Contents
Helmut Kohl
Leading Germany through reunification in 1990.
Ten-point plan · Reunification
- Born
- 3 April 1930
- Birthplace
- Ludwigshafen, Germany
- Died
- 16 June 2017
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Helmut Kohl was Germany’s chancellor from 1982 to 1998 and a central figure in European integration.
Early life
Wartime childhood
Grew up in a Catholic family; his older brother died in the Second World War.
University
Studied history and political science and earned a doctorate at Heidelberg.
Career
- 1969
State leadership
Became minister-president of Rhineland-Palatinate.
- 1982
Chancellor
Took office after a parliamentary vote of no confidence.
- 1998
Electoral defeat
Left government after sixteen years as chancellor.
Policies & milestones
Ten-point plan
Set out a route towards German unity after the Berlin Wall opened.
Reunification
Helped negotiate international agreement for German unification.
Maastricht Treaty
Supported deeper European integration and the route to a common currency.
Beyond politics
Family
Had two sons with his first wife, Hannelore.
Party-funding scandal
His reputation was damaged by undisclosed CDU donations revealed after he left office.
Sources & photo credit
Wikipedia biography and references ↗Further biography and career ↗Photo: Christian Lambiotte. CC BY 4.0 · Original image. Cropped and displayed in monochrome.
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