This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-34778565
The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 6 | Version 7 |
|---|---|
| German ex-Chancellor Helmut Schmidt dies at 96 | German ex-Chancellor Helmut Schmidt dies at 96 |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Helmut Schmidt, who served as West German Chancellor from 1974 to 1982, has died aged 96, his office says. | Helmut Schmidt, who served as West German Chancellor from 1974 to 1982, has died aged 96, his office says. |
| Mr Schmidt, who was a Social Democrat, was an architect of the European Monetary System, which linked EU currencies and helped pave the way to the euro. He also helped to consolidate Germany's post-war economic boom. | |
| Chancellor Angela Merkel hailed him as a "political institution" in Germany. | |
| He is seen as one of the most popular German leaders since WWII. | He is seen as one of the most popular German leaders since WWII. |
| Mr Schmidt died on Tuesday afternoon in his home city of Hamburg, his doctor Heiner Greten was quoted as saying by German media. | Mr Schmidt died on Tuesday afternoon in his home city of Hamburg, his doctor Heiner Greten was quoted as saying by German media. |
| The doctor provided no further details. | The doctor provided no further details. |
| Obituary: West Germany's master of realpolitik | Obituary: West Germany's master of realpolitik |
| In a televised tribute, Ms Merkel said her predecessor was an authority "whose advice and judgement meant something to me". | |
| She said Germans had developed a "deep affection" for him and were "impressed by his personal humility as well as his sense of duty". | |
| Reacting to the news, European Parliament President Martin Schulz said he was "deeply affected" by the death. | Reacting to the news, European Parliament President Martin Schulz said he was "deeply affected" by the death. |
| "He was an outstanding chancellor, his death marks a turning point for Germany and Europe," he said. | "He was an outstanding chancellor, his death marks a turning point for Germany and Europe," he said. |
| European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said Mr Schmidt was "a special man whose political courage has moved many." | |
| Paying tribute to Mr Schmidt, French President Francois Hollande described him as "a great European". | Paying tribute to Mr Schmidt, French President Francois Hollande described him as "a great European". |
| "He was a man who, until his final breath, knew how to give a speech and especially to tell Germans that they had a role to play... that it was within Europe that they should act", Mr Hollande said. | "He was a man who, until his final breath, knew how to give a speech and especially to tell Germans that they had a role to play... that it was within Europe that they should act", Mr Hollande said. |
| Helmut Schmidt was a far-sighted strategist who lived to see his ambitions for Germany fulfilled in 1990, the BBC's Jenny Hill in Berlin reports. | Helmut Schmidt was a far-sighted strategist who lived to see his ambitions for Germany fulfilled in 1990, the BBC's Jenny Hill in Berlin reports. |
| By 1972, Mr Schmidt was finance minister in the government of Willy Brandt, a brilliant manager of the economic miracle. Two years later he himself was chancellor. | By 1972, Mr Schmidt was finance minister in the government of Willy Brandt, a brilliant manager of the economic miracle. Two years later he himself was chancellor. |
| The Berlin Wall dividing West and East Germany was the front line in a dangerous Cold War at the time. | The Berlin Wall dividing West and East Germany was the front line in a dangerous Cold War at the time. |
| With skilled diplomacy, Mr Schmidt pursued detente with communist leaders on the other side, but when the Soviet Union stepped up the arms race, he stood firm, our correspondent says. | With skilled diplomacy, Mr Schmidt pursued detente with communist leaders on the other side, but when the Soviet Union stepped up the arms race, he stood firm, our correspondent says. |
| Braving fierce protests at home, he let America deploy medium-range nuclear missiles on West German soil to keep the military balance. | Braving fierce protests at home, he let America deploy medium-range nuclear missiles on West German soil to keep the military balance. |
| Analysis: BBC's Jenny Hill in Berlin | Analysis: BBC's Jenny Hill in Berlin |
| The German newspaper Spiegel has described him as "the pilot of the century", and Helmut Schmidt certainly guided his country through tumultuous and dramatic times: economic recession, the great oil crisis of the 1970s. | The German newspaper Spiegel has described him as "the pilot of the century", and Helmut Schmidt certainly guided his country through tumultuous and dramatic times: economic recession, the great oil crisis of the 1970s. |
| But, arguably, he'll be remembered most vividly for his refusal to negotiate with the home-grown terrorism of the far-left Red Army Faction. | But, arguably, he'll be remembered most vividly for his refusal to negotiate with the home-grown terrorism of the far-left Red Army Faction. |
