Norbert Schmelzer

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Norbert Schmelzer, 1971

Wilhelm Klaus Norbert Schmelzer (born March 22, 1921 in Rotterdam ; † November 14, 2008 in St. Ingbert ) was a Dutch politician of the Katholieke Volkspartij (KVP) , later Christen Democratisch Appèl (CDA) , who merged with the KVP in 1980 the Christelijk Historische Unie (CHU) and Anti-Revolutionaire Partij (ARP) emerged .

Studies and professional activities

Schmelzer was born in Rotterdam in 1921 to German parents, the father came from the Saarland . He was in possession of a German passport until 1933, but surrendered it when Hitler came to power. Schmelzer was chairman of the Raad van negen (Council of Nine) in the student resistance during the German occupation of the Netherlands in World War II . He completed a degree in economics at the Katholieke Economische Hogeschool in Tilburg by 1947 . After completing his doctorate, Schmelzer was a management assistant at Unilever until 1950 . Then he was an official in the Ministry of Economic Affairs. He was also active as a pianist, composer and poet.

Political career

State Secretary

Schmelzer began his political career as State Secretary for the Interior from 1956 to 1959 in the cabinets of Willem Drees and Louis Beel . From 1959 to 1963 he was State Secretary for General Affairs in Jan de Quay's cabinet .

Group leader and overthrow of the Cals government

Schmelzer was then chairman of the CIP parliamentary group in the Second Chamber (Tweede Kamer) . The night of October 13-14 , 1966, went down in Dutch history as the Night of Van Schmelzer . The Catholic-Social-Democratic Cabinet under KVP Prime Minister Jo Cals had introduced a budget that the (right-wing) opposition from CHU, VVD , SGP , BP and GPV did not find economical enough. The majority of the CIP MPs, led by Schmelzer, also voted for an amendment. Cals saw this as a vote of no confidence and resigned on November 22, 1966.

Foreign minister

Schmelzer was in Barend Biesheuvel's cabinet from July 6, 1971 to May 11, 1973 as the successor to Joseph Luns Foreign Minister. In this capacity he was also President of the Council of the European Union in the second half of 1972 .

Private life

Schmelzer was married twice. He had five children with his first wife, two of whom died early. In summer 2008 Schmelzer moved with his second wife Daphne to the hometown of his family, St. Ingbert in Saarland. He lived here until his death in November 2008.

Honors

  • Grand Commander in the Order of Orange-Nassau , 1963
  • Commander in the Order of the Dutch Lion , 1973
  • Grand Cross in the Order of Orange-Nassau , 1991
  • Robert Schuman Medal for Services to Europe , 1991
  • The Great Cross of Merit with Star of the Federal Republic of Germany
  • Grand Croix de l'Ordre du Mérite de la République Française
  • Verzetsherdenkingskruis (resistance memorial cross)

Publications

Biographical sources and background information

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b "Two enthusiastic Neu-St. Ingberter - Schmelzer wrote history ” , Saarbrücker Zeitung, last accessed November 15, 2008
  2. ↑ a b nrc.nl: "Norbert Schmelzer overleden"  ( page no longer available , search in web archives )  Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. , November 14, 2008, last accessed November 15, 2008 (Dutch)@1@ 2Template: Dead Link / www.nrc.nl  
  3. ↑ parlement.com: "Nacht van Schmelzer" , last accessed November 15, 2008 (Dutch)
  4. ↑ Robert Schuman Medal ( PDF ; 530 kB)

Web links

Commons : Norbert Schmelzer  - Collection of images, videos and audio files
personal data
SURNAME Schmelzer, Norbert
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Schmelzer, Wilhelm Klaus Norbert
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Dutch politician (KVP)
DATE OF BIRTH March 22, 1921
PLACE OF BIRTH Rotterdam
DATE OF DEATH November 14, 2008
Place of death St. Ingbert