Former West German Chancellor Helmut Schmidt dies at age 96

Helmut Schmidt, who served as Chancellor of West Germany from 1974 to 1982, has died at the age of 96. The former Social Democrat leader died at his home in Hamburg. He was elected as chancellor after the resignation of fellow Social Democrat Willy Brandt, who left office following the discovery that a top aide was an East German spy. Mr Schmidt’s leadership coincided with a dramatic period of history in terms of the Cold War, and his time in office was marked with turbulent moments.

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.

France President Francois Hollande

He was in charge when the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan in 1979 and supported the US-led boycott of the Moscow Olympics in 1980, saying later the move had “brought nothing” as a result. He explained his decision by saying he felt he could not “afford extra conflict with America” because he had already fallen out with President Jimmy Carter over financial and defence issues. 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.

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