West German chancellor Helmut Schmidt dies at 96

BERLIN — Former Chancellor Helmut Schmidt, who guided West Germany through economic turbulence and Cold War tension in the 1970s and early 1980s, has died. He was 96.

Schmidt’s doctor, Heiner Greten, tells the German news agency dpa that he died Tuesday afternoon in Hamburg.

Schmidt’s chancellorship coincided with a tense period of the Cold War, including the Soviet Union’s 1979 invasion of Afghanistan. He also stood firm against a wave of homegrown terrorism in West Germany.

The center-left Social Democrat led West Germany from 1974 to 1982, when he lost power to conservative Helmut Kohl.

Schmidt went on to become an iconic elder statesman, weighing in on Germany’s political debates into his 90s.

— AP

Most Popular
If you’d like to comment, join
The Times of Israel Community.
Join The Times of Israel Community
Commenting is available for paying members of The Times of Israel Community only. Please join our Community to comment and enjoy other Community benefits.
Please use the following structure: example@domain.com
Confirm Mail
Thank you! Now check your email
You are now a member of The Times of Israel Community! We sent you an email with a login link to . Once you're set up, you can start enjoying Community benefits and commenting.