207,380 profiles ranked

Ludwig Erhard

Chancellor of West Germany (1963-1966) · Germany · Politicians · Lived 1897 to 1977 · aged 80

Ludwig Erhard is read about 1,209 times a day, in 78 languages.

A typical day, 30 days to 15 October 2026

The middle day of the days counted, so one week of news cannot move it. The line under it is the last 390 days, one point a day.

Something wrong?
Compare

The architect of West Germany's postwar boom - the "economic miracle" that rebuilt a shattered country into an export powerhouse - yet couldn't hold the top job when his turn came.

ExecutivesAcademicEconomicsPoliticsEntrepreneurshipGermanyEurope20th Century

A life in dates

1977Died5 May 1977Honorary Citizen of UlmAward1963“Who carries the real responsibility and who is responsible to whom?”In their wordsThe Economics of Success (D. van Nostrand & Co., 1963), p. 379

1961Grand Cross of the Military Order of Saint James of the SwordAwardGrand Cross of the Order of Isabella the CatholicAward1960Honorary Doctor of the University of Madrid ComplutenseAward1959Bavarian Order of MeritAward1957“In a community of free people the freedom of economic activity is an inseparable part of the whole, and only this freedom will ensure a life worth living.”In their words16 October 1957Message to the international industrial development conference in San Francisco, quoted in The Times (16 October 1957), p. 7

1956“The German economy compared very favourably with the situation in other countries: the average income of workers here had risen in the past two years by 16 per cent.”In their words22 June 1956Speech in the Bundestag (22 June 1956), quoted in The Times (23 June 1956), p. 5

1955Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian RepublicAward1953“[Erhard said that] in the next four years he would fight unrelentingly against all forms of restrictive practices.”In their words19 November 1953Speech to United Action for a Social and Liberal Economy (Soziale Marktwirtschaft) (19 November 1953), quoted in The Times (20 November

“[Erhard said that] no other country had advanced to such a degree as western Germany in the past five years.”In their words2 March 1953Speech (2 March 1953), quoted in The Times (3 March 1953), p. 6

Grand Cross 1st class of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of GermanyAward, 19531952“[Erhard said his] ambition was to drive up the German standard of living until it approximated to that of the United States.”In their words3 November 1952Speech to the European Conference of the Association of German Industry in Trier, quoted in The Times (3 November 1952), p. 6

1897Born4 February 1897

Also in Deutsch

Photos 8

Bundesarchiv B 145 Bild-F004204-0003, Ludwig Erhard mit seinem BuchBundesarchiv B 145 Bild-F004204-0003, Ludwig Erhard mit seinem BuchKanzlerbungalow Innen2Kanzlerbungalow Innen22025 Fastnacht in Franken - by 2eight - 9SC42162025 Fastnacht in Franken - by 2eight - 9SC4216Bam berlin ludwig erhard saalBam berlin ludwig erhard saalBrese Adenauer ErhardtBrese Adenauer ErhardtBundesarchiv B 145 Bild-F009772-0011, Karneval in Bonn, RosenmontagszugBundesarchiv B 145 Bild-F009772-0011, Karneval in Bonn, RosenmontagszugBundesarchiv B 145 Bild-F039145-0001 und 0002, Gedenkmünze Ludwig ErhardBundesarchiv B 145 Bild-F039145-0001 und 0002, Gedenkmünze Ludwig ErhardBundesarchiv B 145 Bild-F039145-0001, Gedenkmünze Ludwig ErhardBundesarchiv B 145 Bild-F039145-0001, Gedenkmünze Ludwig Erhard

In their own words 10

,
Ludwig Erhard
,
10 statements, newest first

  1. As I have said time and again, the focal point of our economy is the individual.

    1963, The Economics of Success (D. van Nostrand & Co., 1963), pp. 283-284, Own words

  2. Who carries the real responsibility and who is responsible to whom?

    1963, The Economics of Success (D. van Nostrand & Co., 1963), p. 379, Own words

  3. In a community of free people the freedom of economic activity is an inseparable part of the whole, and only this freedom will ensure a life worth living.

    Oct 16, 1957, Message to the international industrial development conference in San Francisco, quoted in The Times (16 October 1957), p. 7, Own words

Wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0

Awards

Honorary Citizen of Ulm1977
Grand Cross of the Order of Isabella the Catholic1961
Grand Cross of the Military Order of Saint James of the Sword1961
Honorary Doctor of the University of Madrid Complutense1960
Bavarian Order of Merit1959
Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic1955
Grand Cross 1st class of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany1953
Grand Cross of the Order of the Sun of Peru
Honorary doctor of the Technical University of Berlin
Honorary Citizen of Bonn
Order of Merit for National Foundation

In their orbit

Spouse: Luise Erhard

About this person

Ludwig Wilhelm Erhard was born 4 February 1897 and became the economist who steered West Germany's resurrection. As Minister of Economic Affairs under Konrad Adenauer from 1949 to 1963, he championed the social market economy - a framework blending capitalism with social safety nets - and presided over the Wirtschaftswunder that transformed rubble into prosperity. When he succeeded Adenauer as chancellor in 1963, the magic didn't follow. Adenauer, still CDU chairman until 1966, withheld support; Erhard stumbled on a budget deficit and failed to convince the public on foreign policy. His popularity collapsed, and he resigned 30 November 1966, three years after taking office. He died 5 May 1977, the policy he built still foundational, the premiership a footnote.

Country
Germany
Category
Politicians
Type
Politician
Status
deceased
Dates
Lived 1897 to 1977 · aged 80

Politicians from Germany 6

Katrin Göring-Eckardt66.4Erich Honecker65.9Petr Bystron66.5Oliver Janich65.8Steffen Kotré66.5Petra Pau65.7

Fame.am measures public visibility signals. It does not measure human value, talent, morality, or credibility.