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| Helmut Kohl dead: Longest-serving German chancellor since Bismark dies aged 87 | Helmut Kohl dead: Longest-serving German chancellor since Bismark dies aged 87 |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Helmut Kohl, who served as German chancellor from 1982 to 1998, and presided over the end of the Cold War, has died at the age of 87. | Helmut Kohl, who served as German chancellor from 1982 to 1998, and presided over the end of the Cold War, has died at the age of 87. |
| The so-called “father of reunification” was modern Germany’s longest serving chancellor, coinciding with the tearing down of the Berlin Wall that separated the communist East from the capitalist West. | The so-called “father of reunification” was modern Germany’s longest serving chancellor, coinciding with the tearing down of the Berlin Wall that separated the communist East from the capitalist West. |
| Former US President George Bush Snr once described him as the most important European leader of the late 20th century. | Former US President George Bush Snr once described him as the most important European leader of the late 20th century. |
| A politician for most of his adult life, Mr Kohl was chancellor of then West Germany between 1982 and 1990, and of the reunified Germany between 1990 and 1998. | A politician for most of his adult life, Mr Kohl was chancellor of then West Germany between 1982 and 1990, and of the reunified Germany between 1990 and 1998. |
| As leader of the centre-right Christian Democratic Union party, his 16-year tenure was the longest of any German chancellor since Otto von Bismarck. | As leader of the centre-right Christian Democratic Union party, his 16-year tenure was the longest of any German chancellor since Otto von Bismarck. |
| “We are in sorrow,” the party said, announcing his death on Twitter. | “We are in sorrow,” the party said, announcing his death on Twitter. |
| Born in 1930 to conservative, Catholic parents, he was obliged to join the Hitler Youth in 1940 at the age of just ten. | Born in 1930 to conservative, Catholic parents, he was obliged to join the Hitler Youth in 1940 at the age of just ten. |
| He dedicated his political life to rebuilding Germany within a united Europe following the Second World War. | He dedicated his political life to rebuilding Germany within a united Europe following the Second World War. |
| As chancellor of a unified Germany, he made sure the country was at the heart of the European Union and was a driving force behind the creation of the euro, enjoying a particularly close relationship with French President Francoise Mitterand. | As chancellor of a unified Germany, he made sure the country was at the heart of the European Union and was a driving force behind the creation of the euro, enjoying a particularly close relationship with French President Francoise Mitterand. |
| His first wife Hannelore committed suicide in 2001, apparently because of a very rare allergy to light which forced her to live in darkness. The couple had two sons, Walter and Peter. | His first wife Hannelore committed suicide in 2001, apparently because of a very rare allergy to light which forced her to live in darkness. The couple had two sons, Walter and Peter. |
| He became wheelchair-bound following a fall in 2008, the same year he married his second wife, Maike Richter, 35 years his junior. | He became wheelchair-bound following a fall in 2008, the same year he married his second wife, Maike Richter, 35 years his junior. |
| He died in Ludwigshafen, Germany, the Rhine port city where he was born. | He died in Ludwigshafen, Germany, the Rhine port city where he was born. |
| Tributes began flooding in from his former political allies. | Tributes began flooding in from his former political allies. |
| Former US President George HW Bush said he and his wife Barbara “mourn the loss of a true friend of freedom, and the man I consider one of the greatest leaders in post-war Europe”. | Former US President George HW Bush said he and his wife Barbara “mourn the loss of a true friend of freedom, and the man I consider one of the greatest leaders in post-war Europe”. |
| “Working closely with my very good friend to help achieve a peaceful end to the Cold War and the unification of Germany within Nato will remain one of the great joys of my life,” he added in a statement. “Helmut was a rock.” | “Working closely with my very good friend to help achieve a peaceful end to the Cold War and the unification of Germany within Nato will remain one of the great joys of my life,” he added in a statement. “Helmut was a rock.” |
| Gerhard Schroeder, Kohl’s successor as chancellor, called him a “great patriot and European... The unification of our country and our continent will be linked to his name for all time.” | |
| In Brussels, European flags were lowered to half mast in tribute. | In Brussels, European flags were lowered to half mast in tribute. |
| European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, who served as Luxembourg’s prime minister while Kohl was in office, tweeted: “Helmut’s death hurts me deeply. My mentor, my friend, the very essence of Europe, he will be greatly, greatly missed.” | European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, who served as Luxembourg’s prime minister while Kohl was in office, tweeted: “Helmut’s death hurts me deeply. My mentor, my friend, the very essence of Europe, he will be greatly, greatly missed.” |
| His dream of a unified Germany was realised in November 1989 with the fall of the Berlin Wall, despite resistance from other world leaders including Margaret Thatcher and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev. | His dream of a unified Germany was realised in November 1989 with the fall of the Berlin Wall, despite resistance from other world leaders including Margaret Thatcher and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev. |
| Post-unification, he won the backing of voters in the former East Germany by promising them “flourishing landscapes”. | Post-unification, he won the backing of voters in the former East Germany by promising them “flourishing landscapes”. |
| Shortly after leaving office, Mr Kohl’s legacy was tainted by a financing scandal in his party, now led by Chancellor Angela Merkel. | Shortly after leaving office, Mr Kohl’s legacy was tainted by a financing scandal in his party, now led by Chancellor Angela Merkel. |
| Mr Kohl mentored Ms Merkel early in her career, appointing her to her first ministerial post. | Mr Kohl mentored Ms Merkel early in her career, appointing her to her first ministerial post. |
| European leaders said the EU must build on his legacy. | European leaders said the EU must build on his legacy. |
| Italian EU affairs minister Sandro Gozi tweeted: “We have lost a great leader, above all a European with vision and courage. We missed him and we will miss him. We must follow his example to relaunch the EU.” | Italian EU affairs minister Sandro Gozi tweeted: “We have lost a great leader, above all a European with vision and courage. We missed him and we will miss him. We must follow his example to relaunch the EU.” |
| German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel paid tribute to a “great German statesman and above all a great European”. | German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel paid tribute to a “great German statesman and above all a great European”. |
| Additional reporting by Reuters | Additional reporting by Reuters |