschau.de/inland/erhard-eppler-gestorben-101.html
| title = Mit 92 Jahren / SPD-Vordenker Erhard Eppler gestorben
| website = tagesschau.de
| publisher = [[Tagesschau (German TV series)|Tagesschau]]
| date = 19 October 2019
| access-date = 20 October 2019
}}</ref>

}}

== External links ==
{{Commonscat}}
* {{official|http://www.erhard-eppler.de/}}
* {{DNB portal|11853064X}}
* {{DDB|Person|11853064X}}
* {{IMDb name|nm2859135}}
* [https://www.faz.net/aktuell/politik/thema/erhard-eppler Erhard Eppler] (related articles) [[Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung|FAZ]]
* [https://www.willy-brandt-biografie.de/wegbegleiter/e-g/eppler-erhard/ Erhard Eppler] willy-brandt-biografie.de
* [http://www.100jahre-derfilm.de/stadt-zeiten/stadtzeiten_protagonisten.html ''Die eilende Zeit''] (documentary) 100jahre-derfilm.de, 2007
* [http://www.taz.de/nc/1/archiv/digitaz/artikel/?ressort=me&dig=2007%2F12%2F12%2Fa0120&src=GI&cHash=68b4d71d16 ''Der Gott des Wettbewerbs''] ''[[Die Tageszeitung|taz]]'', 12 December 2007
* [http://www.sueddeutsche.de/finanzen/544/466129/text/5/ ''Reden wir über Geld. Interview.''] ''[[Süddeutsche Zeitung]]'', 24 April 2009

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Eppler, Erhard}}
[[Category:1926 births]]
[[Category:2019 deaths]]
[[Category:People from Ulm]]
[[Category:People from the Free People's State of Württemberg]]
[[Category:All-German People's Party politicians]]
[[Category:Economic Cooperation ministers of Germany]]
[[Category:Members of the Bundestag for Baden-Württemberg]]
[[Category:Members of the Bundestag 1972–1976]]
[[Category:Members of the Bundestag 1969–1972]]
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[[Category:Grand Crosses with Star and Sash of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany]]
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[[Category:German Protestants]]
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