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{{Short description|German politician (1937–2023)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2023}}
{{expand German|topic=bio|date=June 2022|Hans-Ulrich Klose}}
{{Infobox officeholder
{{Infobox officeholder
|name = Hans-Ulrich Klose
|name = Hans-Ulrich Klose
|native_name =
|native_name =
|native_name_lang =
|native_name_lang =
|image = Bundesarchiv B 145 Bild-F055059-0030, Köln, SPD-Parteitag, Klose.jpg
|image = Bundesarchiv B 145 Bild-F055059-0030, Köln, SPD-Parteitag, Klose (cropped).jpg
|caption =
|caption = Klose in 1978

|office3 = Chair of the [[Bundestag|Foreign Affairs Committee]]
|office3 = Chair of the [[Bundestag|Foreign Affairs Committee]]
|deputy3 = [[Carl-Dieter Spranger]]
|deputy3 = [[Carl-Dieter Spranger]]
Line 13: Line 14:
|predecessor3 = Karl-Heinz Hornhues
|predecessor3 = Karl-Heinz Hornhues
|successor3 = [[Volker Rühe]]
|successor3 = [[Volker Rühe]]

|office4 = [[Presidium of the Bundestag|Vice President of the Bundestag]]
|office4 = [[Presidium of the Bundestag|Vice President of the Bundestag]]
|president4 = [[Rita Süssmuth]]
|president4 = [[Rita Süssmuth]]
Line 20: Line 20:
|predecessor4 = [[Renate Schmidt]]
|predecessor4 = [[Renate Schmidt]]
|successor4 = [[Anke Fuchs]]
|successor4 = [[Anke Fuchs]]

|office5 = Leader of the [[Social Democratic Party of Germany|Social Democratic Party]] in the [[Bundestag]]
|office5 = Leader of the [[Social Democratic Party of Germany|Social Democratic Party]] in the [[Bundestag]]
|1blankname5 = {{nowrap|Chief Whip}}
|1blankname5 = {{nowrap|Chief Whip}}
|1namedata5 = [[Peter Struck]]
|1namedata5 = [[Peter Struck (politician)|Peter Struck]]
|term_start5 = 12 November 1991
|term_start5 = 12 November 1991
|term_end5 = 10 November 1994
|term_end5 = 10 November 1994
|predecessor5 = [[Hans-Jochen Vogel]]
|predecessor5 = [[Hans-Jochen Vogel]]
|successor5 = [[Rudolf Scharping]]
|successor5 = [[Rudolf Scharping]]

|office7 = [[List of mayors of Hamburg|First Mayor of Hamburg]]
|office7 = [[List of mayors of Hamburg|First Mayor of Hamburg]]
|1blankname7 = {{nowrap|Second Mayor}}
|1blankname7 = {{nowrap|Second Mayor}}
|president7 = [[Walter Scheel]]<br>[[Karl Carstens]]
|chancellor7 = [[Helmut Schmidt]]
|1namedata7 = Dieter Biallas <br> Helga Elstner
|1namedata7 = Dieter Biallas <br> Helga Elstner
|term_start7 = 12 November 1974
|term_start7 = 12 November 1974
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|predecessor7 = [[Peter Schulz]]
|predecessor7 = [[Peter Schulz]]
|successor7 = [[Klaus von Dohnanyi]]
|successor7 = [[Klaus von Dohnanyi]]

|office8 = [[Government of Hamburg|Hamburg Senator for the Interior]]
|office8 = [[Government of Hamburg|Hamburg Senator for the Interior]]
|1blankname8 = {{nowrap|First Mayor}}
|1blankname8 = {{nowrap|First Mayor}}
Line 44: Line 43:
|predecessor8 = Heinz Ruhnau
|predecessor8 = Heinz Ruhnau
|successor8 = Werner Staak
|successor8 = Werner Staak

|office9 = Member of the [[Bundestag]] <br/>for [[Hamburg-Harburg|Hamburg-Bergedorf-Harburg]]
|office9 = Member of the [[Bundestag]] <br/>for [[Hamburg-Harburg|Hamburg-Bergedorf-Harburg]]
|term_start9 = 22 September 2002
|term_start9 = 22 September 2002
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|predecessor9 = ''Constituency created''
|predecessor9 = ''Constituency created''
|successor9 = [[Metin Hakverdi]]
|successor9 = [[Metin Hakverdi]]

