Rainer Eppelmann
Encyclopedia
Rainer Eppelmann (born February 12, 1943 in Berlin
), is a German
politician. Known for his opposition in the German Democratic Republic
, he became Minister for Disarmament and Defense in the last cabinet. He is now a member of the CDU
.
After dropping out of school in West Berlin
in 1961, he worked as an assistant to a roofer before doing a job training for bricklayer. In 1966, for refusing both regular service and Bausoldat (construction soldier in the National People's Army
), he was put into prison for eight months.
Later, he studied Theology
at the theological school in Berlin
, an education he completed in 1974 with two exams. He then worked as a Lutheran pastor in Berlin-Friedrichshain
and took part in the opposition, such as being the editor of samizdat publications
with Thomas Welz
. It has been claimed that during this period, Eppelmann had contact with the CIA back then.
In 1990, Eppelmann was one of the founding fathers of the Democratic Awakening
, becoming its president. Thus, he took an active part in the round table of 1990, preparing the German reunification
. From March 18, 1990 to October 2, 1990 (when it ceased to exist) he was a member of the Volkskammer
. He became a Minister in the cabinet of Hans Modrow
and later in the one of Lothar de Maizière
. When the Democratic Awakening
joined the Christian Democratic Union
in August 1990, Eppelmann became a member and, later, the assisting chairman of the worker's division of the CDU, the CDA.
He was a member of the Bundestag
from 1990
to 2005
for the Christian Democratic Union
. Then, he was chairman of the commission that coped with the history of the German Democratic Republic
.
Eppelmann's trademark is his "Berliner Schnauze", an idiom
that is supposed to bring him close to the people of Berlin
.
He is married and has five children.
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
), is a German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
politician. Known for his opposition in the German Democratic Republic
German Democratic Republic
The German Democratic Republic , informally called East Germany by West Germany and other countries, was a socialist state established in 1949 in the Soviet zone of occupied Germany, including East Berlin of the Allied-occupied capital city...
, he became Minister for Disarmament and Defense in the last cabinet. He is now a member of the CDU
Christian Democratic Union (Germany)
The Christian Democratic Union of Germany is a Christian democratic and conservative political party in Germany. It is regarded as on the centre-right of the German political spectrum...
.
After dropping out of school in West Berlin
West Berlin
West Berlin was a political exclave that existed between 1949 and 1990. It comprised the western regions of Berlin, which were bordered by East Berlin and parts of East Germany. West Berlin consisted of the American, British, and French occupation sectors, which had been established in 1945...
in 1961, he worked as an assistant to a roofer before doing a job training for bricklayer. In 1966, for refusing both regular service and Bausoldat (construction soldier in the National People's Army
National People's Army
The National People’s Army were the armed forces of the German Democratic Republic .The NVA was established in 1956 and disestablished in 1990. There were frequent reports of East German advisors with Communist African countries during the Cold War...
), he was put into prison for eight months.
Later, he studied Theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
at the theological school in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
, an education he completed in 1974 with two exams. He then worked as a Lutheran pastor in Berlin-Friedrichshain
Friedrichshain
Friedrichshain is a part of Berlin's borough of Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg, and like Kreuzberg across the river it has its own distinct character, with the result that the new double name is hardly ever used outside government administration. From its creation in 1920 until Berlin's 2001...
and took part in the opposition, such as being the editor of samizdat publications
Samizdat
Samizdat was a key form of dissident activity across the Soviet bloc in which individuals reproduced censored publications by hand and passed the documents from reader to reader...
with Thomas Welz
Thomas Welz
Thomas Welz grew up in the suburbs of Berlin.As head of the information department, he was editor and author of several illegal samizdat publications with Rainer Eppelmann of the peace circle of the East Berlin Samariterkirche in Berlin-Friedrichshain...
. It has been claimed that during this period, Eppelmann had contact with the CIA back then.
In 1990, Eppelmann was one of the founding fathers of the Democratic Awakening
Democratic Awakening
Democratic Awakening was an East German opposition political movement. It was founded in October 1989, based on existing politically active church groups. Founding members included Wolfgang Schnur, Friedrich Schorlemmer, Rainer Eppelmann, Günter Nooke and Thomas Welz. The organisation was...
, becoming its president. Thus, he took an active part in the round table of 1990, preparing the German reunification
German reunification
German reunification was the process in 1990 in which the German Democratic Republic joined the Federal Republic of Germany , and when Berlin reunited into a single city, as provided by its then Grundgesetz constitution Article 23. The start of this process is commonly referred by Germans as die...
. From March 18, 1990 to October 2, 1990 (when it ceased to exist) he was a member of the Volkskammer
Volkskammer
The People's Chamber was the unicameral legislature of the German Democratic Republic . From its founding in 1949 until the first free elections on 18 March 1990, all members of the Volkskammer were elected on a slate controlled by the Socialist Unity Party of Germany , called the National Front...
. He became a Minister in the cabinet of Hans Modrow
Hans Modrow
Hans Modrow is a German politician, best known as the last communist premier of East Germany. He currently is the honorary Chairman of the Left Party....
and later in the one of Lothar de Maizière
Lothar de Maizière
Lothar de Maizière is a German christian democratic politician. In 1990, he served as the only democratically elected Prime Minister of the German Democratic Republic, and as such was the last leader of an independent East Germany....
. When the Democratic Awakening
Democratic Awakening
Democratic Awakening was an East German opposition political movement. It was founded in October 1989, based on existing politically active church groups. Founding members included Wolfgang Schnur, Friedrich Schorlemmer, Rainer Eppelmann, Günter Nooke and Thomas Welz. The organisation was...
joined the Christian Democratic Union
Christian Democratic Union (Germany)
The Christian Democratic Union of Germany is a Christian democratic and conservative political party in Germany. It is regarded as on the centre-right of the German political spectrum...
in August 1990, Eppelmann became a member and, later, the assisting chairman of the worker's division of the CDU, the CDA.
He was a member of the Bundestag
Bundestag
The Bundestag is a federal legislative body in Germany. In practice Germany is governed by a bicameral legislature, of which the Bundestag serves as the lower house and the Bundesrat the upper house. The Bundestag is established by the German Basic Law of 1949, as the successor to the earlier...
from 1990
German federal election, 1990
The 12th German federal election, 1990 was conducted on December 2, 1990, to elect members to the Bundestag of the Federal Republic of Germany...
to 2005
German federal election, 2005
German federal elections took place on 18 September 2005 to elect the members of the 16th German Bundestag, the federal parliament of Germany. They became necessary after a motion of confidence in Chancellor Gerhard Schröder failed on 1 July...
for the Christian Democratic Union
Christian Democratic Union (Germany)
The Christian Democratic Union of Germany is a Christian democratic and conservative political party in Germany. It is regarded as on the centre-right of the German political spectrum...
. Then, he was chairman of the commission that coped with the history of the German Democratic Republic
German Democratic Republic
The German Democratic Republic , informally called East Germany by West Germany and other countries, was a socialist state established in 1949 in the Soviet zone of occupied Germany, including East Berlin of the Allied-occupied capital city...
.
Eppelmann's trademark is his "Berliner Schnauze", an idiom
Idiom
Idiom is an expression, word, or phrase that has a figurative meaning that is comprehended in regard to a common use of that expression that is separate from the literal meaning or definition of the words of which it is made...
that is supposed to bring him close to the people of Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
.
He is married and has five children.
External links
- http://www.dhm.de/lemo/html/biografien/EppelmannRainer/
- http://www.bundestag.de/mdb/mdb15/bio/E/eppelra0.html