Willy Brandt was a German chancellor from 1969 until 1974 . He was born Herbert Ernst Karl Frahm on 18 December 1913 in LÃ 1\/4 beck Germany . Willy Brandt , born Herbert Ernst Karl Frahm ( ; 18 December 1913 - 8 October 1992 ) , was a German politician , Chancellor of West Germany 1969 -- 1974 , and leader of the Social Democratic Party of Germany ( SPD ) 1964 -- 1987 .