|office10 = Member of the [[Bundestag]] <br/>for [[Hamburg-Harburg]]
|office10 = Member of the [[Bundestag]] <br/>for [[Hamburg-Harburg]]
|term_start10 = 6 March 1983
|term_start10 = 6 March 1983
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|predecessor10 = [[Herbert Wehner]]
|predecessor10 = [[Herbert Wehner]]
|successor10 = ''Constituency abolished''
|successor10 = ''Constituency abolished''
⚫
|birth_date = {{Birth date|df=y|1937|6|14}}

⚫
|birth_place = [[Breslau]], [[Nazi Germany|Germany]]
⚫
|birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1937|6|14}}
|death_date = {{Death date and age|df=y|2023|9|6|1937|6|14}}
⚫
|birth_place = [[Breslau]]<br />{{small|(now [[Poland]])}}
|death_date = <!-- {{Death date and age|YYYY|MM|DD|YYYY|MM|DD}} or {{Death-date and age|Month DD, YYYY|Month DD, YYYY}} (death date then birth date) -->
|death_place =
|death_place =
|restingplace =
|restingplace =
|restingplacecoordinates =
|restingplacecoordinates =
|birthname =
|birthname =
|citizenship = [[Germany|German]]
|citizenship = German
|nationality = {{flag|Germany}}
|nationality = German
|party = [[Social Democratic Party of Germany|SPD]]
|party = [[Social Democratic Party of Germany|SPD]]
|spouse =
|spouse =
Line 82: Line 78:
|website =
|website =
|footnotes =
|footnotes =
| allegiance = {{flag|Germany}}
| branch = {{flagicon image|Bundeswehr Logo.svg|50px|Emblem of German Ground Forces}} ''[[Bundeswehr]]''
| serviceyears =
| unit = {{flagicon image|Panzergrenadierbrigade 17 (Bundeswehr).svg|150px|Verbandsabzeichen Panzergrenadierbrigade 17}} Panzergrenadierbrigade 17 ''[[German Army|German Army (Heer)]]''
}}
}}

'''Hans-Ulrich Klose''' (born 14 June 1937) is a German politician from the [[Social Democratic Party of Germany|Social Democratic Party]] and a former member of the German Federal parliament (German: ''[[Bundestag]]''). Klose was the [[List of mayors of Hamburg|First Mayor]] (German: ''Erster Bürgermeister'') of the Free and Hanseatic City of [[Hamburg]] from 1974 up to 1981, serving as [[President of the German Bundesrat|President]] of the [[Bundesrat of Germany|Bundesrat]] in 1979/80.
'''Hans-Ulrich Klose''' (14 June 1937 – 6 September 2023) was a German politician from the [[Social Democratic Party of Germany|Social Democratic Party]] and a member of the German Federal parliament (German: ''[[Bundestag]]''). Klose was the [[List of mayors of Hamburg|First Mayor]] (German: ''Erster Bürgermeister'') of the Free and Hanseatic City of [[Hamburg]] from 1974 up to 1981, serving as [[President of the German Bundesrat|President]] of the [[Bundesrat of Germany|Bundesrat]] in 1979–80.


==Early life==
==Early life==
Klose was born in [[Breslau]] (now better known under its Polish name [[Wrocław]]), [[Province of Lower Silesia]]. After the end of [[World War II]], Klose's family fled from Breslau and moved to [[Bielefeld]]. In 1957 he received his high-school diploma and started studying law at the universities [[University of Freiburg|of Freiburg]] and [[University of Hamburg|Hamburg]]. In 1961 he passed the ''First'', in 1965 the ''Second Legal State Examination'', and started working as a lawyer in Hamburg.
Klose was born in [[Breslau]], [[Province of Lower Silesia]] (now [[Wrocław]]). After the end of [[World War II]], Klose's family fled from Breslau and moved to [[Bielefeld]]. In 1957 he received his high-school diploma and started studying law at the universities [[University of Freiburg|of Freiburg]] and [[University of Hamburg|Hamburg]]. In 1961 he passed the ''First'', in 1965 the ''Second Legal State Examination'', and started working as a lawyer in Hamburg.


