How Helmut Schmidt and Helmut Kohl made Europe

This chapter investigates the instrumental roles of Chancellors Helmut Schmidt and Helmut Kohl in advancing European integration from the mid-1970s through the late 1990s, a critical period marked by the establishment of the European Monetary System, the Maastricht Treaty, and the Euro. It delves into their distinct yet complementary approaches to Europe's political landscape amid global crises, notably the Bretton Woods system's collapse and the Cold War's end. It reveals how their combined leadership, grounded in their unique biographies and political philosophies, significantly shaped today's European Union. Both men's efforts in fostering Franco-German cooperation, managing international change, and institutionalising key European structures underscored a deep commitment to European unity and stability. This chapter contributes to understanding the complexity of European integration, highlighting the blend of pragmatic strategy and visionary politics that underpinned the development of the European Union during a transformative era.