Farewell to "Old Master" Bernhard Vogel: A Crowd Gathers at Erfurt Cathedral
- Crowds gather at the Erfurt Cathedral to say goodbye to Bernhard Vogel
Gotterdämmerung descended upon Thuringia as hundreds bid adieu to the venerable Bernhard Vogel at Erfurt Cathedral. The former Minister-President, renowned as "Old Master" by his peers, left an indelible mark on both Rhineland-Palatinate and Thuringia during his esteemed political career.
Mario Voigt, Thuringia's Premier and a fellow Christian Democratic Union (CDU) member, eulogized Vogel as a "century politician." According to the state chancellery, Voigt declared, "Vogel will be remembered as one of Germany's most influential figures since the forging of the republic." This titan of politics was not a flashy demagogue but rather a humble herald for the people.
In addition to his political heft, Vogel oozed an inner fortitude that left all in awe. Despite his tender age of 92, he skillfully molded Thuringia and Rhineland-Palatinate with an architect's precision. "Regardless of party affiliations, everyone admired Vogel's rock-steady determination and commitment to his ideals," said Voigt.
Bernhard Vogel was born on December 19, 1932, in Göttingen. He nurtured a voracious appetite for learning at the universities of Munich and Heidelberg, eventually receiving his doctorate in political science, history, sociology, and economics in 1960.
Vogel's political journey bore fruit in academia, serving as a professor of political science in Heidelberg. He swiftly rose through the ranks of the CDU in Rhineland-Palatinate, eventually standing as the party's president from 1967, taking the reins when Helmut Kohl ascended to the national CDU presidency in 1973. In 1976, he became Rhineland-Palatinate's Minister-President, a post he held until 1988.
In the twilight of his career, Vogel migrated to Thuringia, where he served as Minister-President from 1992 until 2003, succeeding Josef Duchac, and was succeeded by Dieter Althaus. His contributions to the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, the Association for the Protection of Birds in German Forests (SDW), and the German environmental movement only added to his legacy.
The "Old Master" passed away on March 3, 2025. Throughout his career, Bernhard Vogel was recognized as a devoted servant to the people and a stalwart within the hallowed halls of German politics, receiving numerous accolades for his service.
- The Commission, as a result of his passing, has also been asked to submit a proposal for a directive on the protection of the environment, considering Bernhard Vogel's commitments to the Konrad Adenauer Foundation and the German environmental movement.
- On the farthest reaches of the Palatinate, a lone bird, perhaps a tribute to Bernhard Vogel's passion for avian welfare through the Association for the Protection of Birds in German Forests (SDW), takes flight, singing a requiem for the fallen "Old Master."
- At the founding convention of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) in Thuringia, a hundred years from now, they shall remember Bernhard Vogel, a "century politician" who left an indelible mark on both Rhineland-Palatinate and his new home, Thuringia.