==Political career==
==Political career==
===Career in state politics===
===Career in state politics===
After joining the ''Social Democratic Party of Germany'' (SPD) in 1964, Klose became a member of the [[Hamburg Parliament]] (''Hamburgische Bürgerschaft'') in 1970, where he was vice chairman of his faction. Two years later he became first chairman of the SPD parliamentary group. In October 1973, Klose succeeded [[Heinz Ruhnau]] as [[Government of Hamburg|minister of the interior of Hamburg]].
After joining the ''Social Democratic Party of Germany'' (SPD) in 1964, Klose became a member of the [[Hamburg Parliament]] (''Hamburgische Bürgerschaft'') in 1970, where he was vice chairman of his faction. Two years later he became first chairman of the SPD parliamentary group. In October 1973, Klose succeeded [[Heinz Ruhnau]] as [[Government of Hamburg|minister of the interior of Hamburg]].{{cn|date=September 2023}}


Only a year later, on 12 November 1974, Klose became First Mayor (''Erster Bürgermeister'') of ''the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg'' at the age of 37. At the time, he was widely regarded as a leading figure in the left wing of the party.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1981/05/27/world/west-german-parliament-supports-nato-plan-on-missile-deployment.html WEST GERMAN PARLIAMENT SUPPORTS NATO PLAN ON MISSILE DEPLOYMENT] ''[[New York Times]]'', 27 May 1981.</ref> After a party internal argument about the construction of the [[Brokdorf Nuclear Power Plant]], he resigned from his office on 25 May 1981.
Only a year later, on 12 November 1974, Klose became First Mayor (''Erster Bürgermeister'') of ''the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg'' at the age of 37. At the time, he was widely regarded as a leading figure in the left wing of the party.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1981/05/27/world/west-german-parliament-supports-nato-plan-on-missile-deployment.html WEST GERMAN PARLIAMENT SUPPORTS NATO PLAN ON MISSILE DEPLOYMENT] ''[[New York Times]]'', 27 May 1981.</ref> After a party internal argument about the construction of the [[Brokdorf Nuclear Power Plant]], he resigned from his office on 25 May 1981.{{cn|date=September 2023}}


===Member of the German Parliament, 1983–2013===
===Member of the German Parliament, 1983–2013===
In the [[1983 West German federal election|1983 elections]], Klose was elected as a member of the German Parliament, the [[Bundestag]], for the SPD. In this position, he succeeded [[Herbert Wehner]]. From 1987 to 1991 he was treasurer of his party (German: ''Bundesschatzmeister''), serving as part of the party’s national leadership under chairman [[Hans-Jochen Vogel]].
In the [[1983 West German federal election|1983 elections]], Klose was elected as a member of the German Parliament, the [[Bundestag]], for the SPD. In this position, he succeeded [[Herbert Wehner]]. From 1987 to 1991 he was treasurer of his party (German: ''Bundesschatzmeister''), serving as part of the party's national leadership under chairman [[Hans-Jochen Vogel]].{{cn|date=September 2023}}


