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German reunification architect Helmut Kohl dies at 87 German reunification architect Helmut Kohl dies at 87
(35 minutes later)
Helmut Kohl, Germany's ex-chancellor and architect of reunification in 1990, has died at 87.Helmut Kohl, Germany's ex-chancellor and architect of reunification in 1990, has died at 87.
Kohl led Germany for 16 years (from 1982 to 1998). He is credited with bringing East and West Germany together after the fall of the Berlin Wall.Kohl led Germany for 16 years (from 1982 to 1998). He is credited with bringing East and West Germany together after the fall of the Berlin Wall.
Together with his French ally President Francois Mitterrand, he was responsible for the introduction of the euro.Together with his French ally President Francois Mitterrand, he was responsible for the introduction of the euro.
European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker has ordered flags at EU institutions to be flown at half-mast.European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker has ordered flags at EU institutions to be flown at half-mast.
"Helmut's death hurts me deeply," Mr Juncker said in a tweet. "My mentor, my friend, the very essence of Europe, he will be greatly, greatly missed.""Helmut's death hurts me deeply," Mr Juncker said in a tweet. "My mentor, my friend, the very essence of Europe, he will be greatly, greatly missed."
Former US President George HW Bush paid tribute to the man he knew while in office from 1989 to 1993 as a "true friend of freedom" and "one of the greatest leaders in post-war Europe".Former US President George HW Bush paid tribute to the man he knew while in office from 1989 to 1993 as a "true friend of freedom" and "one of the greatest leaders in post-war Europe".
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".
Thatcher's rivalThatcher's rival
Kohl suffered a bad fall in 2008 and had been using a wheelchair.Kohl suffered a bad fall in 2008 and had been using a wheelchair.
He died at his house in Ludwigshafen, in the western state of Rhineland-Palatinate, Bild newspaper reports.He died at his house in Ludwigshafen, in the western state of Rhineland-Palatinate, Bild newspaper reports.
Kohl, who led the centre-right Christian Democrats, was the longest-serving chancellor of the 20th Century.Kohl, who led the centre-right Christian Democrats, was the longest-serving chancellor of the 20th Century.
A passionate believer in European integration, he persuaded Germans to give up their cherished deutschmark in favour of the European single currency.A passionate believer in European integration, he persuaded Germans to give up their cherished deutschmark in favour of the European single currency.
In the UK, he is remembered for his differences over the EU with the late UK Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.In the UK, he is remembered for his differences over the EU with the late UK Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.
In France, he is the German leader who held hands with Mitterrand at a service at the Verdun war memorial in 1984 to mark the 70th anniversary of World War One.
But for Germans he is above all the man who reunified a country divided by the allied powers after World War Two, promising the people of the ex-communist East "flourishing landscapes", in unity with the richer West.But for Germans he is above all the man who reunified a country divided by the allied powers after World War Two, promising the people of the ex-communist East "flourishing landscapes", in unity with the richer West.
Obituary: Helmut KohlObituary: Helmut Kohl
Helmut Josef Michael Kohl was born on 3 April 1930 into a conservative, Catholic family.Helmut Josef Michael Kohl was born on 3 April 1930 into a conservative, Catholic family.
His political outlook was shaped by his experiences in his hometown of Ludwigshafen in the Rhineland during World War Two.His political outlook was shaped by his experiences in his hometown of Ludwigshafen in the Rhineland during World War Two.
Because of its huge chemical works, the town was heavily bombed and, at the age of 12, the young Helmut found himself helping to recover the charred bodies of his neighbours from the rubble. What he once described as "the blessing of a late birth" freed him from any taints of Nazism.Because of its huge chemical works, the town was heavily bombed and, at the age of 12, the young Helmut found himself helping to recover the charred bodies of his neighbours from the rubble. What he once described as "the blessing of a late birth" freed him from any taints of Nazism.
READ ONREAD ON
Denounced by MerkelDenounced by Merkel
Kohl fell from grace when a funding scandal under his leadership of the Christian Democrats came to light after he left office in 1998.Kohl fell from grace when a funding scandal under his leadership of the Christian Democrats came to light after he left office in 1998.
Current Chancellor Angela Merkel was once his protegee, first entering government under his rule in 1991.Current Chancellor Angela Merkel was once his protegee, first entering government under his rule in 1991.
But she publicly denounced Kohl and called for his resignation when it was revealed the party had received millions of dollars worth of illegal donations using secret bank accounts.But she publicly denounced Kohl and called for his resignation when it was revealed the party had received millions of dollars worth of illegal donations using secret bank accounts.
In 2011, in a series of interviews and statements, he spoke out against Mrs Merkel's policy of strict austerity to deal with the European debt crisis.In 2011, in a series of interviews and statements, he spoke out against Mrs Merkel's policy of strict austerity to deal with the European debt crisis.
Mrs Merkel's spokesman, Steffen Seibert, issued a tweet (in German) saying, "In deep mourning for a great German and a great European."
Kohl's later life was also marked by personal tragedy. His wife, Hannelore, killed herself in July 2001 after suffering from a rare skin condition and depression.