Fighting the flood

In the night from 16 to 17 February 1962, a massive storm hits Hamburg. The storm causes grave damage, especially to low-lying areas such as Wilhelmsburg. Having been Police Senator for around nine weeks, Schmidt coordinates the rescue efforts that are already underway; Schmidt also requests additional support from the Federal Armed Forces. Influential media outlets run headlines such as »Alles hört auf Schmidts Kommando [Everyone obeys Schmidt’s orders]« (Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung) and »Herr der Flut [Lord of the flood]« (SPIEGEL), which contribute to him gaining a public reputation as a competent crisis manager. Schmidt also knows how to project himself when interviewed for the »Wochenschau« newsreel. His performance positions him for more senior political roles.