Latter Years
Dehler remained a member of parliament until his death and also remained a vocal critic of Adenauer, especially in the field of German policy, in which he called for renewed attempts to seek reunification via the Soviet Union. He also frequently participated in debates regarding legal issues. He was an unyielding opponent of attempts to exempt Nazi crimes from the Statute of limitations, citing basic legal principles. The Bundestag decided in favour of tolling and eventually, years after Dehler, decided to exempt all kinds of murder from the statute.
From 1957 to 1961, he chaired both the Bundestag's committee for nuclear energy and water management as well as his party's working committee on foreign policy and defence.
After the death of Max Becker, Dehler was elected vice-president of the Bundestag on 28 September 1960, which he remained until his death. In 1960/61 he was the Bundestag's representative in front of the Constitutional Court in a case and after 1963 he chaired the Bundestag's committee charged with nominating federal judges.
On 21 July 1967, Thomas Dehler died of a heart attack while swimming at a bath at Streitberg/Upper Franconia.
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