Politician. Helmut Schmidt was a German politician, who served as Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany or West Germany from 1974 to 1982. The son of a half-Jewish teacher, he served in the Wehrmacht or Nazi Armed Forces during the World War II, serving in an armored division on the Eastern Front and later in the Ardennes offensive and been awarded the Iron Cross. Schmidt joined the Social Democratic Party after the war and rose through the party ranks (also serving in the Bundestag) until serving as a top cabinet minister in the government of Chancellor Willy Brandt from 1969 to 1974. He was elected chancellor on May 16, 1974 upon Brandt's resignation and reelected in 1976 and 1980. During Schmidt's chancellorship, he tried to be friendly with the Soviet bloc of Eastern Europe while maintaining good relations with the United States. Schmidt proved to be a capable and popular chancellor, but his refusal to cut social programs during the worldwide recession of the early 1980s led to the centrist Free Democrats to leave his governing coalition and his resignation after a vote of no confidence on October 1, 1982. He was succeeded by Helmut Kohl of the Christian Democratic Union. Schmidt continued to serve in the Bundestag until his retirement in 1987. He wrote numerous books on both German and European politics. He was featured on the 2018 German Commemorative 2 Euro Coin.
Politician. Helmut Schmidt was a German politician, who served as Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany or West Germany from 1974 to 1982. The son of a half-Jewish teacher, he served in the Wehrmacht or Nazi Armed Forces during the World War II, serving in an armored division on the Eastern Front and later in the Ardennes offensive and been awarded the Iron Cross. Schmidt joined the Social Democratic Party after the war and rose through the party ranks (also serving in the Bundestag) until serving as a top cabinet minister in the government of Chancellor Willy Brandt from 1969 to 1974. He was elected chancellor on May 16, 1974 upon Brandt's resignation and reelected in 1976 and 1980. During Schmidt's chancellorship, he tried to be friendly with the Soviet bloc of Eastern Europe while maintaining good relations with the United States. Schmidt proved to be a capable and popular chancellor, but his refusal to cut social programs during the worldwide recession of the early 1980s led to the centrist Free Democrats to leave his governing coalition and his resignation after a vote of no confidence on October 1, 1982. He was succeeded by Helmut Kohl of the Christian Democratic Union. Schmidt continued to serve in the Bundestag until his retirement in 1987. He wrote numerous books on both German and European politics. He was featured on the 2018 German Commemorative 2 Euro Coin.
Bio by: Mr. Badger Hawkeye
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