Helmut Kohl - Biography.

Helmut Kohl - Biography. German politician and first chancellor of a reunified Germany Birth April 3, 1930 Place of Birth Ludwigshafen, Rhineland-Palatinate Political Party Christian Democratic Union Official Title Chancellor Term 1982-1998 Known for Advocating greater European unity Presiding over the reunification of Germany Milestones 1947 Joined the Christian Democratic Union 1959 Elected member of the Rhineland-Palatinate state legislature 1969-1976 Minister-president of Rhineland-Palatinate 1973-1998 Chairman of the Christian Democratic Union 1976 Elected to the national parliament 1982 Became chancellor upon the resignation of Helmut Schmidt 1990 Helped to bring about reunification between East and West Germany 1990 Won acceptance for a unified Germany to remain in NATO by offering concessions to the USSR 1990 Elected first chancellor of a unified Germany since the end of World War II 1991-1993 Played an important role in the formation of the European Union Did You Know Kohl was the longest-serving German chancellor of the 20th century. Kohl is 193 centimeters (six feet four inches) tall and weighs almost 136 kilograms (almost 300 pounds). Kohl was the youngest leader of any West German state when he was elected minister-president of Rhineland-Palatinate in 1969. Microsoft ® Encarta ® 2009. © 1993-2008 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.