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Karl Carstens

President of the Federal Republic of Germany (1914-1992) · Germany · Politicians · Died at 77

Karl Carstens is read about 263 times a day, in 63 languages.

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He held West Germany's highest office through the early Cold War eighties, a president whose tenure spanned the tail end of détente and the return of superpower chill.

PoliticiansPoliticianPoliticsLawGermanyEurope20th Century

A life in dates

1992Died30 May 19921986Hanns Martin Schleyer PrizeAwardLucius D. Clay MedalAward1983Doctor Honoris Causa from the University of DijonAward1982Grand Star of the Decoration for Services to the Republic of AustriaAward1980Grand Collar of the Military Order of Saint James of the SwordAward1979Grand Cross Special Class of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of GermanyAwardKnight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian RepublicAward1977Grand Cross of Honor for Services to the Republic of AustriaAward1976Grand Cross 1st class of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of GermanyAward1966Grand Cross of the Military Order of ChristAward1964Honorary Citizen of BerlinAwardHonorary Citizen of BonnAward1960Grand Officer of the Military Order of ChristAward1959Grand Officer of the Order of Merit of the Italian RepublicAward1914Born14 December 1914

Also in Deutsch

Photos 8

Bundesarchiv B 145 Bild-F040153-0032, Bonn, Pressekonferenz CDU-Vorstand, CarstensBundesarchiv B 145 Bild-F040153-0032, Bonn, Pressekonferenz CDU-Vorstand, CarstensBundesarchiv B 145 Bild-F030204-0007, Bundeskanzleramt, Arbeitszimmer KanzleramtschefBundesarchiv B 145 Bild-F030204-0007, Bundeskanzleramt, Arbeitszimmer KanzleramtschefBundesarchiv B 145 Bild-F048762-0011, München, CSU-Parteitag, Strauß, CarstensBundesarchiv B 145 Bild-F048762-0011, München, CSU-Parteitag, Strauß, CarstensBundesarchiv B 145 Bild-F048763-0029, München, CSU-Parteitag, Rede CarstensBundesarchiv B 145 Bild-F048763-0029, München, CSU-Parteitag, Rede CarstensBundesarchiv B 145 Bild-F068128-0032, Bonn, Feier Landesvertretung BerlinBundesarchiv B 145 Bild-F068128-0032, Bonn, Feier Landesvertretung BerlinBundesarchiv Bild 199-1985-059-19, Ronald Reagan auf Staatsbesuch in DeutschlandBundesarchiv Bild 199-1985-059-19, Ronald Reagan auf Staatsbesuch in DeutschlandBundesarchiv B 145 Bild-F076798-0029, Bonn, CDU-Bundesparteitag, Carstens, JenningerBundesarchiv B 145 Bild-F076798-0029, Bonn, CDU-Bundesparteitag, Carstens, JenningerBundesarchiv B 145 Bild-F082403-0016, Bremen, CDU-BundesparteitagBundesarchiv B 145 Bild-F082403-0016, Bremen, CDU-Bundesparteitag

Awards

Hanns Martin Schleyer Prize1986
Lucius D. Clay Medal1986
Charlemagne Prize1984
Doctor Honoris Causa from the University of Dijon1983
Grand Star of the Decoration for Services to the Republic of Austria1982
Collar of the Order of Charles III1981
Grand Collar of the Military Order of Saint James of the Sword1980
Grand Cross Special Class of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany1979
Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic1979
Grand Cross of the Order of Isabella the Catholic1977
Grand Cross of Honor for Services to the Republic of Austria1977
Grand Cross 1st class of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany1976
Grand Cross of the Military Order of Christ1966
Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic1965
Honorary Citizen of Berlin1964
Honorary Citizen of Bonn1964
Grand Cross of the Order of Honour for Services to the Republic of Austria1962
Grand Officer of the Military Order of Christ1960
Grand Officer of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic1959
Bavarian Order of Merit
Order of Jamaica
Order of the Rajamitrabhorn
Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour

In their orbit

Spouse: Veronica Carstens

About this person

Born in December 1914, Karl Carstens came of age between two world wars. He entered politics in a divided Germany and rose through the ranks of West German public life. In 1979 he assumed the presidency, a largely ceremonial role that nonetheless carried symbolic weight in a nation still reckoning with its past and its place between East and West. He served a single five-year term, stepping down in 1984. He died in May 1992, three years after the Wall fell.

Country
Germany
Category
Politicians
Type
Politician
Status
deceased
Dates
Lived 1914 to 1992 · aged 77

Politicians from Germany 6

Irmhild Boßdorf56.9Uri Avnery56.8Walter Stennes56.9Claudia Roth56.8Hans-Dietrich Genscher56.9Alexander von Falkenhausen56.8

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