Career
Rut Brandt became highly popular in Germany and a noted public figure in her role as First Lady of Berlin and the chancellor"s spouse. Born as Rut Hansen in Hamar, Norway, she worked initially in a bakery in Norway and then as a tailor"s apprentice. In 1944, Hansen met Willy Brandt, the later German Chancellor, who had fled Germany.
When Willy Brandt became chancellor in 1969, Rut Brandt was at his side as a very successful and popular First Lady.
After the divorce had been granted (in 1980), Rut and Willy Brandt went their separate ways. When Brandt died in 1992, Brigitte Seebacher-Brandt did not allow Rut to attend the funeral – a decision which did not meet with acceptance in the German population.
Rut Brandt died on 28 July 2006 in Berlin, aged 86, from undisclosed causes. Willy and Rut Brandt had three children: Peter Brandt (born 1948), historian Lars Brandt (born 1951), writer, filmmaker, artist Matthias Brandt (born 1961), actor.
