Schröder, Ernst

Gardener, politician

born: 11.02.1893 in Krefeld

died: 20.02.1976 in Wiesbaden

Schröder is considered the "father" of the Federal Garden Show. After an apprenticeship as a gardener and extended trips abroad, he worked in his father's nursery until 1927. A member of the German People's Party since 1918, he was a city councillor in Krefeld from 1919-24 and a member of the Rhein. Provincial Parliament. He was a member of the Prussian state parliament (1928-32) and the German Reichstag in 1932/33.

Schröder rendered outstanding services to national and international horticulture. For over 30 years (1936-68) he was director of the German Hail Insurance Company for market gardeners and for 20 years (1948-68) president of the Central Association of German Vegetable, Fruit and Horticulture. From 1950-58 he sat for the FDP in the Hessian state parliament. He was First Vice President.

The TH Hannover awarded him an honorary doctorate (Dr. rer. hort. h.c.). The Federal President awarded him the Federal Cross of Merit (1954) with star (1958) and shoulder ribbon (1968).