Hans-Dietrich Genscher was a German politician best known for his role as Foreign Minister and Vice Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany from 1974 to 1992. He significantly influenced German reunification and European politics during his long career.
Personal and Family Life
Hans-Dietrich Genscher was born on March 21, 1927, in Reideburg, Germany. He was the son of a lawyer, Kurt Genscher, and Hilde Kreimein, a farmer’s daughter. Genscher was married twice: first to Luise Schweizer from 1958 to 1966, with whom he had one child, and later to Barbara Schmidt from 1969 until his death in 2016.
Career and Political Life
Genscher joined the Liberal Democratic Party (FDP) in 1946 and became active in politics in West Germany in the 1950s. He served as a member of the Bundestag starting in 1965 and held key positions, including heading the Interior Ministry and later the Foreign Ministry, where he became known for his efforts to improve East-West relations during the Cold War.
Death and Legacy
Hans-Dietrich Genscher passed away on March 31, 2016, in Wachtberg-Pech, Germany, due to cardiovascular failure. He left behind a legacy as a key figure in German and European politics, remembered particularly for his contributions to German reunification and his advocate for European integration.
Filmography
| Title | Release Date | Character |
|---|---|---|
| One Day in September | 1999-10-22 | Himself |
| Pasaport de Germania | 2014-01-08 | Himself |
| 23 | 1998-07-02 | Self (archive footage) |
| Is was, Kanzler? | 1984-03-15 | Self (archive footage) |
| ANNE WILL | 2007-09-16 | |
| Beckmann | 1999-01-25 | Self |
| Die Didi-Show | 1989-06-21 | Himself |
| Gut gefragt ist halb gewonnen | 1964-09-26 | Self |
| Günther Jauch | 2011-09-11 | Self |
| Na sowas! | 1982-03-29 | Self |
| Goldene Kamera Verleihung | 1966-01-25 | Self – Laudatio |
| Bambi-Verleihung | 1948-01-01 | Self |
| Riverboat | 1992-01-03 | Self |
| III nach neun | 1974-11-19 | Self |
| Menschen bei Maischberger | 2003-09-02 | Self |
| Der Fall Barschel | 2016-02-06 | Self (archive footage) |
| Menschen der Woche | 2000-09-30 | Self |
| Boulevard Bio | 1991-08-06 | Self |
| NZZ Standpunkte | 2007-08-01 | Self |