  | 1916-1933 member of and finally chairman of the Socialist Workers’ Youth Organization
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  | emigration to Prague 1933-38, Paris 1938-40, and London 1940-46
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  | after his return to Germany he becomes the deputy chairman of the SPD, 1946-52
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  | member of the German Bundestag 1948-63
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  | Chairman of the SPD 1952-63
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  | failure of SPD candidature for Federal Chancellor against Konrad Adenauer, 1953 and 1957
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  | Vice President 1951-63 and President 1963 of the Socialist International |