From 1991 to 1994 Klose served as chairman of the SPD group in the Bundestag, and in this position also leader of the opposition; at the time, he was chosen over two better-known candidates.<ref>Stephen Kinzer (15 December 1991), [https://www.nytimes.com/1991/12/15/world/new-leaders-vie-to-succeed-kohl.html NEW LEADERS VIE TO SUCCEED KOHL] ''[[New York Times]]''.</ref> In his role as opposition leader, he worked with his [[CDU/CSU]] counterpart [[Wolfgang Schäuble]] on establishing a majority for a landmark 1993 [[constitutional amendment]] on tightening the Germany’s [[Asylum in Germany|asylum law]], barring entry to thousands of foreigners who arrive in the country each week to seek asylum.<ref>Stephen Kinzer (27 May 1993), [https://www.nytimes.com/1993/05/27/world/bonn-parliament-votes-sharp-curb-on-asylum-seekers.html Bonn Parliament Votes Sharp Curb on Asylum Seekers] ''[[New York Times]]''.</ref>
From 1991 to 1994 Klose served as chairman of the SPD group in the Bundestag, and in this position also leader of the opposition; at the time, he was chosen over two better-known candidates.<ref>Stephen Kinzer (15 December 1991), [https://www.nytimes.com/1991/12/15/world/new-leaders-vie-to-succeed-kohl.html NEW LEADERS VIE TO SUCCEED KOHL] ''[[New York Times]]''.</ref> In his role as opposition leader, he worked with his [[CDU/CSU]] counterpart [[Wolfgang Schäuble]] on establishing a majority for a landmark 1993 [[constitutional amendment]] on tightening the Germany's [[Asylum in Germany|asylum law]], barring entry to thousands of foreigners who arrive in the country each week to seek asylum.<ref>Stephen Kinzer (27 May 1993), [https://www.nytimes.com/1993/05/27/world/bonn-parliament-votes-sharp-curb-on-asylum-seekers.html Bonn Parliament Votes Sharp Curb on Asylum Seekers] ''[[New York Times]]''.</ref>


Ahead of the 1994 elections, SPD chairman [[Rudolf Scharping]] included Klose in his [[shadow cabinet]] for the party’s campaign to unseat incumbent [[Helmut Kohl]] as Chancellor.<ref>Ferdinand Protzman (30 August 1994), [https://www.nytimes.com/1994/08/30/world/german-opposition-names-shadow-cabinet-in-hopes-of-votes.html German Opposition Names Shadow Cabinet in Hopes of Votes] ''[[New York Times]]''.</ref> During the campaign, he served as shadow minister of defence. Following the party's defeat in the elections, Klose resigned from the group's leadership to make room for Scharping. Instead he was elected one of the [[President of the Bundestag|vice presidents]] of the German Bundestag the same year.
Ahead of the 1994 elections, SPD chairman [[Rudolf Scharping]] included Klose in his [[shadow cabinet]] for the party's campaign to unseat incumbent [[Helmut Kohl]] as Chancellor.<ref>Ferdinand Protzman (30 August 1994), [https://www.nytimes.com/1994/08/30/world/german-opposition-names-shadow-cabinet-in-hopes-of-votes.html German Opposition Names Shadow Cabinet in Hopes of Votes] ''[[New York Times]]''.</ref> During the campaign, he served as shadow minister of defence. Following the party's defeat in the elections, Klose resigned from the group's leadership to make room for Scharping. Instead he was elected one of the [[President of the Bundestag|vice presidents]] of the German Bundestag the same year.{{cn|date=September 2023}}


In 1998 Klose became chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs. From 2002, he served as its vice president, alongside chairman [[Ruprecht Polenz]]. From January 2003 Klose also chaired the German-American Parliamentary Friendship Group. Within his parliamentary group, he served on its task force on [[Afghanistan]] and [[Pakistan]] between 2009 and 2013.
In 1998 Klose became chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs. From 2002, he served as its vice president, alongside chairman [[Ruprecht Polenz]]. From January 2003 Klose also chaired the German-American Parliamentary Friendship Group. Within his parliamentary group, he served on its task force on [[Afghanistan]] and [[Pakistan]] between 2009 and 2013.{{cn|date=September 2023}}


On 16 March 2010, [[Minister for Foreign Affairs (Germany)|Germany's Minister for Foreign Affairs]] [[Guido Westerwelle]] appointed Klose to succeed [[Karsten Voigt]] as the government's coordinator for German-American affairs, a rare case of a senior political appointment not being given to a member of the governing party .<ref>[http://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/EN/AAmt/Koordinatoren/D-USA-Koordinator/D-USA-Koordinator_node.html German MFA]</ref> He resigned from that position in 2011.
On 16 March 2010, [[Minister for Foreign Affairs (Germany)|Germany's Minister for Foreign Affairs]] [[Guido Westerwelle]] appointed Klose to succeed [[Karsten Voigt]] as the government's coordinator for German-American affairs, a rare case of a senior political appointment not being given to a member of the governing party.<ref>[http://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/EN/AAmt/Koordinatoren/D-USA-Koordinator/D-USA-Koordinator_node.html German MFA]</ref> He resigned from that position in 2011.{{cn|date=September 2023}}


