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Helmut Kohl, ex-chancellor and architect of German reunification, dies aged 87
- Thread starter Perfect Blue
- Start date
As an American, I consider him one of the greatest leaders of the second half of the 20th century. Managed to peacefully reunify Germany after the horrors of World War II into a well-respected, economically prosperous and political center of Europe. The reunification​ of Germany really spelled the end of the Cold War for me, in real terms. He will be missed.
Patrick Bateman
Member
Good Riddance.
Utterly despicable man. As a politican and private man.
Utterly despicable man. As a politican and private man.
RIP to a great man. Putin's lot who lament the end of the Soviet bloc will be happy today.
Christ!
Christ!
I mean, I was thinking about saying something a bit critical, too, but do we really need to do this in a RIP thread? Its not like he was a dictator or a tyran.
CelticKnight
Member
That's a name I haven't heard in a long time.[/Obi Wan]
RIP
C'mon, spill the beans. What'd he do? Shag your sister?
RIP
C'mon, spill the beans. What'd he do? Shag your sister?
The real despicable thing is this comment. If your brain is too small to comprehend how this mans deeds had a positive influence on literally millions of people, better say nothing at all.
Bitch Pudding
Member
Fuck off. Without him people in Eastern Germany would still not know what a Banana is.
Trump is also no dictator or tyran and still an awful and corrupt politician.
Good for Trump.
Yeah, let's compare Trump to the man who's skillful maneuvering and negotiating got Germany's reunification done peacefully, laid the groundwork for the Euro and EU.
May he rest in peace.
Probably the most powerful picture and biggest even at the time.
It's awesome to see that even a good 20-30 years later we still haven't fucked that one up.
I have a much bigger and deeper respect for him than for most of the politicians of that time.
More than a man, a symbol.
darkinstinct
...lacks reading comprehension.
No. The brave people in East Germany opened the door, Thatcher, Mitterand and Gorbatchev made it possible (if only because they knew the cost of reunification would be so high that West Germany would have severe problems). Kohl was just the guy that was in office while it happened. David Hasselhoff arguably did more for uniting Germany.
Hesemonni
Banned
Awesome picture. And a great man.
Best picture of him
Hello? This is Hailun!
Member
Because they didn't export giant corporations to subjugate Central/South America to get them year around.
They also didn't know what debt, mortgages, rent, or credit was either.
Seems like they got the bad end of that trade.
Man with Knife
Member
The chancellor of my childhood and adolescence.
A stubborn man, but a legendary politician.
I'm glad I got to experience the time around the German reunification "live", those were some very interesting years, not only in politics.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OI4Qu1XAsQ0
So long!
A stubborn man, but a legendary politician.
I'm glad I got to experience the time around the German reunification "live", those were some very interesting years, not only in politics.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OI4Qu1XAsQ0
So long!
Are you in all seriousness suggesting that East Germany is worse off now than it was when in the Warsaw Pact? Are you insane?
Thank god North Korea is keeping the revolution alive. Amirite, comrade.
Jesus, some of the comments in this thread.
Glück auf!
paradise_circus
Member
rest in peace
the stories how he was eating bars of butter like chocolate when he was stressed are always a good story to tell other people.
the stories how he was eating bars of butter like chocolate when he was stressed are always a good story to tell other people.
Chairmanchuck
Member
They also couldnt leave their country.
They were also shot trying to leave the country.
They were thrown in prison for just being against the government.
Edit: Thats why I dont get why stuff like "Ostalgie" or those "Well. Eastern Germany was so great" TV-shows even exists here in Germany.
Yes we were so good off in our socialist utopia.
Nevermind people standing in line to hope and get some food, get killed for trying to leave the country, live in fear of getting arrested for listening to western radio or talk bad about the government.
Unless you actually live in such a country and know what you're talking about please kindly fuck off.
Patrick Bateman
Member
They would have know even without him. Right time, right place. Not the right person.
He enforced the exchange rate of 1:1 for East German people and the rapid integration of East Germany into the FRG and didn't give a crap about anything at that time except to get new voters for himself..
Harald Schmidt joked about this a couple of years ago and said that he wants a show dedicated to the "great" life from 1933.
As someone who grew up in East Germany - well said.
Muffin1611
Banned
RIP, he had a good run
You should definitely visit a Stasi museum before you praise your socialist utopia too much. Or take the tour through Hohenschönhausen (a Stasi jail), guided by one of its survivors.
Bedameister
Member
Well said.
Salty Rice
Member
RIP
You will be missed. He was a great chancellor.
You will be missed. He was a great chancellor.
Interesting Fan fiction. Too bad it's not the truth. His encouragement gave us The hope that taking to the streets and facing down armed forces and riot police would not be in vain.
If you had been an adult at that time you'd know how literally on the knifes edge things stood several times.
So yeah, kindly fuck off.
The people in East Germany didnt sat on a table with the allies and negoatiated.
Perfect post.
My parents were on the streets in Leipzig and they weren't there because of Kohl.
Yeah, like so many other communist nations in europe remained communist.
Kohl helped, but reunification was more about socio-historical forces than any top-down direction.
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