sattler's relatively low political profile was one of the qualities that commended him to franz josef strauss, a leading member of the party's müller wing. strauss enthusiastically endorsed sattler's appointment in 1947 as bavarian secretary of state, which effectively meant working as deputy to another "müller man", alois hundhammer, the . the scope of the ministry also covered education. if sattler belonged to any faction within the csu, it was not the party's müller wing, but he was in any case more interested in practical work. he had not campaigned for the appointment. nevertheless, he did bring political balance and valuable abilities to his political role, representing the extreme south of bavaria, with an approach deeply rooted in catholicism and appreciation of the arts. at 41 he was considered relatively young. he was unencumbered by any skeletons from the nazi years and, like the military administrators who, especially before may 1949, took a close and detailed interest in developments, sattler had mastered english.