The Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung

Dedicated to Social Democracy

Die Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) was founded in 1925 as the political legacy of the first democratically elected President of Germany Friedrich Ebert. The Social Democrat Friedrich Ebert successfully ascended from a simple handworker to the highest office in the country.

His own personal experience led him to propose the establishment of a Foundation with a threefold aim:

• to further a democratic, pluralistic political culture by means of political education for all classes of society
• to facilitate access to higher education for gifted young people by providing scholarships
• to contribute towards international understanding and co-operation wherever possible to avert a fresh outbreak of war and conflict.

The Foundation, which was immediately banned by the Nazis in 1933 and not re-established until 1947 after World War II, continues today to pursue those aims and has developed extensive programs in each of the above areas.

Library of the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung - in German
Social Democratic Archive - in German