Günter Hartmann

Günter Hartmann (born March 18, 1930) is a German politician who was chairman of the National Democratic Party of Germany, and a member of the Volkskammer.

Life
Hartmann was born on March 18, 1930, in Halberstadt. Following the end of the Second World War, he became a member of the Free German Youth and the Free German Trade Union Federation. From 1947 to 1948 Hartmann studied at the Freiberg University of Mining and Technology, graduating as a surveyor. In 1949, he joined the National Democratic Party of Germany (NDPD). Beginning in 1951, Hartmann worked varying positions as an NDPD party functionary.

In 1973, Hartmann became a member of the Volkskammer. He served on the Volkskammer's foreign affairs committee. Between 1972 and 1989, he was a member of the national council of the National Front. Between From May 1987 to November 1989, Hartmann served as deputy chairman of the National Democratic Party of Germany. He then assumed leadership of the party in December 1989, following the forced resignation of chairman Heinrich Homann. Hartmann held the position of chairman of the NDPD only briefly. He returned to the role of deputy chairman in January 1990, with Wolfgang Glaeser taking over as chairman. During this period, Hartmann was a proponent of a confederation between the East and West Germany, rather than a total reunification. In March 1990, he retired from his position as deputy chairman. Hartmann then became a member of the Association of Free Democrats, and later the Free Democratic Party.

Awards

 * Banner of Labor, 1st Class (1980)
 * Patriotic Order of Merit, in bronze (1964); in silver (1972 and 1977); in gold (1985)