Carl Goerdeler

Carl Goerdeler (1884-1945), later Leipzig Lord major and “chancellor” of the German resistance against Hitler, a man with important relations in politics and society, started his communal career in Solingen. After 60 years of reseaches on Goerdeler this study breakes new ground in science. From 1912 to 1920, Goerdeler managed a great spectrum from the refuse collection to the school reform. After careful beginnings he worked enthousiastic for the realization of his projects. Especially after World War I he had various projects, as the Einheitsschule (unified school) with the Deutsche Oberschule (German grammar school/German high school) which he tried to establish. Goerdeler did not collaborate in conjunction with the Social Democrats but in matter-of-fact. From his activities in Solingen he received lasting mould: his great ability of reforming the communal administration, his continued commitment for the communal constitution (“major constitution”) of the Rhine province, and his ability of organizing a large political spectrum – later in the German Resistance against the Hitler regime, too.