From church office to parliament
Weizsäcker first held public offices in the Protestant Church in Germany. He joined the CDU in 1954 and entered the Bundestag following the 1969 election.
Literature
Richard von Weizsäcker
Serving as Governing Mayor of West Berlin and as President of Germany during reunification
Richard von Weizsäcker was a CDU politician who first held public office in Germany’s Protestant Church. After serving in the Bundestag, he became Governing Mayor of West Berlin in 1981. He served as President of the Federal Republic of Germany from 1984 to 1994 and was in office when Germany was reunified in 1990.
Worth knowing
Governing Mayor of West Berlin
Following the 1981 state election, Weizsäcker became Governing Mayor of West Berlin, ending his tenure as a member of the Bundestag.
President during reunification
Weizsäcker was elected President of the Federal Republic of Germany in 1984 and re-elected in 1989. On 3 October 1990, East Berlin and five re-established eastern states joined the Federal Republic, making him president of reunified Germany.
Respected for impartiality
Weizsäcker was widely respected for his impartiality and became one of Germany’s most popular presidents. His stance sometimes put him at odds with fellow CDU politicians, including Chancellor Helmut Kohl.
A notable address
One of Weizsäcker’s best-known speeches was delivered on 8 May 1985, marking the 40th anniversary of the end of the Second World War in Europe.
Follow the story on foot
These addresses are scattered across the city. Our routes and quests put them in an order that works.