Wilhelmine Lubke, former First Lady of West Germany

May 05, 1980 - Wilhelmine Lubke will be 95 years old. She was the wife of the former president of the federal republic, Heinrich Lubke, who died in 1972. Wilhelmine Lubke (nee Keuthen) was born in Ramsbecl in Sauerland. She first became a teacher, in 1908 she passed an additional examination which enabled her to teach at high schools. From 1911 she studied mathematics, philosophy and German philology. The following 10 years she was teaching in Berlin, where she met Heinrich Lubke. They married in 1929. The Nazi time was very difficult for them. (Heinrich Lubke was dismissed from his functions, he was arrested, the couple were bombed out). From 1947 Wilhelmine Lubke had the opportunity to prepare herself for the office of the First lady of West Germany, because her husband became Minister of Agriculture of Nordheim-Westfalen, and in 1953 Minister of Food for the Republic of West Germany. In 1959 Heinrich Lubke was elected Federal President of West Germany, Wilhelmine Lubke always accompanied her husband on his journeys to foreign countries and fulfilled her duties of representation with much charm and dignity. She was especially devoted in charitable tasks, for example the Aktion Gemeisinn, the Mittergenesungswerk and the Deutsche Altershilfe'. In 1969 Wilhelmine Lubke was decorated with the Gorbkreuz Des Bundesverdienstordens

Restrictions Only for United Kingdom

Additional Aktion Charitable Charm Deutsche Devoted Difficult Dignity Duties Elected Enabled Especially Examination Example Fulfilled Herself Lubke Luebke Mathematics Opportunity Passed Philology Philosophy Prepare Sauerland Tasks Teach West-germany Wilhelmine

Features In These Collections

> Contributors > KEY