About us

The Bundeskanzler-Helmut-Schmidt-Stiftung commemorates one of the most important 20th-century German statesmen. As a future-oriented think tank, it addresses issues that also interested Schmidt. Three overarching programmes are at the heart of the foundation’s work programme: 1) European and International Politics, 2) Global Markets and Social Justice and 3) Democracy and Society.

Closely meshed with these programmes, the permanent exhibition “Schmidt! Living democracy” in Hamburg’s city centre reflects almost half a century of German and international contemporary history. It places the achievements of its namesake in current and historical context. In the Helmut Schmidt-Archiv in Hamburg’s Langenhorn neighbourhood, the foundation makes the private documents of Schmidt and his wife Loki available to researchers and grants the public access to the Schmidts’ former private home.

The foundation was established in 2017 by the German Bundestag as one of seven non-partisan foundations commemorating politicians. It is supported by the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media.
 

Location

The foundation’s headquarters are located in the old mercantile centre of Hamburg, the Kontorhaus district. The district, including the famous Chilehaus, was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2015. The foundation’s board and staff work here at Kattrepel 10, next door to the Die Zeit press building that was renamed Helmut-Schmidt-Haus in 2016. Since June 2021, the representative exhibition “Schmidt! Living democracy” has been on view on the ground floor of the foundation’s building.

Neubergerweg in Langenhorn, Hamburg, where the Schmidt family used to live, is the location of both the Schmidts’ house and the Helmut Schmidt-Archiv (see photo). The private rooms can be viewed on a virtual tour

The adjacent Helmut Schmidt-Archiv is available for academic research.