Theodor Heuss

liberal politician

31 January 1884 Brackenheim, Kingdom of Württemberg, German Empire

12 December 1963(1963-12-12) (79) Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg, West Germany

12 September 1949 – 12 September 1959

5th president of Germany Theodor Heuss (German: ( listen ) ; 31 January 1884 – 12 December 1963) was a German liberal politician who served as the first President of the Federal Republic of Germany from 1949 to 1959. His cordial nature – something of a contrast to the stern character of chancellor Konrad Adenauer – largely contributed to the stabilization of democracy in West Germany during the Wirtschaftswunder years. Before beginning his career as a politician, Heuss had been a political journalist.