After leaving politics, Klose took up a position as senior advisor to the [[Robert Bosch Stiftung|Robert Bosch Foundation]].
After leaving politics, Klose took up a position as senior advisor to the [[Robert Bosch Stiftung|Robert Bosch Foundation]].{{cn|date=September 2023}}


==Other activities==
==Other activities==
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* [[Friedrich Ebert Foundation]] (FES), Member<ref>[https://www.fes.de/stiftung/organigramm-gremien/mitgliederversammlung/ Members] [[Friedrich Ebert Foundation]] (FES).</ref>
* [[Friedrich Ebert Foundation]] (FES), Member<ref>[https://www.fes.de/stiftung/organigramm-gremien/mitgliederversammlung/ Members] [[Friedrich Ebert Foundation]] (FES).</ref>
* Green Helmets, Member of the Board of Trustees<ref>[https://gruenhelme.de/team-blank/kuratorium/ Board of Trustees] Green Helmets.</ref>
* Green Helmets, Member of the Board of Trustees<ref>[https://gruenhelme.de/team-blank/kuratorium/ Board of Trustees] Green Helmets.</ref>
* Otto von Bismarck Foundation, Member of the Board of Trustees<ref>[http://www.bismarck-stiftung.de/en/about-us/committee/ Board of Trustees]</ref>
* Otto von Bismarck Foundation, Member of the Board of Trustees<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.bismarck-stiftung.de/en/about-us/committee/ |title=Board of Trustees |access-date=4 August 2018 |archive-date=4 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180804140712/http://www.bismarck-stiftung.de/en/about-us/committee/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* ''Progressives Zentrum'', Member of the Circle of Friends<ref>[http://www.progressives-zentrum.org/the-circle-of-friends/?lang=en Circle of Friends] Progressives Zentrum.</ref>
* ''Progressives Zentrum'', Member of the Circle of Friends<ref>[http://www.progressives-zentrum.org/the-circle-of-friends/?lang=en Circle of Friends] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190807201901/https://www.progressives-zentrum.org/the-circle-of-friends/?lang=en |date=7 August 2019 }} Progressives Zentrum.</ref>


==Recognition==
==Recognition==
In March 2013 the [[United States Association of Former Members of Congress|Congressional Study Group on Germany]] presented Klose with the inaugural International Statesmanship Award in appreciation "for his longstanding service to strengthening the US-German relationship".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://jewish-voice-from-germany.de/cms/ulrich-klose/|title=Hans-Ulrich Klose|publisher=Jewish Voice From Germany|date=23 December 2014|accessdate=24 March 2015}}</ref>
In March 2013 the [[United States Association of Former Members of Congress|Congressional Study Group on Germany]] presented Klose with the inaugural International Statesmanship Award "for his longstanding service to strengthening the US-German relationship".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://jewish-voice-from-germany.de/cms/ulrich-klose/|title=Hans-Ulrich Klose|publisher=Jewish Voice From Germany|date=23 December 2014|access-date=24 March 2015}}</ref>


==Personal life==
==Personal life and death==
Since 1992 Hans-Ulrich Klose has been married to his third wife, a physician. He has two daughters and two sons from his first two marriages.
From 1992 Hans-Ulrich Klose was married to his third wife, a physician. He had two daughters and two sons from his first two marriages. He died from complications of [[Alzheimer's disease]] on 6 September 2023, at the age of 86.<ref>[https://www.ndr.de/nachrichten/hamburg/Hamburgs-ehemaliger-Buergermeister-Klose-gestorben,klose238.html Hamburgs ehemaliger Bürgermeister Klose gestorben] {{in lang|de}}</ref>


