Home base

In Langenhorn, the union-owned »Neue Heimat« organisation builds a new housing district with over 300 townhouses and 200 apartments. Helmut, his wife Loki and their 14-year-old daughter Susanne move into their own home on 14 December 1961 – Helmut was appointed Police Senator the previous day. Schmidt’s parents Ludovika and Gustav live in the semi-detached house beside it. On the reddish brown leather sofas in his living room, »the world comes to visit in Langenhorn«, such as Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev and the French President Valéry Giscard d‘Estaing. The Schmidts arrange for an annex to be built opposite their home in 2006/07, in which the Helmut Schmidt Archives are now located.