Storm surge in Hamburg, economic crisis, RAF terror, Cold War:In times of great challenges, SPD politician Helmut Schmidt gained respect as a crisis manager at home and abroad. The former chancellor died on November 10, 2015.

For many, the native of Hamburg was the epitome of a statesman with foresight. His pragmatic approach to politics earned the social democrat respect far beyond party lines, but his aversion to theorists ("Anyone who has visions should see a doctor") often caused offense within his own party. The word of the fifth chancellor of the Federal Republic carried great weight - especially in questions of economic and security policy. Schmidt was held in high esteem by the public as an elder statesman and moral authority until his death on November 10, 2015.

Actually he wanted to be an architect

Helmut Schmidt was born on December 23, 1918 in Hamburg-Barmbek, the son of a teacher. After graduating from the Lichtwark School in Hamburg in 1937, he actually wanted to become an urban planner or an architect. However, as with many men of his generation, World War II put a damper on personal plans.

During the war, Schmidt first fought on the Eastern Front, and from 1944 on the Western Front. He experienced the end of the war in British captivity, but this only lasted for a short time. In 1945 Helmut Schmidt began studying political science and economics in Hamburg, which he completed in 1949 with a degree in economics. He was already politically active during his studies. In 1946 Schmidt became a member of the SPD, and a year later he became national chairman of the Socialist German Student Union (SDS).

68 years with "Loki"

In 1942, Helmut Schmidt married his childhood friend:Hannelore, known as Loki. Two children are born of the marriage. The son Helmut Walter, who was born disabled, died before his first birthday in February 1945. Daughter Susanne, who later lived in London as a business journalist, was born in 1947. The Schmidt couple spent 68 years together - until Loki Schmidt died in October 2010. After her death, Helmut Schmidt finds a new partner in his longtime collaborator Ruth Loah.

Defense expert in the Bundestag and Strauss critic

In 1953, Helmut Schmidt was elected to the Bundestag for the Hamburg-Nord constituency for the first time. Four years later, he is a member of the executive committee of his party. At that time, Schmidt concentrated on defense policy and became one of the harshest critics of the then Federal Defense Minister Franz Josef Strauss (CSU). At the time when the rhetorically gifted social democrat was in a speech duel with representatives of the Adenauer government, his nickname "Schmidt-Schnauze" was coined. Towards the end of the 1950s, the SPD defense expert was a vehement opponent of the Bundeswehr's nuclear armament.

As interior senator, the "doer" in the storm surge

In 1961, Helmut Schmidt moved to his hometown of Hamburg as Senator for the Interior. During the storm surge in February 1962, he gained a nationwide reputation as a "doer" and crisis manager. He energetically and prudently coordinates the relief efforts. More than 20,000 helpers - including many Bundeswehr soldiers - are fighting in a race against time to save the lives of the desperate people in the Hanseatic city.

To the chairman of the SPD parliamentary group in the Bundestag

In the federal elections of 1965, Schmidt was again given a seat in the Bundestag. The CDU under Ludwig Erhard wins the election. After the government crisis in 1966, from which the grand coalition under Kurt Georg Kiesinger (CDU) emerged, and the death of the SPD parliamentary group leader Fritz Erler, Schmidt took over the chairmanship of the SPD parliamentary group in the Bundestag from 1967 to 1969.

Schmidts becomes the second man behind Willy Brandt

After the SPD's victory in the 1969 Bundestag elections, Chancellor Willy Brandt brought Schmidt, who represented the Hamburg-Bergedorf constituency in Parliament, into the cabinet of the new SPD/FDP coalition as Defense Minister. During his term of office, basic military service was reduced from 18 to 15 months and the foundation of the Bundeswehr universities in Hamburg and Munich was decided. In the years that followed, Schmidt became the second man in the cabinet behind Brandt. Together with SPD parliamentary group leader Herbert Wehner and Brandt, he forms a trio that shapes and directs the party - in all disputes among themselves.

After Karl Schiller resigned in 1972, Schmidt took over the office of Finance and Economics Minister. However, this "super ministry" was divided again after the federal elections in 1972. From now on, the FDP will provide the Economics Minister, Schmidt will continue to lead the Finance Ministry.

In memory of Helmut Schmidt

1974 Helmut Schmidt becomes Federal Chancellor

Chancellor Willy Brandt's second term in office ended in May 1974 with his resignation, triggered by the unmasking of the GDR spy Günter Guillaume. His successor will be Helmut Schmidt, who is said to have only decided at the last minute to assume government responsibility as the fifth Chancellor of the Federal Republic.

The first years of his reign are marked by a worldwide recession, which also leaves its mark on Germany. However, under Schmidt the Federal Republic survived the oil crisis better than most other industrialized countries. The chancellor is highly regarded abroad for this, but in Germany he has to be accused by the CDU/CSU opposition that the economic crisis is homemade.

