Josef Klaus


Klaus, Josef

 

Born Aug. 15, 1910, in Mauthen, Carinthia. Austrian statesman.

Klaus graduated from the faculty of law at the University of Vienna in 1934. In 1939 he was drafted into the army. From 1949 to 1961 he was head of the government of the Land (state) of Salzburg. In 1952 he became chairman of the Salzburg Land organization of the Austrian People’s Party (APP).From 1961 to 1963, Klaus was minister of finance. From 1963 to 1970 he was chairman of the APP. Between 1964 and 1970 he served as the federal chancellor, the head of the government in Austria. Klaus supported the maintenance of contacts and development of relations with the Soviet Union and other socialist countries. In March 1967 he made an official visit to the USSR.