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Former West German chancellor Helmut Schmidt, an architect of modern Europe, dies at 96

The centre-left statesman, whose decisions reverberate today, was a lifelong 60-a-day smoker

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Helmut Schmidt, who died on Tuesday at the age of 96, began smoking in his teens and remained a chain smoker for the rest of his life. He is pictured in 2006 enjoying a cigarette during a foreign ministry debate in Berlin. Photo: AFP
Reuters

Former West German Chancellor Helmut Schmidt died on Tuesday aged 96 and leaders from around Europe praised him as an architect of international co-operation and post-war European integration.

Schmidt - a lifelong 60-a-day smoker - was then-West Germany's centre-left government leader from 1974 to 1982, taking office at the height of the Cold War when fellow Social Democrat (SPD) Willy Brandt was forced to resign after a close aide was exposed as a spy for Communist East Germany.

This 1977 photo shows Helmut Schmidt at the West German chancellery in Bonn after the release of hostages from the abducted airplane “Landshut”. Photo: AFP
This 1977 photo shows Helmut Schmidt at the West German chancellery in Bonn after the release of hostages from the abducted airplane “Landshut”. Photo: AFP
At the same time, Schmidt dealt with the consequences of the 1973-74 energy crisis caused by the OPEC oil embargo, and later faced down a serious threat to West German democracy from a spree of attacks by Red Army Faction urban guerrillas.
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“We are mourning Schmidt and are proud that he was one of us. We will miss his powerful judgement and advice,” tweeted current German SPD leader and Vice Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel praised Schmidt as a mastermind of international co-operation whose decisions continued to have an effect today.

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His death prompted tributes from across Europe.
Mourners lay flowers and candles outside the home of former chancellor Helmut Schmidt in Hamburg on Tuesday, after news broke of his death. Photo: Xinhua
Mourners lay flowers and candles outside the home of former chancellor Helmut Schmidt in Hamburg on Tuesday, after news broke of his death. Photo: Xinhua
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