Arnulf Klett
Encyclopedia
Arnulf Klett was a German
lawyer and politician. He was the first Lord Mayor
of Stuttgart after the Second World War
(from 1945 until his death in 1974) and has been the Lord mayor with the longest period in office of that city.
in 1923, he studied jurisprudence
at the University of Tübingen, earning a Doctor of Law
in 1928. From 1930, he worked as a lawyer in Stuttgart.
and not belonging to any party, he was installed as Lord Mayor of Stuttgart by the French military administration after the war. In 1948, in the first free mayoral elections, he was confirmed in that office by a significant majority of the Stuttgart electorate. He won re-election into eight-year terms three times in 1956, 1964 and 1972 so that he stayed in office until his death in 1974, for a total of almost 30 years.
In 1961, he was the initiator of a city partnership between Stuttgart and Strasbourg
, as part of the improvement of the post-war Franco-German friendship.
Klett also initiated the re-building and major extension of public transport
in post-war Stuttgart, most of the Stuttgart Stadtbahn
system - one of the most extensive of such networks in Europe - was built up during his term.
was controversial, as in most cases he preferred and succeeded to completely demolish buildings that weren't completely damaged and to not rebuild them in the original style, so that not much of pre-war Stuttgart is left in the city's current architecture. The most prominent example of this was the demolition of the old Gothic Revival
style town hall, that was replaced by a modern building, built 1953-1956.
) is named after Arnulf Klett as well as the square directly adjacent to the west of that train station.
Germans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
lawyer and politician. He was the first Lord Mayor
Lord Mayor
The Lord Mayor is the title of the Mayor of a major city, with special recognition.-Commonwealth of Nations:* In Australia it is a political position. Australian cities with Lord Mayors: Adelaide, Brisbane, Darwin, Hobart, Melbourne, Newcastle, Parramatta, Perth, Sydney, and Wollongong...
of Stuttgart after the Second World War
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
(from 1945 until his death in 1974) and has been the Lord mayor with the longest period in office of that city.
Early life
After completing high school with an AbiturAbitur
Abitur is a designation used in Germany, Finland and Estonia for final exams that pupils take at the end of their secondary education, usually after 12 or 13 years of schooling, see also for Germany Abitur after twelve years.The Zeugnis der Allgemeinen Hochschulreife, often referred to as...
in 1923, he studied jurisprudence
Jurisprudence
Jurisprudence is the theory and philosophy of law. Scholars of jurisprudence, or legal theorists , hope to obtain a deeper understanding of the nature of law, of legal reasoning, legal systems and of legal institutions...
at the University of Tübingen, earning a Doctor of Law
Doctor of law
Doctor of Law or Doctor of Laws is a doctoral degree in law. The application of the term varies from country to country, and includes degrees such as the LL.D., Ph.D., J.D., J.S.D., and Dr. iur.-Argentina:...
in 1928. From 1930, he worked as a lawyer in Stuttgart.
Lord Mayor of Stuttgart
Having been at the least critical towards the Nazi regimeNazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
and not belonging to any party, he was installed as Lord Mayor of Stuttgart by the French military administration after the war. In 1948, in the first free mayoral elections, he was confirmed in that office by a significant majority of the Stuttgart electorate. He won re-election into eight-year terms three times in 1956, 1964 and 1972 so that he stayed in office until his death in 1974, for a total of almost 30 years.
In 1961, he was the initiator of a city partnership between Stuttgart and Strasbourg
Strasbourg
Strasbourg is the capital and principal city of the Alsace region in eastern France and is the official seat of the European Parliament. Located close to the border with Germany, it is the capital of the Bas-Rhin département. The city and the region of Alsace are historically German-speaking,...
, as part of the improvement of the post-war Franco-German friendship.
Klett also initiated the re-building and major extension of public transport
Public transport
Public transport is a shared passenger transportation service which is available for use by the general public, as distinct from modes such as taxicab, car pooling or hired buses which are not shared by strangers without private arrangement.Public transport modes include buses, trolleybuses, trams...
in post-war Stuttgart, most of the Stuttgart Stadtbahn
Stuttgart Stadtbahn
The Stuttgart Stadtbahn is a light rail system in Stuttgart, Germany. It is operated by the Stuttgarter Straßenbahnen AG , which also operates the bus systems in that city...
system - one of the most extensive of such networks in Europe - was built up during his term.
Role in reconstruction
His role in dealing with the reconstruction of the large portions of the city destroyed by the Allied bombing of Stuttgart in World War IIBombing of Stuttgart in World War II
The bombing of Stuttgart in World War II was a series of 53 air raids that formed part of the strategic air offensive of the Allies against Germany. The first bombing occurred on August 25, 1940 and resulted in the destruction of 17 buildings...
was controversial, as in most cases he preferred and succeeded to completely demolish buildings that weren't completely damaged and to not rebuild them in the original style, so that not much of pre-war Stuttgart is left in the city's current architecture. The most prominent example of this was the demolition of the old Gothic Revival
Gothic Revival architecture
The Gothic Revival is an architectural movement that began in the 1740s in England...
style town hall, that was replaced by a modern building, built 1953-1956.
Honors
A subway passage, opened in 1976, leading from Königstraße to Stuttgart's main train station building (Stuttgart HauptbahnhofStuttgart Hauptbahnhof
is the Hauptbahnhof of the city of Stuttgart, the capital of the Land of Baden-Württemberg, in southwestern Germany. It is the largest regional and long-distance railway station in Stuttgart, the main node of the Stuttgart S-Bahn network, and, together with the halt at Charlottenplatz, the main...
) is named after Arnulf Klett as well as the square directly adjacent to the west of that train station.