Helmut Schmidt, the former West German chancellor, has died at the age of 96. He passed away at home after an infection following the removal of a
ADVERTISEMENTHelmut Schmidt, the former West German chancellor, has died at the age of 96.
He passed away at home after an infection following the removal of a blood clot from his leg in September.His health had deteriorated rapidly at the weekend.
Schmidt was chancellor of West Germany between 1974 and 1982, a period marked by the rise to prominence of the far-left Red Army Faction and industrial developments now referred to as the Economic Miracle that made West Germany one of the driving powerhouses of Cold War-era Europe.
Although he retired from political life 30 years ago, he remained a fixture in the German media as both chat-show guest, where he regularly flouted non-smoking rules on air, and as editor of the renowned weekly newspaper Die Zeit.