Helmut Kohl

Helmut Kohl
Helmut Kohl in 1990
Born	(1930-04-03)3 April 1930 Ludwigshafen, Germany
Died	16 June 2017(2017-06-16) (aged 87) Oggersheim, Germany
Nationality	German
Occupation	Politician
Known for	Chancellor of Germany

Helmut Josef Michael Kohl (3 April 1930 – 16 June 2017) was a German politician who served as the Chancellor of Germany from 1982 to 1998. He was a member of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and is widely regarded as the architect of German reunification.

Early Life and Education

Helmut Kohl was born in Ludwigshafen, Germany, in 1930. He grew up during the Nazi era and the subsequent World War II. After the war, Kohl pursued higher education, studying history and political science at the University of Heidelberg. He completed his studies with a doctorate in 1958.

Political Career

Kohl joined the CDU in 1947 and quickly rose through the ranks. He became a member of the Rhineland-Palatinate state parliament in 1959 and served as the state's Minister-President from 1969 to 1976. During his tenure, he focused on modernizing the state's infrastructure and education system.

In 1973, Kohl became the national chairman of the CDU, a position he held until 1998. He was elected as the Chancellor of Germany in 1982, following a successful vote of no confidence against the incumbent Helmut Schmidt.

Chancellor of Germany

Kohl's tenure as Chancellor was marked by significant events, most notably the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 and the subsequent reunification of Germany in 1990. Kohl played a crucial role in negotiating the terms of reunification with both the Soviet Union and the Western Allies.

Under his leadership, Germany adopted the euro as its currency, replacing the Deutsche Mark. Kohl's policies were instrumental in shaping the European Union as it is known today.

Legacy

Helmut Kohl is remembered as a pivotal figure in German and European history. His efforts in achieving German reunification earned him the title of "Chancellor of Unity." Despite facing criticism for his handling of the reunification process and later scandals involving party financing, Kohl's impact on Germany and Europe remains significant.

Personal Life

Kohl was married twice, first to Hannelore Renner, with whom he had two sons. After her death in 2001, he married Maike Richter in 2008. Kohl passed away in 2017 at his home in Oggersheim.

Also see

• German reunification
• Christian Democratic Union of Germany
• Chancellors of Germany
• European Union