The Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung or FES (Stiftung is the German word for foundation) was founded in 1925 as a political legacy of Germany's first democratically elected president, Friedrich Ebert, who died in that year.
Ebert, a Social Democrat of humble origins, had risen to hold the highest office in his country despite considerable opposition from his political adversaries. He assumed the burden of the presidency in a country which was crisis-ridden following its defeat in World War I. His own personal experience led him to propose the establishment of a foundation with a threefold aim:
- Furthering a democratic, pluralistic political culture by means of political education for all classes of society;
- Facilitating access to higher education for gifted young people by providing scholarships;
- Contributing to 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 programmes in each of the above areas.
The Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung today is a non-profit making, political public-interest institution committed to the principles and basic values of social democracy in its educational and policy-orientated work
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