Jakob Kaiser

German politician and resistance leader during World War II.

After the Nazis came to power in 1933, Hitler abolished all unions, with the exception of the Nazi trade union German Labour Front. Kaiser opposed National Socialism and he joined the resistance in 1934. He was arrested by theGestapo in 1938 under suspicion of treason, but released shortly thereafter.

Through his participation in the Cologne-resistance circle, Kaiser became a close associated of the former Mayor of Leipzig, Carl Goerdeler. His relationship with Goerdeler allowed him to come into contact with Claus von Stauffenberg. Although he was not directly informed of the July 20 Plot, his knowledge of Stauffenberg’s intention to assassinate Hitler as well as his close ties to the resistance group forced him to go into hiding for the remainder of World War II.

After the war, Kaiser returned to politics and worked with Andreas Hermes to found the East Berlin division of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU). He was elected president of the Berlin CDU (both the Western and Eastern sections of the party).

In 1950 Kaiser was elected chairman of the West German CDU. From 1949 until 1957 he was Minister of All-German Affairs in Adenauer's cabinet.

Kaiser died on 7 May 1961 in Berlin.