Heinz Schwarz | |
|---|---|
 Poster for the election for theLandtag of Rhineland-Palatinate in 1975 | |
| Minister of the Interior of Rhineland-Palatinate | |
| In office 1971–1976 | |
| Minister-President | Helmut Kohl |
| Preceded by | August Wolters [de] |
| Succeeded by | Kurt Böckmann [de] |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1928-07-24)24 July 1928 Leubsdorf, German Reich |
| Died | 6 March 2023(2023-03-06) (aged 94) |
| Political party | CDU |
| Children | 2 |
| Occupation | Politician and author |
| Awards | Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany |
Heinz Schwarz (24 July 1928 – 6 March 2023) was a German politician of theChristian Democratic Union of Germany (CDU) who was a long-time member of the state parliament ofRhineland-Palatinate, serving as the state'sminister of the interior. From 1976 to 1990, he was a member of theBundestag.
Schwarz was born inLeubsdorf on 24 July 1928, the son of a vintner and innkeeper.[1] He attended elementary, trade and viticulture schools.[2] In 1944 he began a commercial apprenticeship at theKreissparkasse inNeuwied, but was drafted as an Airforce auxiliary (Luftwaffenhelfer). After World War II, he completed his commercial education in 1947. He trained as a banker until 1947, and then worked in his parents' vineyard and at times as an industrial labourer. He owned two companies in his hometown, an antique shop and a company that imported raw materials.[1]
Schwarz joined theChristian Democratic Union of Germany (CDU) in 1947.[3] From 1949 to 1951 he was the head of CDU'sNeuwiedKreisverband (district). He was state secretary of theJunge Union youth organisation from 1952 to 1954, and its national secretary from 1955 to 1961. He was responsible for the party inRhineland-Palatinate from 1961 to 1964, and head of the districtKoblenz-Montabaur from 1969 to 1980.[3] In 2020, he was one of only two people to be present at all party conventions of the CDU since the founding convention in 1950.[4][5] The other wasGünter-Helge Strickstrack, who died that year.[4][5]
Schwarz was a member of the council of Leubsdorf from 1956 to 1960, and a member of the district council ofLandkreis Neuwied from 1956 to 1971.[1] He was elected to theLandtag of Rhineland-Palatinate in 1959,[3] where he served as deputy president of the CDU from 1967 to 1971, and as president of theInnenausschuss (interior affairs). He was elected to the national parliament,Bundestag, in 1976[3] where he remained until 1990.[6] There he was a member of theAuswärtiger Ausschuss [de] (foreign committee).[7]
Schwarz was mayor ofBad Hönningen from 1964 to 1971.[5] On 18 May 1971, he was appointed by minister-presidentHelmut Kohl asminister of the interior, succeedingAugust Wolters [de].[8] His tenure ended when he was elected to the Bundestag, and he was succeeded byKurt Böckmann [de].[9]
Schwarz was married; the couple's sonStefan Schwarz also became a politician.[10] Their second son is publicistThomas Schwarz [de].[11]
Schwarz died on 6 March 2023, at age 94.[12][13][3][14] He was the last living member of the 1959 Landtag.Malu Dreyer, minister-president of Rhineland-Palatinate, said "Heinz Schwarz was a politician out of deep conviction. As a Rhenish Catholic who lived through the Second World War, he was concerned with a better future for our country, in which people build bridges for a firm democracy." ("Heinz Schwarz war Politiker aus tiefer Überzeugung. Als rheinischer Katholik, der den Zweiten Weltkrieg miterlebte, ging es ihm um eine bessere Zukunft für unser Land, in der Menschen Brücken für eine feste Demokratie bauen").[6]
Publications by Schwarz as author or editor are held by theGerman National Library:[18]
Schwarz donated a memorial monument at theLudendorff Bridge inRemagen, where he had served as Luftwaffenhelfer. The plaque, on the east bank of the river inErpel, quotesKonrad Adenauer: "Friede ohne Freiheit ist kein Friede" ("Peace without freedom is no peace").[19][20]
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