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Robert Schuman

For the German composer, see Robert Schumann
Robert Schuman in 1958, receiving Karlspreis in the city of
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Robert Schuman in 1958, receiving Karlspreis in the city of Aachen

Robert Schuman (29 June 1886-4 September 1963) was a noted French politician of German origin who is regarded as one of the founders of the European Union.

Schuman was born in Luxembourg to parents from Lorraine. The family soon returned to that province, then a province of Germany, and Schuman was thus educated in the German education system, and his law degree, obtained at the Humboldt University in Berlin in 1910, was in German law. He became a lawyer, served in the German army during the first world war and was member of the city council of Metz as well as the German Katholikentag. After the First World War, Alsace-Lorraine was retaken by France and Schuman became active in French politics. In 1919 he was first elected as deputy to parliament for Thionville and served in this capacity until 1940. He had a major contribution to drafting and parliamentary passage of Lex Schuman in French parliament. Schuman investigated and patiently uncovered postwar corruption in Lorraine steel industries.

In 1940 Schuman was arrested by the Gestapo but escaped in 1942 and joined the French Resistance.

After the war Schuman rose to great prominence. He was briefly Prime Minister from 1947-1948 becoming Foreign Minister in the latter year. On 9 May 1950, mostly at the behest of Jean Monnet, Schuman invited the Germans to jointly manage their coal and steel industries. This formed the basis of the European Coal and Steel Community, which eventually evolved into the European Union. This became known as the Schuman declaration, and to this day 9 May is designated Europe Day.

In 1958 he received the Karlspreis, an Award by the German city of Aachen to people who contributed to the European idea and European peace, commemorating Charlemagne, ruler of what is today France and Germany, who resided and is buried at Aachen.

Schuman spoke French with a German accent.

Schuman may become a saint of the Catholic church. It was announced on 15 May 2004 that the diocesan investigation of the cause of beatification would soon conclude.

Contents

Miscellaneous

A metro station and an important square in Brussels are named after Robert Schuman. In addition, a Brussels railway station is named Bruxelles-Schuman (in French) or Brussel-Schuman (in Dutch). Around the square can be found various European institutions, including the famous Berlaymont building which houses the European Commission headquarters. That part of town forms what is called the "European district".

Schuman's First Government, 24 November 1947 - 26 July 1948

  • Robert Schuman - President of the Council
  • Georges Bidault - Minister of Foreign Affairs
  • Pierre-Henri Teitgen - Minister of National Defense
  • Jules Moch - Minister of the Interior
  • René Mayer - Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs
  • Robert Lacoste - Minister of Commerce and Industry
  • Daniel Mayer - Minister of Labour and Social Security
  • André Marie - Minister of Justice
  • Marcel Edmond Naegelen - Minister of National Education
  • François Mitterrand - Minister of Veterans and War Victims
  • Pierre Pflimlin - Minister of Agriculture
  • Paul Coste-Floret - Minister of Overseas France
  • Christian Pineau - Minister of Public Works and Transport
  • Germaine Poinso-Chapuis - Minister of Public Health and Population
  • René Coty - Minister of Reconstruction and Town Planning

Changes

  • 12 February 1948 - Édouard Depreux succeeds Naegelen as Minister of National Education.

Schuman's Second Government, 5 September - 11 September 1948

  • Robert Schuman - President of the Council and Minister of Foreign Affairs
  • René Mayer - Minister of National Defense
  • André Marie - Vice President of the Council
  • Jules Moch - Minister of the Interior
  • Christian Pineau - Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs
  • Robert Lacoste - Minister of Commerce and Industry
  • Daniel Mayer - Minister of Labour and Social Security
  • Robert Lecourt - Minister of Justice
  • Tony Revillon - Minister of National Education
  • Jules Catoire - Minister of Veterans and War Victims
  • Pierre Pflimlin - Minister of Agriculture
  • Paul Coste-Floret - Minister of Overseas France
  • Henri Queuille - Minister of Public Works, Transport, and Tourism
  • Pierre Schneiter - Minister of Public Health and Population
  • René Coty - Minister of Reconstruction and Town Planning
Preceded by:
Paul Ramadier
Prime Minister of France
1947-1948
Followed by:
André Marie
Preceded by:
André Marie
Prime Minister of France
1948
Followed by:
Henri Queuille

External links

Last updated: 05-06-2005 14:41:01