Arthur Werner

Who was Arthur Werner?

Arthur Victor Hugo Werner was the first Mayor of Berlin after World War II.

In 1907 Werner had graduated as an engineer at the Technical University of Charlottenburg. He opened a private technical college until in 1942 he was forced to retire by the Nazi authorities.

On May 17, 1945 he was appointed mayor by the Soviet administration of Berlin under Nikolai Berzarin, confirmed by the western Allies after the division of the city into four sectors in July 1945. After the elections of October 20, 1946, Werner resigned in favour of Otto Ostrowski.

He was the oldest former Minister-President of Germany from gaining his office on May 17, 1945 until February 28, 1966 and was succeeded by Wilhelm Kaisen.