Hans-Dietrich Genscher: German politician and member of the Free Democratic Party (1927-2016)
Hans-Dietrich Genscher (21 March 1927 – 31 March 2016) was a German politician.
Hans-Dietrich Genscher | |
|---|---|
 Hans-Dietrich Genscher, 2013 | |
| Vice-Chancellor of Germany | |
| In office 1 October 1982 – 17 May 1992 | |
| Preceded by | Egon Franke |
| Succeeded by | Jürgen Möllemann |
| In office 17 May 1974 – 17 September 1982 | |
| Preceded by | Walter Scheel |
| Succeeded by | Egon Franke |
| Foreign Minister of Germany | |
| In office 1 October 1982 – 17 May 1992 | |
| Preceded by | Helmut Schmidt (acting) |
| Succeeded by | Klaus Kinkel |
| In office 17 May 1974 – 17 September 1982 | |
| Preceded by | Walter Scheel |
| Succeeded by | Helmut Schmidt (acting) |
| Minister of the Interior of Germany | |
| In office 22 October 1969 – 16 May 1974 | |
| Preceded by | Ernst Benda |
| Succeeded by | Werner Maihofer |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 21 March 1927 Reideburg, Germany |
| Died | 31 March 2016 (aged 89) Wachtberg, Germany |
| Political party | Free Democratic Party of Germany (1952–2016) |
| Other political affiliations | Nazi Party (1945) Liberal Democratic Party of Germany (GDR) (1946–52) |
| Spouse(s) | Barbara Schmidt Genscher |
| Occupation | Politician |
Early life
Genscher was born at Reideburg, near Halle. Genscher served in World War II from 1943 to 1945. He joined the Nazi Party at the age of 18. After the war, he studied economics and law in Halle and Leipzig. He joined the East German Liberal Democratic Party (LDPD) in 1946.
In 1952, Genscher fled to West Germany. There he joined the Free Democratic Party (FDP). He passed his second state examination in law in Hamburg in 1954. After that, he became a solicitor in Bremen.
Career
In 1965, Genscher was elected to the Bundestag, the West German parliament for the first time. From 1969 to 1974, he was Federal Minister of the Interior under Chancellor Willy Brandt.
Genscher was Foreign Minister and Vice Chancellor of Germany from 1974 to 1982 under Helmut Schmidt. Two weeks later, he began to serve in the same positions under Helmut Kohl. He served the second time from 1982 to 1992. He was Germany's longest serving Foreign Minister and Vice Chancellor.
Death
Genscher died at his home in Wachtberg, Germany from heart failure on 31 March 2016, aged 89.
Related pages
References
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