Helmut Schmidt

Former Chancellor of Germany

Helmut Schmidt was born in 1918 in Hamburg, Germany. In 1937, he was drafted into military service where he later became Lieutenant.

In 1953, he entered politics and by October 1969, Mr. Schmidt became minister of defence in Willy Brandt’s cabinet — and was continuously involved in social and foreign policies.

During the economic crisis in the early 1970’s, he was minister of economy and finance.

When Chancellor Brandt resigned as head of government in 1974, Helmut Schmidt was elected as the 5th chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany.

In 1979, Mr. Schmidt participated at “The Summit of the Four” — with U.S. President Jimmy Carter, French President Valerie Giscard D’Estaing and British Prime Minister Robert Callaghan — that addressed the issues of SALT (Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty) and the role of China in the North-South dialogue.

In October 1982, Mr. Schmidt decided not to stand for the Government Elections. He resigned from the Parliament in Bonn at the end of the legislative term, in September 1986.

His views on foreign and economic policies are renowned, sought after and published worldwide. In May 1983, Mr. Schmidt became Co-Publisher of “Die Zeit,” Germany’s most prestigious weekly newspaper covering political, economic and cultural issues.