Walter Möller

Möller was born to Karl and Maria Möller (née Ploennigs), a working-class couple living in the Bornheim area of Frankfurt. His father was a blacksmith who was active in SPD politics. After the rise of the Nazi Party to power in Germany, Möller began training to become a book printer, but left to join the Luftwaffe in 1937. After the end of the war, Möller studied at the Academy of Labour in Frankfurt, graduating in February 1948.[1] He then worked for Radio Frankfurt, before joining the Frankfurt City Council as a member of the SPD. From 1949 he was the editor of the party magazine for the Hessen SPD. In 1961, Möller was made the Department Head for Transport under then-mayor Werner Bockelmann. He undersaw the planning, construction and operation of the Frankfurt U-Bahn. Möller drove the first train to pass through the U-Bahn when it opened on 4 October 1968.[2] On 11 June 1970, Möller was elected Mayor of Frankfurt following the death of his predecessor, Willi Brundert. However, shortly after his election, Möller began suffering from deteriorating health, experiencing a heart attack in May 1971. Möller died after a second heart attack in Wiesbaden on 16 November 1971.[3] He only served one year of his four-year term as mayor before his death.

Möller's grave in Frankfurt Main Cemetery

Möller is buried in Frankfurt Main Cemetery.[4] The City of Frankfurt created the "Walter Möller Prize" in 1977 - a €10,000 prize which is awarded bi-annually to groups and communities that render outstanding services to the common good of Frankfurt.[5]

Walter-Möller-Platz in north-west Frankfurt is named after Möller.