Willy Brandt.

On 18 December 1913, Herbert Ernst Karl Frahm was born in Lübeck, Germany. His mother Martha Frahm raised him, and German was his native language. He studied at the University of Oslo. Later, he changed his name to Willy Brandt and began his political climb.

In 1963, Mayor of West Berlin Willy Brandt stood beside US President John F. Kennedy during his famous Berlin speech criticizing communism. Brandt had been mayor since 1957, a role he held until 1966. He then served as Foreign Minister and Vice Chancellor of West Germany under Chancellor Kurt Georg Kiesinger from 1966 to 1969. In 1969, he became Chancellor, the first Social Democrat to hold the office, serving until 1974. He won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1971. Earlier, he ran for chancellor in 1961 and 1965, losing to Konrad Adenauer and Ludwig Erhard respectively. Brandt chaired the Social Democratic Party from 1964 to 1987. He appeared as himself on television programs like Tagesschau 1952 and Dispatches 1987.

Brandt died of cancer on 8 October 1992 in Unkel at age 78. He married three times: to Carlota Thorkildsen, Rut Brandt, and Brigitte Seebacher. He had four children: Peter Brandt, Lars Brandt, Matthias Brandt an actor, and Ninja Frahm.

The first Social Democratic Chancellor of West Germany, Willy Brandt won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1971. He was named Time Person of the Year in 1970. His awards include the Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany, the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour, and honorary doctorates from Oxford, Yale, and other universities. He also received honorary citizenships of Berlin and Lübeck.