Celebrating the birthday of Friedrich Ebert

Today, on February 4th, we are celebrating the birthday of our namesake - Friedrich Ebert!

Friedrich Ebert came from humble beginnings. As a journeyman craftsman, he fought for better working conditions from a young age. He later came into contact with the social democracy movement and, as a politician, made it to the top of the first German democracy, the Weimar Republic, as Germany's first democratically elected head of state.

His experiences in the Weimar period, when forces on the extreme right and extreme left attacked the young democracy after the end of the First World War, led him to the realisation that democracy needs strong democrats. It is this conviction that characterises the work of the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung to this day.

Democratic institutions such as free elections, independent courts and constitutional procedures alone are not enough to guarantee a stable democracy. It needs informed, committed, democratically-minded citizens who are prepared to shape democracy in a sustainable and socially responsible way.

On 2 March 2025, the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) will be 100 years old. The day marks the beginning of the 100th-anniversary celebrations throughout the year.