Hans-Dietrich Genscher, the longest-serving German foreign minister who was one of the key architects of the country's 1990 reunification between east and west, has died aged 89.
His personal assistant, Nicola Maier, said Genscher died on Thursday evening surrounded by family at his home outside Bonn.
Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier lauded his predecessor, saying Genscher had "literally written history".
"Overcoming the division of Germany and the split in Europe was his life's work," said Steinmeier.
Genscher served as foreign minister, first of West Germany and then of the reunited nation, for 18 years under chancellors Helmut Schmidt and Helmut Kohl.
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