Bundesbank mourns the loss of Helmut Schlesinger: Legend of the D-Mark died

Helmut Schlesinger, the former President of the Deutsche Bundesbank, died on December 23, 2024 at the age of 100. Death was announced by the Bundesbank on Friday. Schlesinger was responsible for the signature on most D-marksmen between 1980 and 1993 and significantly shaped the institution for over 41 years.

Under Schlesinger's leadership, the D-Mark became one of the most stable currencies in the world and the stability anchor in the European currency system. Bundesbank President Joachim Nagel praised his commitment to a stable D-Mark, which brought him both international recognition and criticism, and described him as the "guardian of the culture of stability". Prime Minister Boris Rhein (CDU) also commented and described Schlesinger as a model in the financial sector.

career and awards

The Penzberger native started his career in 1952 at the Bank of German countries, the forerunner of the Bundesbank. Schlesinger became Vice President in 1980 and President of the Bundesbank in 1991, whereby his term as president was limited to 26 months because he was older at that time. He was known for his meticulous and stylish editing of the Bundesbank's monthly report and introduced the concept of money supply control, which contributed to the stability of the D-Mark.

For his merits, Schlesinger received numerous awards, including the Hessian Order of Merit, the honorary doctorate from the Goethe University of Frankfurt and the Great Federal Cross of Merit. He had been married to his wife Carola since 1949 and had four children. Schlesinger is considered a "Bavarian Prussian" and "uncomfortable reminder", known for his sensitivity to inflation and his successful combating the price survival during the term of office of German reunification.

The Bundesbank said goodbye to Schlesinger and appreciates its life's work, which significantly shaped the stability of the D-Mark in the 1970s and 1980s, as the daily show reported. Also on the Website of the Bundesbank is recognized.