RAF terror shakes the country in 1977

Domestically, the greatest challenge of his term of office is the terror of the Red Army Faction (RAF) in the so-called German Autumn. In 1977, federal prosecutor Siegfried Buback and banker Jürgen Ponto fell victim to RAF attacks. Employer President Hanns Martin Schleyer is kidnapped. At the same time as Schleyer was kidnapped, terrorists hijacked the Lufthansa plane "Landshut" and are demanding the release of imprisoned like-minded people. A special unit of the Federal Border Guard, the GSG 9, finally freed the occupants of the machine in the Somali capital Mogadishu. A day later, the police find Schleyer's body in Alsace.

Schmidt assumes political responsibility for Schleyer's death. During the kidnapping, he repeatedly stated that the state should not allow itself to be blackmailed. Schmidt later says he would have resigned that night if the hostages in Mogadishu had not been freed.

Cold War:Dispute over NATO double-track decision

In foreign policy, Helmut Schmidt relies on a resolute approach to the Warsaw Pact. At a meeting with US President Jimmy Carter, French President Valéry Giscard d'Estaing and British Prime Minister James Callaghan, Schmidt reached the political decision on the NATO double-track decision. Accordingly, medium-range nuclear missiles are to be stationed in Europe if the disarmament negotiations with the Soviet Union fail. The NATO double-track decision is highly controversial among the population and especially in Schmidt's own party.

Paving the way for the euro

Together with Giscard, with whom he has a personal friendship, Schmidt improved Franco-German relations and deepened European integration. The most important measure of his reign in terms of economic policy was also carried out in cooperation with Giscard:the introduction of the European Monetary System, from which the euro later emerged. The first world economic summit in 1975, the predecessor of today's G8 meeting, also goes back to an idea of ​​Schmidt's and Giscard's. To the end, Schmidt is a fervent supporter of the European Union. He warns against a shrinking realization that European integration is one of the most important interests of the Federal Republic - and against renationalization.

Constructive vote of no confidence overthrows Schmidt in 1982

In 1982, the social-liberal coalition led by Schmidt failed, primarily due to differences in economic policy. On September 17, 1982, all FDP federal ministers resign. Schmidt continued to run the government for a short time without a majority in the Bundestag. On October 1, 1982, he was voted out of office by a constructive vote of no confidence with the votes of the CDU/CSU and the majority of the FDP parliamentary group. Helmut Kohl (CDU) will be his successor as Federal Chancellor.

Helmut Schmidt's new work as publisher of "Zeit"

Even as former chancellor, Schmidt shaped the country. From 1983 he was one of the editors of the weekly newspaper "Die Zeit". In 2010 he was honored with the Henri Nannen Prize for his journalistic life's work. In numerous lectures, interviews and articles he continues to interfere in daily politics and also represents unpopular opinions. The chain smoker advocates the peaceful use of nuclear energy, laments the excessive German "mania for regulation" and describes the multicultural society as an "illusion of intellectuals". He calls the global warming debate "hysteria".

"Millennium-Bambi" for "political conscience of the Germans"

In mid-November 2011, Schmidt was awarded the "Millennium Bambi" by Burda Verlag for his life's work. "The former chancellor has a razor-sharp mind and an unswerving morality that many politicians miss today," the jury said. He is honored "as the political conscience of the Germans". For minutes, the guests at the gala in Wiesbaden rose from their seats and applauded the former chancellor. The social democrat, in turn, calls for the peaceful cooperation of nations to be cultivated:"This remains the crucially important part of all our duties."

10. November 2015:Schmidt dies in Hamburg

Helmut Schmidt died on November 10, 2015 at the age of 96 in his home in the Langenhorn district of Hamburg. Almost two weeks after his death, leaders of state and society bid farewell to the former Federal Chancellor in Hamburg's main church, St. Michaelis. 1,800 invited guests from Germany and abroad traveled to Hamburg for the state ceremony. In a subsequent funeral procession through the city, thousands of people pay their last respects to the man from Hamburg. His urn is buried in the family grave at Hamburg's Ohlsdorf Cemetery, where his wife Loki and his parents are also buried.

Airport named after Helmut Schmidt

In honor of the former chancellor, Hamburg Airport was renamed Hamburg Airport Helmut Schmidt in 2016. Interested parties can visit the former home of the Schmidts on a virtual tour. In the future, guided tours and smaller events will also take place there. The Helmut Schmidt Archive, which is open to scientists and interested parties, is also in the immediate vicinity.

Federal Foundation commemorates the former chancellor

Since 2017, a politician memorial foundation set up by the Bundestag has been dedicated to the memory of Helmut Schmidt. It is based at Kattrepel 10 next to the "Zeit" publishing house.