1962 Abitur. Studied law in Göttingen and Hamburg; first state examination in law in 1967, second in 1971; doctorate in law in 1971. Joined the Hamburg administration as a government councilor in 1971. 1971 to 1972 Personal Assistant to the President of the University of Hamburg. Subsequently in the Finance Authority of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg. 1973 Elected city councilor and deputy city director of the city of Uelzen. 1983 Admitted to the bar at Uelzen District Court and Lüneburg Regional Court.
Member of ver.di.
Member of the SPD since 1964.
Member of the Bundestag since 1980, October 1998 to July 2002 and since November 21, 2005 Chairman of the SPD parliamentary group; July 2002 to November 2005 Federal Minister of Defense.
Markus Lanz(2008)as Self
Kölner Treff(1976)as Self
Günther Jauch(2011)as Self
Volle Kanne(1999)as Self
Heute Journal update(2020)as Self
Mitternachtsspitzen(1988)as Self