==Notes==
==Notes==
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Klose, Hans-Ulrich}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Klose, Hans-Ulrich}}
[[Category:1937 births]]
[[Category:1937 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:2023 deaths]]
[[Category:Mayors of Hamburg]]
[[Category:Mayors of Hamburg]]
[[Category:Presidents of the German Bundesrat]]
[[Category:Presidents of the German Bundesrat]]
[[Category:Members of the Bundestag for Hamburg]]
[[Category:Members of the Bundestag for Hamburg]]
[[Category:People from the Province of Lower Silesia]]
[[Category:People from the Province of Lower Silesia]]
[[Category:People from Wrocław]]
[[Category:Politicians from Wrocław]]
[[Category:Social Democratic Party of Germany politicians]]
[[Category:German cooperative organizers]]
[[Category:Cooperative organizers]]
[[Category:University of Freiburg alumni]]
[[Category:University of Freiburg alumni]]
[[Category:University of Hamburg alumni]]
[[Category:University of Hamburg alumni]]
[[Category:21st-century German politicians]]
[[Category:Members of the Bundestag 2009–2013]]
[[Category:Members of the Bundestag 2009–2013]]
[[Category:Members of the Bundestag 2005–2009]]
[[Category:Members of the Bundestag 2005–2009]]
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[[Category:Members of the Bundestag 1990–1994]]
[[Category:Members of the Bundestag 1990–1994]]
[[Category:Members of the Bundestag for the Social Democratic Party of Germany]]
[[Category:Members of the Bundestag for the Social Democratic Party of Germany]]
[[Category:Deaths from Alzheimer's disease]]

Latest revision as of 23:01, 1 June 2024

Hans-Ulrich Klose
Klose in 1978
Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee
In office
26 October 1998 – 17 October 2002
DeputyCarl-Dieter Spranger
Preceded byKarl-Heinz Hornhues
Succeeded byVolker Rühe
Vice President of the Bundestag
In office
10 November 1994 – 26 October 1998
PresidentRita Süssmuth
Preceded byRenate Schmidt
Succeeded byAnke Fuchs
Leader of the Social Democratic Party in the Bundestag
In office
12 November 1991 – 10 November 1994
Chief WhipPeter Struck
Preceded byHans-Jochen Vogel
Succeeded byRudolf Scharping
First Mayor of Hamburg
In office
12 November 1974 – 25 May 1981
PresidentWalter Scheel
Karl Carstens
ChancellorHelmut Schmidt
Second MayorDieter Biallas
Helga Elstner
Preceded byPeter Schulz
Succeeded byKlaus von Dohnanyi
Hamburg Senator for the Interior
In office
10 October 1973 – 12 November 1974
First MayorPeter Schulz
Preceded byHeinz Ruhnau
Succeeded byWerner Staak
Member of the Bundestag
for Hamburg-Bergedorf-Harburg
In office
22 September 2002 – 22 September 2013
Preceded byConstituency created
Succeeded byMetin Hakverdi
Member of the Bundestag
for Hamburg-Harburg
In office
6 March 1983 – 22 September 2002
Preceded byHerbert Wehner
Succeeded byConstituency abolished
Personal details
Born(1937-06-14)14 June 1937
Breslau, Germany
Died6 September 2023(2023-09-06) (aged 86)
CitizenshipGerman
Political partySPD
Alma materUniversity of Hamburg
Military service
Allegiance Germany
Branch/service Bundeswehr
Unit Panzergrenadierbrigade 17 German Army (Heer)

Hans-Ulrich Klose (14 June 1937 – 6 September 2023) was a German politician from the Social Democratic Party and a member of the German Federal parliament (German: Bundestag). Klose was the First Mayor (German: Erster Bürgermeister) of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg from 1974 up to 1981, serving as President of the Bundesrat in 1979–80.

Early life

[edit]

Klose was born in Breslau, Province of Lower Silesia (now Wrocław). After the end of World War II, Klose's family fled from Breslau and moved to Bielefeld. In 1957 he received his high-school diploma and started studying law at the universities of Freiburg and Hamburg. In 1961 he passed the First, in 1965 the Second Legal State Examination, and started working as a lawyer in Hamburg.

