Willy Dehnkamp

Willy Dehnkamp (July 22 1903 – November 12 1985) was German politician (SPD) and mayor of the city of Bremen.

Life

Youth and Education

Born in 1903 as son of a harbour worker in Hamburg-Altona, he was looking forward to be a sailor, but became a fitter. With 16 years he joined the SPD.

Dehnkamp was elected chairman of the "Sozialistische Jugend" (SPD youth organisation) in Hamburg at 23 and lead the SPD in Blumenthal near Bremen from 1928 on. In the local election in 1933, he bet the candidate of the NSDAP. 10 days after the election he was arrested for 7 months. Out of prison, he built up the underground organisation of the SPD. In March, 1935 he was arrested again by the Gestapo. He was sentenced to 2 years and 9 months in jail. 1942 he was drafted to service. He was wounded and became Russian POW for 3 1/2 years.

Bremen Politician

1951, he became Minister for Education in Bremen, which he stayed for 14 years. He supported the foundation of Bremen university. From July 20, 1965 he became mayor in Bremen, successing Wilhelm Kaisen. 1967, he and his SPD lost absolute majority, and Hans Koschnick became mayor. Dehnkamp withdrew from politics and died in Bremen in 1985.