Hans Matthöfer

Hans Hermann Matthöfer (25 September 1925 – 14 November 2009) was a German politician of the Social Democratic Party (SPD).

Between 1974 and 1978 Matthöfer served as secretary of research and technology. In 1978 he took over as federal minister of finance and in 1982 he left that post and served briefly as Federal Minister of Post and Telecommunications. After his party lost power in 1983 he gave up all positions in the German government.

Biography Born in Bochum in 1925, Matthöfer served an apprenticeship in commercial science before being drafted as a soldier in the Second World War between 1943 and 1945. In 1946 he passed his examination as an interpreter for the English language. Three years later Matthöfer studied successfully economics and social science at the University of Frankfurt/Main as well as Madison, Wisconsin. In 1953 he received his bachelor of economics.

After his return to Germany Matthöfer began work in the department of economics for the workers union IG Metall, followed by four years at the Organisation for European Economic Co-operation in Washington, D.C., and Paris. After his return to Germany he again worked for the IG Metall and developed a program for the education in companies as well as tariff policy. Between 1987 and 1997 he was president of the BGAG, an investment company owned by the workers union.

Matthöfer joined the Social Democratic party of Germany in 1950. Between 1973 and 1984 he belonged to the Social Democratic party's executive board, followed by a position as its treasurer between 1985 and 1987.

Literature Werner Abelshauser: Nach dem Wirtschaftswunder. Der Gewerkschafter, Politiker und Unternehmer Hans Matthöfer. Dietz, Bonn 2009, ISBN 978-3-8012-4171-1. Helmut Schmidt; Walter Hesselbach (Hrsg.): Kämpfer ohne Pathos: Festschrift für Hans Matthöfer. Bonn 1985.