Helmut Schmidt profile
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Dec 23, 1918: Born in Hamburg, son of half-Jewish teacher

1939-45: Sees action in World War II – briefly held as prisoner of war by British forces

1953: Elected as lawmaker for Social Democratic Party

1969: Joins Willy Brandt’s government as defence minister – later serves as finance minister

1974: Elected Chancellor of West Germany after Brandt resigns. Credited with consolidating country’s post-war economic boom, and seeking reconciliation with Soviet- bloc nations of eastern Europe

1982: Loses power to Helmut Kohl after coalition collapses

1983: Becomes publisher of influential weekly Die Zeit

1987: Retires from politics

Nov 10, 2015: Dies aged 96
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Picture: Getty Images

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