Former West German Chancellor Helmut Schmidt, who led the country for eight years at the height of the Cold War, has died at the age of 96, his office said on Tuesday.
Schmidt, a Social Democrat (SPD), served as chancellor from 1974 to 1982.
Helmut Schmidt, former German chancellor dies
The 95-years old former German Chancellor Helmut Schmidt gestures during his speech at his birthday party, organized by German weekly magazine "Die Zeit", in a theater in Hamburg, January 19, 2014. REUTERS/Fabian Bimmer