Werner Bockelmann | |
|---|---|
 Bockelmann in 1963 | |
| Mayor of Frankfurt | |
| In office 1957–1964 | |
| Preceded by | Walter Kolb |
| Succeeded by | Willi Brundert |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 23 September 1907 |
| Died | 7 April 1968 (aged 60) |
| Political party | Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD) |
Werner Bockelmann (23 September 1907 – 7 April 1968) was a German lawyer and politician of theSocial Democratic Party of Germany, who served as theMayor of Frankfurt between 1957 and 1964.
Bockelmann was born inMoscow to a German banker,Heinrich Bockelmann [de], and fellow German Anna Bockelmann (née Förster). The family was quite rich.[1] In 1920, the Bockelmann family moved to Germany. After attending theGelehrtenschule des Johanneums inHamburg, Bockelmann studied Law at the universities ofDresden,Hamburg,Göttingen andGraz. He became a lawyer in Hamburg in 1935. Bockelmann was theChief of Staff of theKriegsmarine between 1941 and 1945.
Bockelmann's first political experience was in the city ofLüneburg inLower Saxony. He served as the mayor of Lüneburg between 1945 and 1946, and became acity manager in 1946, staying in that role until 1955.[2] From 1955 to 1957 Bockelmann was the mayor ofLudwigshafen inRhineland-Palatinate.[3]
In 1957, Bockelmann was elected as Mayor of Frankfurt am Main. During his tenure, the decision was made to create a city railway, which would become theFrankfurt U-Bahn. Other defining events of Bockelmann's time in office were the re-construction of theUniversity of Frankfurt, the creation of the "Nordweststadt" area of Frankfurt and the building of one of Frankfurt's first skyscrapers, the "Zurich House" (which has since been destroyed). Bockelmann met with US PresidentJohn F. Kennedy when he visited Frankfurt in 1963, accompanying Kennedy at the signing of the "Golden Book" at the Frankfurt Rathaus.[4]
Bockelmann did not enjoy great popularity during his tenure as mayor, perhaps due to him being seen as an outsider, given his north-German origins.
Bockelmann was re-elected as mayor following local elections in 1960, but left office in 1964 on medical grounds.[3] He was succeeded in office byWilli Brundert.
Bockelmann married and had four sons, Mischa, Andrej, Martin and Thomas.Andrej Bockelmann [de] is a sociologist and journalist, andThomas Bockelmann [de] is an actor and director, who has served as the director of several theatres in Germany.
Werner Bockelmann was the uncle of Austrian pop-singerUdo Jürgens.[2]
Bockelmann died in a car accident on 7 April 1968. He was 60 years old at the time of his death. Also fatally injured wasChristian Social Union politicianGeorg Brauchle, who died of his injuries just over two weeks later.[5][6]