Germany farewells a giant

Recently the world said farewell to former German Chancellor Helmut Kohl, a man at the very centre of the reunification of Germany and instrumental in the formation of the European Union. He was a giant figure in late 20^thcentury politics. With a federal election looming in Germany it is worth examining some of Kohl's achievements and his legacy.

Kohl, born in 1930, grew up under the Nazi regime and lived through the devastation of World War Two and its aftermath.

The impact of this period shaped his political ideals. At the core was a determination that Germany and Europe never go to war again. Kohl lost a brother in the war and came to believe that the best way for Germany and Europe to avoid conflict in the future was through deeper integration. In 1945 he witnessed the division of Germany by the Allies and Soviets. He would be the central player in its reunification 45 years later.

Kohl was a member of the Christian Democratic Union of Germany (CDU) party. His political career began as a young man in 1946. At age 30, in 1960, he won municipal office in Ludwigshafen. But Kohl, a wily political operator, had his eye on bigger things.

By 1973 he had become the federal leader of the CDU opposition. Three years later he unsuccessfully contested the federal election.

With a changed political climate by 1982, and at a time when the Cold War was entering a dangerous new phase, Helmut Kohl was elected Chancellor of West Germany. At the time the demise of eastern Europe's Communist bloc, German reunification and the end of the Soviet Union seemed almost unthinkable.

Franco German relations

Kohl was instrumental in improving relations with France. For much of the 20^thcentury Franco-German relations had been divisive and tumultuous. Soon after the war it was Chancellor Adenauer who set about building new ties with France. However the French, given recent history, were highly suspicious. In particular they were wary of Germany's remaining postwar industrial power, seeing it as a threat to their national security.

Despite these suspicions slow progress was made in the subsequent decades.The notable sticking points being industrial, agricultural and defence policies. In the early 1980s, under Kohl, Franco-German relations improved markedly with profound consequences for Europe's future.

Perhaps the most striking example of this occurred in September 1984. Chancellor Kohl stood with French President François Mitterand at a memorial near Verdun for a World War One commemoration ceremony. When the national anthems were played they joined hands.

The significance of this moment should not be underestimated given the history of Franco-German relations. It was indicative, not only of how close the two men had become, but of how close the two nations had become. Europe's "duo" had found a rapprochement that had hitherto been absent.

This newfound depth paved the way for agreements and reforms that resulted in the formation of the European Union and the eventual adoption of the Euro.

Implementing the Euro

By the 1980s West Germany had undergone what was viewed by many as an economic miracle. This underpinned the strength of the Deutsch Mark (DM). More than simply a currency the DM was a yardstick of West Germany's emergence from the ruins of May 1945.

Yet Kohl saw that in order to continue the process of bringing Europe together a common currency was necessary. At a European Community summit in Strasbourg in December 1989, Kohl agreed that West Germany would surrender the DM and adopt the Euro. This was formalised through the Treaty on European Union signed at Maastricht in February 1992..

Once again the the strength of the relationship between Germany and France was fundamental in moving Europe forward.

Crucially, it was at this summit that European leaders, despite British opposition, began to acknowledge publicly their acceptance of a reunited Germany in the future.

Germany's reunification

When the Communist bloc fell in the later half of 1989, Helmut Kohl seized the opportunity to reunify Germany. The international and intra-German politics involved were highly complex and laden with historical baggage.

Though West Germany had taken great pains to develop as a peaceful nation, doubts about the future of a reunified Germany remained. Many states, such as Britain, feared the remilitarisation of a united Germany.

Kohl recognised the need to address these concerns. He proffered that a united Germany would continue it's NATO commitment and further pursue European integration.

To this end, Kohl famously met with Gorbachev in July 1990. He convinced Gorbachev that Germany was not a threat to the Soviets and sealed their approval for reunification. With the support of the Allies, German unity was achieved on October 3.

The fact that Kohl was able to negotiate with, and assuage the fears of, the world's most powerful leaders, some of whom had taken a hard line against German reunification, is testament to his integrity and skill as a statesman.

Legacy

To be certain, Helmut Kohl was a not a man universally loved in Germany or abroad. Nor were all of his policies well received. Yet his contribution to advancing peace and stability in Europe, and his leadership over the reunification of Germany, ensures his place as one of the significant political leaders of the 20th century. Kohl's legacy is his fulfilled ambition, a unified Germany in a peaceful and integrated Europe.