The goal of the CDU was to unite all Christian oriented forces into one 'union.' The nation's life should be built upon a foundation of Christian, democratic, and federalistic principles. Konrad Adenauer, who would go on to leave an everlasting impression, became our first chairman.
Beginning in 1948, the social market economy promoted by Ludwig Erhard, took on a deciding significance. From the start, the CDU built its existence upon the European integration of Germany and for the connection to the West in the European partnership and NATO. Since the separation of Germany into two parts, the central goal was the reunification of our fatherland. The lifetime political achievements of the party leaders Kurt-Georg Kiesinger and Rainer Barzel included keeping the German question open. East Germany's citizens achieved the conditon for a solution by means of a peaceful revolution. Under the leadership of Helmut Kohl, a unified and free Germany emerged, solidly anchored in the West.
In the Soviet occupied zone and East Germany, the CDU (Christian Democratic Union of Germany) found themselves under the ever-increasing pressure of the Socialists. After the Soviet occupation forces made the political work for the leaders Andreas Hermes, Jakob Kaiser and Ernst Lemmer impossible, the CDU was forced to yield to a lesser role within the National Front of the SED. Although established by righteous men and women, the CDU fell into the hands of a totalitarian system within the Soviet occupied zones and East Germany. Many individuals, who valued christian-democratic principles, were prevented from joining the political path. Towards the end of 1989, the CDU found its way back to its own politics and was successful at the first free Elections for the People's Parliament on March 18, 1990. Together with the 'Democratic Movement' (DA) and the 'German Social Union' (DSU), it joined the electoral alliance named 'Alliance for Germany.' The East and West CDU unified itself at the first joint party conference of the whole-German CDU Germany on October 1st and 2nd 1990.
The Bavarian sister party 'Christian-Social Union' (CSU) is having a parliamentary partnership with the CDU in the German Bundestag since 1949.
Informations concerning our economic policy and our European foreign and security policy.
