Günther Krause
Günther Krause (born 3 September 1953) is a German engineer, academic, politician and businessman. After the Peaceful Revolution, he entered politics, serving in the Volkskammer and as a senior adviser to Minister-President Lothar de Maizière. In that role, he was a co-signatory to the Unification Treaty. After German reunification, he was elected to the Bundestag and served in various roles in the Helmut Kohl government. He first served as minister for special affairs from 1990 to 1991 and then as minister of transport from 1991 to 1993. He resigned from the office due to numerous scandals. Legal problems and scandals followed after his career in politics, earning him the nickname Sause-Krause.
Günther Krause Bundesminister a. D. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Krause in 1990 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Minister of Transport | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office 18 January 1991 – 6 May 1993 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chancellor | Helmut Kohl | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Friedrich Zimmermann | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | Matthias Wissmann | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Minister of Post and Telecommunications | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Interim | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office 17 December 1992 – 22 January 1993 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chancellor | Helmut Kohl | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Christian Schwarz-Schilling | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | Wolfgang Bötsch | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Minister for Special Affairs | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office 3 October 1990 – 17 January 1991 Serving with Hans Klein, Lothar de Maizière, Sabine Bergmann-Pohl, Rainer Ortleb, Hansjoachim Walther | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chancellor | Helmut Kohl | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Office established | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | Office abolished | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Leader of the Christian Democratic Union in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office 3 March 1990 – May 1993 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| General Secretary |
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| Preceded by | Office established | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | Angela Merkel | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Member of the Bundestag for Wismar – Gadebusch – Grevesmühlen – Doberan – Bützow Volkskammer; 1990 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office 3 October 1990 – 10 November 1994 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Constituency established | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | Hans-Otto Schmiedeberg | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal details | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 3 September 1953 Halle, Bezirk Halle, East Germany | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Political party | Christian Democratic Union | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other political affiliations | Christian Democratic Union (East Germany) (1975–1990) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Spouse |
Heike Krause-Augustin
(m. 2004) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Children | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Residence | Werder (Havel) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Alma mater | Wismar University of Technology, Business and Design | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Occupation |
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| Military service | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Allegiance | East Germany | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Branch/service | National People's Army | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years of service | 1972–1974 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Former Chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel was his protégée. As leader of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, he helped her garner the nomination in her constituency. Merkel succeeded him as leader after he resigned.