Wilhelm Külz
1875-1948
- Became Minister of the Interior in 1926
- Became Mayor of Dresden in 1931
- Became Chairman of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) after 1945
Wilhelm Külz was active in local politics before World War I. He initially identified with the National Liberals, but joined the DDP in 1918. He was a member of the National Assembly and - from 1922 to 1932 - of the Reichstag. From January to December 1926, he served as Interior Minister in Luther’s cabinet. In 1931, he was elected mayor of Dresden, only to lose this post in 1933 when he refused to hoist the swastika flag from the town hall. Up to the end of the war, he worked as a lawyer and stayed in contact with resistance groups. In 1945, he helped found the LDP in the Soviet Occupation Zone, becoming its chairman.