Who Is Helmut Kohl? Age, Biography, and Wiki
Born on April 3, 1930, Helmut Kohl served as Chancellor of Germany from 1982 to 1998. He is renowned for his pivotal role in German reunification and his influence in European politics. By 2025, Kohl would be 95 years old, having left a profound legacy that continues to be studied and discussed globally. His leadership during a transformative period in Germany's history marks him as one of the most significant political figures of the late 20th century. For more details on his extensive political career, you can visit his Wikipedia page.
| Occupation | Political Scientist |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | April 3, 1930 |
| Age | 87 Years |
| Birth Place | Ludwigshafen, Bavaria, German Reich |
| Horoscope | Aries |
| Country | Germany |
| Date of death | 16 June, 2017 |
| Died Place | Ludwigshafen, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany |
Popularity
Helmut Kohl's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
Though there are limited records of his physical measurements, throughout his life, Helmut Kohl was known to stand approximately 6 feet 3 inches (190 cm) tall. As for his weight, it varied, particularly in his later years. His impressive stature contributed to his commanding presence in political settings.
As reported in the German press, he also gave his name to the Helmut Kohl Centre for European Studies (currently Centre for European Studies), which is the new political foundation of the European People's Party.
In late February 2008, Kohl suffered a stroke in combination with a fall which caused serious head injuries and required his hospitalisation, after which he was reported to be using a wheelchair due to partial paralysis and having difficulty speaking.
He remained in intensive care since, marrying his 43-year-old partner, Maike Richter, on 8 May 2008, while still in hospital. In 2010, he had a gall bladder operation in Heidelberg, and heart surgery in 2012. He was reportedly in "critical condition" in June 2015, following intestinal surgery following a hip-replacement procedure.
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
Helmut Kohl was married to Hannelore Kohl from 1961 until her death in 2001. Following her passing, Kohl's personal life remained relatively private. He did not publicly date anyone, and there has been no known boyfriend or girlfriend mentioned in recent years. His family's influence, particularly the legacy of his wife, continues to play a part in the public's perception of him.
As Chancellor, Kohl was committed to European integration and especially to the Franco-German relationship; he was also a steadfast ally of the United States and supported Ronald Reagan's more aggressive policies to weaken the Soviet Union.
Following the Revolutions of 1989, his government acted decisively, culminating in the German reunification in 1990. Kohl and French president François Mitterrand were the architects of the Maastricht Treaty which established the EU and the Euro currency.
Kohl was also a central figure in the eastern enlargement of the EU, and his government led the effort to push for international recognition of Croatia, Slovenia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina when the states declared independence. He played an instrumental role in resolving the Bosnian War.
Domestically Kohl's policies from 1990 focused on integrating former East Germany into reunified Germany, and he moved the federal capital from the "provisional capital" Bonn back to Berlin, although he never resided there because the government offices were only relocated in 1999. Kohl also greatly increased federal spending on arts and culture.
After his chancellorship, Kohl became honorary chairman of the CDU in 1998 but resigned from the position in 2000 in the wake of the CDU donations scandal which damaged his reputation domestically.
Net Worth and Salary
At the time of his passing in June 2017, Helmut Kohl's net worth was estimated to be between $20 million and $30 million. He accumulated wealth through his political career, writings, and public speaking engagements. Posthumously, his estate continues to generate income, and the exact figures may vary as the estate progresses in the years following his death.
Kohl's time as Chancellor also saw some controversial decisions in the field of social policy.
Student aid was made reimbursable to the state while the Health Care Reform Act of 1989 introduced the concept by which patients pay up front and are reimbursed, while increasing patient co-payments for hospitalisation, spa visits, dental prostheses, and prescription drugs.
In addition, while a 1986 Baby-Year Pensions reform granted women born after 1921 one year of work-credit per child, lawmakers were forced by public protest to phase in supplementary pension benefits for mothers who were born before the cut-off year.
Career, Business and Investments
Kohl's political career was marked by his role as a founding member of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and his leadership in the German Parliament. Beyond politics, he authored several books and documentaries, expanding his influence through writing and public speaking. Investments made during his lifetime primarily revolved around political causes and institutions aligned with his vision for a united Europe.
Born in Ludwigshafen to a Catholic family, Kohl joined the CDU in 1946 at the age of 16. He earned a PhD in history at Heidelberg University in 1958 and worked as a business executive before becoming a full-time politician.
He was elected as the youngest member of the Parliament of Rhineland-Palatinate in 1959 and from 1969 to 1976 was minister president of the Rhineland-Palatinate state. Viewed during the 1960s and the early 1970s as a progressive within the CDU, he was elected national chairman of the party in 1973.
After he had become party leader, Kohl was increasingly seen as a more conservative figure. In the 1976 and 1980 federal elections his party performed well, but the social-liberal government of social democrat Helmut Schmidt was able to remain in power.
After Schmidt had lost the support of the liberal FDP in 1982, Kohl was elected Chancellor through a constructive vote of no confidence, forming a coalition government with the FDP. Kohl chaired the G7 in 1985 and 1992.
Social Network
Even years after his death, Helmut Kohl's legacy thrives through various platforms. While he himself was not known for active social media engagement, his family and political entities continue to honor his memory on platforms like Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. His works and speeches are often shared, reminding the public of his contributions to both German and European history.
Kohl's family was conservative and Catholic and remained loyal to the Catholic Centre Party before and after 1933. His elder brother died serving in the Wehrmacht in World War II at the age of 19. At the age of ten, Kohl joined, like most children in Germany at the time, the Deutsches Jungvolk, a section of the Hitler Youth.
Aged 15, on 20 April 1945, Kohl was sworn into the Hitler Youth by leader Artur Axmann at Berchtesgaden, just days before the end of the war, as membership was mandatory for all boys of his age.
Kohl was also drafted for military service in 1945; he was not involved in any combat, a fact he later referred to as the "mercy of late birth" (German: Gnade der späten Geburt).
Education
Helmut Kohl pursued his education at the University of Heidelberg and the University of Mainz, where he studied history and political science. His academic background laid the groundwork for his successful political career, allowing him to navigate complex issues pertaining to national and international governance.
Kohl attended the Ruprecht Elementary School and continued at the Max-Planck-Gymnasium. After graduating in 1950, Kohl began to study law in Frankfurt am Main, spending two semesters commuting between Ludwigshafen and Frankfurt. Here, Kohl heard lectures from Carlo Schmid and Walter Hallstein, among others.
In 1951, Kohl switched to Heidelberg University, where he studied history and political science. Kohl was the first in his family to attend university.
