Politician. He served as both German Foreign Minister and Vice Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany from 1974 to 1992 , except for a two week period in 1982. During World War II, he was drafted into the German armed forces and was a prisoner of war by the war's end. After the war, he settled in what later became East Germany and studied law and economics at the universities in Halle and Leipzig. In 1949, he became a junior barrister and three years later, fled to West Germany. He quickly became a member of the Free Democratic Party and rose rapidly through its party ranks in Bremen. In 1965, he was elected to the Bundestag from North Rhine–Westphalia and four years later, when the Free Democrats joined the Social Democrats in a coalition government, he became minister of the interior. In 1974, he became chairman of the Free Democratic party and also foreign minister and vice chancellor. In 1982, when the Free Democrats switched allegiance to the Christian Democrats, who had just taken over the government, he continued in the post of both foreign minister and vice chancellor. He strongly supported better relations with the Soviet Union and the old Eastern bloc and, after Mikhail Gorbachev came to power in the Soviet Union, insisted that the West should take advantage of the historic opportunities for détente. In 1989 to 1990, he worked vigorously for German reunification and became the first foreign minister of the unified Germany. He resigned from the cabinet in 1992, but remained a member of the Bundestag until his retirement in 1998. After his retirement, he stayed active in various political and international interests.

Politician. He served as both German Foreign Minister and Vice Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany from 1974 to 1992 , except for a two week period in 1982. During World War II, he was drafted into the German armed forces and was a prisoner of war by the war's end. After the war, he settled in what later became East Germany and studied law and economics at the universities in Halle and Leipzig. In 1949, he became a junior barrister and three years later, fled to West Germany. He quickly became a member of the Free Democratic Party and rose rapidly through its party ranks in Bremen. In 1965, he was elected to the Bundestag from North Rhine–Westphalia and four years later, when the Free Democrats joined the Social Democrats in a coalition government, he became minister of the interior. In 1974, he became chairman of the Free Democratic party and also foreign minister and vice chancellor. In 1982, when the Free Democrats switched allegiance to the Christian Democrats, who had just taken over the government, he continued in the post of both foreign minister and vice chancellor. He strongly supported better relations with the Soviet Union and the old Eastern bloc and, after Mikhail Gorbachev came to power in the Soviet Union, insisted that the West should take advantage of the historic opportunities for détente. In 1989 to 1990, he worked vigorously for German reunification and became the first foreign minister of the unified Germany. He resigned from the cabinet in 1992, but remained a member of the Bundestag until his retirement in 1998. After his retirement, he stayed active in various political and international interests.

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