and worked as representative of the American international investment bank, IOS. His party veered to the left and he was replaced in January 1968 by Walter Scheel. He left the Bundestag in 1969. In the following year the FDP became the junior partner in Brandt's SPD-FDP coalition. In protest against Brandt's new Ostpolitik and the recognition of the Oder–Neisse line Mende left the FDP in 1970 and joined the Christian Democrats in opposition. His defection did not have much impact on the coalition or his party's fortunes. He served in the Bundestag again as a CDU Member from 1972 through 1980, but failed to make much impact in the ranks of the Christian Democrats. Personal life Erich Mende was married twice. His second wife, the young war widow Margot Hansen, he met in 1947 at an FDP meeting. They married a year later. Margot Mende played an active role in her husband's career. His son Walter Mende (born 14 July 1944 in Oels) was the Oberbürgermeister (Lord Mayor) of Leverkusen from 1994 to 1999. Awards German Cross in Gold on 30 May 1942 as Oberleutnant in the 10./Infanterie-Regiment 84 Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 28 February 1945 as Major and leader of Grenadier-Regiment 216 Great Cross of Merit Notes References Citations Bibliography External links 1916 births 1998 deaths People from Strzelce Opolskie People from the Province of Silesia German prisoners of war in World War II held by the United Kingdom Recipients of the Gold German Cross Recipients of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross University of Cologne alumni Members of the Bundestag for Hesse Members of the Bundestag for North Rhine-Westphalia Members of the Bundestag 1976–1980 Members of the Bundestag 1972–1976 Members of the Bundestag 1969–1972 Members of the Bundestag 1965–1969 Members of the Bundestag 1961–1965 Members of the Bundestag 1957–1961 Members of the Bundestag 1953–1957 Members of the Bundestag 1949–1953 Grand Crosses 1st class of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany Federal government ministers of Germany Vice-Chancellors of Germany Members of the Bundestag for the Free Democratic Party (Germany) Members of the Bundestag for the Christian Democratic Union of Germany