The infinite sphere of Helmut Kohl
From our UK edition
Helmut Kohl, architect of German reunification, has died at the age of 87. Here Christian Caryl, writing in 1994, explains how Kohl became a titan of German politics. Like everyone else in Germany, I've spent the past five months listening to the press ruminate about the secret of Helmut Kohl's success. Much of the theorising had to do with girth. His bulk — depending on your point of view — epitomised enormous popularity, or immense political stature, or his country's dominant status within Europe. He is sometimes said to sail like a ship through seas of adoring crowds, while at other times, he towers like a giant above a dwarfed political competition.
