About
Joachim Gauck was born on January 24, 1940, in Rostock. A Lutheran pastor, he was a leading figure of the opposition in East Germany, co-founding the New Forum in 1989. After reunification, he headed the federal agency for Stasi records from 1991 to 2000. Elected Federal President in 2012 with broad consensus, he promoted civic engagement and the defense of democracy against populism. He is the author of several books on freedom.
* 1940-01-24
Major works
- Freiheit. Ein Plädoyer (2012)essay
Key milestones
- 1989Co-founded the New Forum in Rostock and initiated peace prayers at St. Mary's Church.
- 1991Appointed Federal Commissioner for the Stasi Records (1991-2000).
- 2012Elected Federal President of Germany on 18 March 2012.
Themes
FreedomDemocracyCivic engagementFight against populismHistorical memory
Sources: bundespraesident.de · deutsche-biographie.de · id.loc.gov
