Helmut Kohl was one of the most prominent German leaders, widely credited for the integration of East and West Germany into a unified country. Born into a modest family, he ventured into politics at a young age. He was elected as the chairman of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) in 1973, a position he held for more than two decades until 1998. During his tenure as chairman, the CDU formed an alliance with the Free Democratic Party (FDP), which went on to establish a coalition government. Kohl benefited significantly from this alliance, becoming the Chancellor of West Germany in 1982. During his 16-year tenure as Chancellor, he contributed significantly to the country's development, particularly by fostering strong diplomatic relations with France. The defining moment of his political career, however, was his leadership in the process of German reunification. Kohl is widely regarded as the primary architect of German reunification. He is often described as "the greatest European leader of the second half of the 20th century."