Elisabeth Schwarzhaupt was a German politician, lawyer, and the first female federal minister or Bundesministerin of the Federal Republic of Germany.
Born on January 7th, 1901, she studied law and worked as a judge until 1933 when the NSDAP seized power and had all women removed from the judge’s bench. In 1945, she became a member of the CDU (Christian Democratic Union) and ran for political office in 1953. She was a member of the German Bundestag from 1953 – 1969, and the Deputy Chairperson of the CDU/CSU.
She was a strong voice for the equality of women and in 1957, voted against the so-called Stichentscheids-Klausel which would have given the husband the decisive power and right in all disputes concerning both spouses. This clause was also called the Gehorsamsparagraph (obdience article).
In 1961, under Chancellor Konrad Adenauer, Schwarzhaupt was appointed Gesundheitsministerin (Federal Minister of Health). This however was not Adenauer’s idea, he gave in after the women within the CDU party staged a “Sit-in” because they didn’t want another cabinet without a woman. Schwarzhaupt herself would have preferred to become Justice Minister or Attorney General since that was her profession, but Adenauer didn’t think a woman would be suited for the job.
Among her many achievements are:
- declaration of foreign substances in food on the package
- best before dates on groceries
- reform of the Pharmaceutical Products Act (to avoid another Thalidomide scandal, medication now has to be tested for possible damage to unborn children)
- guidelines for clean waters and air
In 1966, she stepped down from her minister position but continued to fight for equal rights and was active in multiple organizations like the Deutscher Frauenrat, Evangelischer Frauenbund, Deutscher Akademikerinnenbund, and Deutscher Juristinnenbund.
In 1965, Schwarzhaupt was awarded the Großkreuz des Bundesverdienstkreuzes (Order of Merit). A street in Mainz and in Bonn, a place in Berlin, and a public park in Frankfurt am Main are named after her. In 1997, a stamp showing her image was released. Value: 100 Pfennig.
Here is a video about a stamp series entitled “Women in German History” that features her.
