Helmut Schmidt

"Brexit means more Germanification of the European Union, and you know that this is not good for us," a Spanish participant told an Italian participant at a two-day conference I attended last week. One Dutch participant, on the other hand, underlined the lack of French leadership within the EU as a key concern for the Netherlands.

Former chancellor Helmut Schmidt guided West Germany through some of the toughest moments of the Codl War and economic turbulence. Thousands lined the streets of Hamburg on Monday to pay tribute to the great statesman who died two weeks ago, aged 96. People watched solemnly as his casket, draped in a German flag, was driven from the city’s St.

Former German Chancellor Helmut Schmidt passed away at the age of 96 in his home city of Hamburg on Tuesday.

Schmidt served as Chancellor of West Germany between 1974 and 1982.

Before that he had held several ministerial positions, having successively served as Defence Minister, Economy and Finance Minister in the government of his predecessor Willy Brandt.

Social Democrat Schmidt who served as West German Chancellor from 1974 to 1982 passed away at the age of 96, according to his Hamburg office.

According to reports, Schmidt caught an infection after having surgery to remove a blood clot from his leg about two months ago.