When and where was Theodor Blank born?
Theodor Anton Blank entered the world on the 19th of September 1905 in Elz an der Lahn. He was the third of ten children born to a carpenter named Blank and his wife Margarete Blank.
Questions about Theodor Blank
Short answers, pulled from the story.
What military service did Theodor Blank perform during World War II?
Conscription into the Wehrmacht happened in 1939 for Theodor Blank and he rose to become a first lieutenant by the end of World War II. American forces captured him north of Dachau in 1945 after he fought during the Battle of the Bulge.
How did Theodor Blank contribute to German rearmament efforts?
Chancellor Konrad Adenauer tasked Blank with covertly preparing the re-establishment of the German armed forces and he led the Amt Blank from 1950 to 1955 under this special mandate. Official rearmament allowed Blank to serve as Germany's first postwar Defence Minister starting in 1955.
Which political party did Theodor Blank help found and when did he die?
Theodor Blank became one of the founders of the Christian Democratic Union party immediately following the collapse of Nazi Germany in 1945. His death occurred in Bonn on the 14th of May 1972 after decades of public service.
What government roles did Theodor Blank hold between 1955 and 1965?
Official rearmament allowed Blank to serve as Germany's first postwar Defence Minister starting in 1955 until 1956 when he moved to another portfolio. Blank served as Minister of Labour and Social Affairs from 1957 to 1965 during which legislative work focused on unions and social welfare systems.