| In 1977, the Red Army Faction terrorised Germany with a bloody and intense campaign of violence. When, later that year, Palestinian hijackers forced a German passenger plane to land in Mogadishu and demanded the release of several RAF leaders from prison, Helmut Schmidt ordered special forces to storm the plane - killing three of the hijackers. | In 1977, the Red Army Faction terrorised Germany with a bloody and intense campaign of violence. When, later that year, Palestinian hijackers forced a German passenger plane to land in Mogadishu and demanded the release of several RAF leaders from prison, Helmut Schmidt ordered special forces to storm the plane - killing three of the hijackers. |
| Today in Germany he was remembered as skilled diplomat who eased Cold War tensions, forged a lasting relationship with France and laid the foundations for the European Union. | Today in Germany he was remembered as skilled diplomat who eased Cold War tensions, forged a lasting relationship with France and laid the foundations for the European Union. |
| His legacy - said German Vice-Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel - was Europe. | His legacy - said German Vice-Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel - was Europe. |
| "In 2011 he gave his last great speech. He reminded us that Germany must not overplay its leadership role in Europe and that we have a responsibility to keep Europe together. In these days and weeks when people are disappointed by developments in Europe these words will ring in our memory," Mr Gabriel said. | "In 2011 he gave his last great speech. He reminded us that Germany must not overplay its leadership role in Europe and that we have a responsibility to keep Europe together. In these days and weeks when people are disappointed by developments in Europe these words will ring in our memory," Mr Gabriel said. |
| Helmut Schmidt will be remembered for his wit, his abilities on the piano, but also for his chain smoking. | Helmut Schmidt will be remembered for his wit, his abilities on the piano, but also for his chain smoking. |
| During the last years of his life he refused to extinguish his beloved cigarettes - even while appearing live on television. | During the last years of his life he refused to extinguish his beloved cigarettes - even while appearing live on television. |
| The German tabloid newspaper Bild puts it simply: "Germany mourns." | The German tabloid newspaper Bild puts it simply: "Germany mourns." |
| Strongly pro-European, Mr Schmidt together with French leaders launched the European Monetary System in 1979. This later paved the way for the euro. | Strongly pro-European, Mr Schmidt together with French leaders launched the European Monetary System in 1979. This later paved the way for the euro. |
| He will also be remembered for leading his country through a period of political violence in which groups - such as the Red Army Faction - carried out bombings and kidnappings, our correspondent says. | He will also be remembered for leading his country through a period of political violence in which groups - such as the Red Army Faction - carried out bombings and kidnappings, our correspondent says. |
| In 1982, the coalition led by Mr Schmidt's party collapsed and he lost power to Helmut Kohl. | In 1982, the coalition led by Mr Schmidt's party collapsed and he lost power to Helmut Kohl. |
| 'Big Mouth Schmidt' | 'Big Mouth Schmidt' |
| Born in a tough, working-class district of Hamburg in 1918, a month after the end of World War I, Helmut Schmidt spent his early years in a Germany wracked by political, economic and social strife. | Born in a tough, working-class district of Hamburg in 1918, a month after the end of World War I, Helmut Schmidt spent his early years in a Germany wracked by political, economic and social strife. |
| Aged 14 when the Nazi Party came to power, he became a group leader in the Hitler Youth, joined the German army in 1937 and, during World War II, saw action on both the eastern and western fronts. | Aged 14 when the Nazi Party came to power, he became a group leader in the Hitler Youth, joined the German army in 1937 and, during World War II, saw action on both the eastern and western fronts. |
| Promoted to first lieutenant rank and the recipient of an Iron Cross, Helmut Schmidt was captured by the British after the Battle of the Bulge in the winter of 1944-45. | Promoted to first lieutenant rank and the recipient of an Iron Cross, Helmut Schmidt was captured by the British after the Battle of the Bulge in the winter of 1944-45. |
| While in captivity, his fellow prisoners of war convinced him to become a Social Democrat. Joining the party on demobilisation in 1946, he progressed effortlessly through its ranks. | While in captivity, his fellow prisoners of war convinced him to become a Social Democrat. Joining the party on demobilisation in 1946, he progressed effortlessly through its ranks. |
| He graduated from Hamburg University in 1949, having been national chairman of the Social Democrats' student wing, and became an economic adviser to the Hamburg government. | He graduated from Hamburg University in 1949, having been national chairman of the Social Democrats' student wing, and became an economic adviser to the Hamburg government. |
| He was elected to the federal parliament in 1953, where his verbosity soon earned him the nickname "Schmidt-Schnauze" (Big Mouth Schmidt). | He was elected to the federal parliament in 1953, where his verbosity soon earned him the nickname "Schmidt-Schnauze" (Big Mouth Schmidt). |