- Was an avid smoker and even refused to appear on TV shows if he was not allowed to do so in the studio.
- Despite having been an avid smoker, Schmidt holds the record for the longest living German Chancellor. By age, he even outlived former Chancellor Konrad Adenauer, who was a life long non-smoker, by five years.
- He hardly drank any alcohol but a lot of Coca Cola, allegedly with added sugar cubes.
- Has never had a speech coach.
- Met Loki Schmidt when he was 10. They were classmates at the coeducational Lichtwarkschule.
- He singled out pea soup, cooked with bacon, as a dish he particularly enjoyed.
- Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany from 16 May 1974 to 1 October 1982.
- Honorary citizen of Hamburg, Bonn, Bremerhaven (1983), Berlin (1989), Güstrow (1995) and Schleswig-Holstein (1998).
- Gained reputation for his effective management during a flood catastrophe in Hamburg (1962).
- Served as antiaircraft-artillery officer with the Nazi German Luftwaffe in World War II.
- Father of two children: Helmut Walter (born on 26 June 1944, died of meningitis in February 1945) and Susanne (born in 1947).
- West German Federal Minister of Defence (1969-1972).
- Was voted "coolest German celebrity" by the viewers of pay-TV network Premiere at the age of 89 (January 2008).
- Innensenator (Minister of the Interior) of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg from December 13, 1961 to December 14, 1965.
- Even after his office period as a chancellor, he remained one of the most popular and influential German political figures.
- He was after the death of his wife Loki Schmidt, engaged to Ruth Loah.
- Was good friends to Henry Kissinger.
- Renown and influential expert in Nuclear Strategy.
- West German Federal Minister of Finance (1972-1974).
- On January 2018, to celebrate his 100th birthday and his life's work, commemorative 2-Euro coins bearing his likeness were issued in Germany.
- Born and raised in the working-class district of Hamburg-Barmbek, he later lived in Hamburg-Langenhorn for decades.
- His wife Loki Schmidt stated that if she would not cook for him, he would eat currant bread instead.
- He was the captain of the Lichtwarkschule's student rowing team.
- Played the organ and the piano.
- Had a rose named after him, the 'Helmut Schmidt'. It was designed by German flower grower Reimer Kordes and was on display at the Bundesgartenschau in 1979.
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