Former Cold War President of West Germany Walter Scheel. AFP · 24 Aug 2016, 17:02Published: 24 Aug 2016 17:02 GMT+02:00Updated: 24 Aug 2016 17:02 GMT+02:00Former West German president Walter Scheel, who helped pave the way for his country's rapprochement with the communist East, has died aged 97, his party's spokesman said on Wednesday. President Joachim Gauck paid tribute to Scheel, who he said "helped shape the destiny of our country for many years in a special way". Story continues below…Born July 8th 1919 in the western city of Solingen, Scheel served as chancellor for nine days in 1974 after Brandt's resignation in a spying scandal. He was elected as president later that year, a post which he held until 1979.

Source: The Local August 24, 2016 15:00 UTC