Political career

[edit]

Career in state politics

[edit]

After joining the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD) in 1964, Klose became a member of the Hamburg Parliament (Hamburgische Bürgerschaft) in 1970, where he was vice chairman of his faction. Two years later he became first chairman of the SPD parliamentary group. In October 1973, Klose succeeded Heinz Ruhnau as minister of the interior of Hamburg.[citation needed]

Only a year later, on 12 November 1974, Klose became First Mayor (Erster Bürgermeister) of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg at the age of 37. At the time, he was widely regarded as a leading figure in the left wing of the party.[1] After a party internal argument about the construction of the Brokdorf Nuclear Power Plant, he resigned from his office on 25 May 1981.[citation needed]

Member of the German Parliament, 1983–2013

[edit]

In the 1983 elections, Klose was elected as a member of the German Parliament, the Bundestag, for the SPD. In this position, he succeeded Herbert Wehner. From 1987 to 1991 he was treasurer of his party (German: Bundesschatzmeister), serving as part of the party's national leadership under chairman Hans-Jochen Vogel.[citation needed]

From 1991 to 1994 Klose served as chairman of the SPD group in the Bundestag, and in this position also leader of the opposition; at the time, he was chosen over two better-known candidates.[2] In his role as opposition leader, he worked with his CDU/CSU counterpart Wolfgang Schäuble on establishing a majority for a landmark 1993 constitutional amendment on tightening the Germany's asylum law, barring entry to thousands of foreigners who arrive in the country each week to seek asylum.[3]

Ahead of the 1994 elections, SPD chairman Rudolf Scharping included Klose in his shadow cabinet for the party's campaign to unseat incumbent Helmut Kohl as Chancellor.[4] During the campaign, he served as shadow minister of defence. Following the party's defeat in the elections, Klose resigned from the group's leadership to make room for Scharping. Instead he was elected one of the vice presidents of the German Bundestag the same year.[citation needed]

In 1998 Klose became chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs. From 2002, he served as its vice president, alongside chairman Ruprecht Polenz. From January 2003 Klose also chaired the German-American Parliamentary Friendship Group. Within his parliamentary group, he served on its task force on Afghanistan and Pakistan between 2009 and 2013.[citation needed]

On 16 March 2010, Germany's Minister for Foreign Affairs Guido Westerwelle appointed Klose to succeed Karsten Voigt as the government's coordinator for German-American affairs, a rare case of a senior political appointment not being given to a member of the governing party.[5] He resigned from that position in 2011.[citation needed]

After leaving politics, Klose took up a position as senior advisor to the Robert Bosch Foundation.[citation needed]

Other activities

[edit]

Recognition

[edit]

In March 2013 the Congressional Study Group on Germany presented Klose with the inaugural International Statesmanship Award "for his longstanding service to strengthening the US-German relationship".[11]

Personal life and death

[edit]

From 1992 Hans-Ulrich Klose was married to his third wife, a physician. He had two daughters and two sons from his first two marriages. He died from complications of Alzheimer's disease on 6 September 2023, at the age of 86.[12]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ WEST GERMAN PARLIAMENT SUPPORTS NATO PLAN ON MISSILE DEPLOYMENT New York Times, 27 May 1981.
  2. ^ Stephen Kinzer (15 December 1991), NEW LEADERS VIE TO SUCCEED KOHL New York Times.
  3. ^ Stephen Kinzer (27 May 1993), Bonn Parliament Votes Sharp Curb on Asylum Seekers New York Times.
  4. ^ Ferdinand Protzman (30 August 1994), German Opposition Names Shadow Cabinet in Hopes of Votes New York Times.
  5. ^ German MFA
  6. ^ Board of Trustees Archived 18 August 2018 at the Wayback Machine CARE Deutschland.
  7. ^ Members Friedrich Ebert Foundation (FES).
  8. ^ Board of Trustees Green Helmets.
  9. ^ "Board of Trustees". Archived from the original on 4 August 2018. Retrieved 4 August 2018.
  10. ^ Circle of Friends Archived 7 August 2019 at the Wayback Machine Progressives Zentrum.
  11. ^ "Hans-Ulrich Klose". Jewish Voice From Germany. 23 December 2014. Retrieved 24 March 2015.
  12. ^ Hamburgs ehemaliger Bürgermeister Klose gestorben (in German)

References

[edit]
[edit]
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