I experienced Nazism as a child. Like many of my generation, I was motivated by the desire to prevent another war at any price. Helmut Kohl More Quotes by Helmut Kohl More Quotes From Helmut Kohl The future will belong to the Germans... ...when we build the House of Europe. In the next two years, we will make the process of European integration irreversible. This is a really big battle but it is worth the fight. Helmut Kohl fighting europe years Peace must be more than the absence of war. Helmut Kohl absence war The European Union Treaty... within a few years will lead to the creation of what the founding fathers of modern Europe dreamed of after the war, the United States of Europe. Helmut Kohl war father years We were united not only by political respect for each other, but also by deep mutual sympathy as people. Helmut Kohl political sympathy people I have been underestimated for decades. I've done very well that way. Helmut Kohl politics done way Russia is Germany's most important neighbor in the East, and it will remain so. Helmut Kohl russia easter important I doubt that the evil spirits of the past, under which we in Europe have already suffered more than enough this century, have been banished for ever. Helmut Kohl europe country past Everybody should know that Germany will not go it alone: there will be no restless Reich. Helmut Kohl restless germany should You didn't just pay lip service to the goal of overcoming the division of Europe and Germany... Rather, you put yourself at the forefront of those who encouraged us on the way to unity. Helmut Kohl unity goal europe George Bush was for me the most important ally on the road to German unity. Helmut Kohl allies unity important Simon Wiesenthal, like few others personally felt the shadow of history in its brutality. Helmut Kohl felt shadow brutality The Christian Democrats always made you feel like the poor relation. Helmut Kohl poor christian made German and European unification are two sides of the same coin. Helmut Kohl coin same sides two I have every reason, despite the resentment and exasperation, to be proud. I have nothing better to be proud of than being proud of German unity. Helmut Kohl nothing better unity proud The army is under orders to defend every place. Helmut Kohl defend every place army For me it is completely clear that our air bases in Germany would be available to the Americans. Helmut Kohl me germany clear air The most important rule of the new Europe is: There must never again be violence in Europe. Helmut Kohl new never violence important I knew that I could never win a referendum in Germany. We would have lost a referendum on the introduction of the euro. That's quite clear. I would have lost, and by seven to three. Helmut Kohl never win three lost In a democracy, if you don't get the votes, nothing else is possible, no matter how wonderful your dreams. Helmut Kohl dreams you your-dreams democracy As a child, I personally didn't really get to know any Jews. I was eight years old when the Night of Broken Glass happened. And Ludwigshafen was purely a workers' city, so we didn't have a very big Jewish community. What I did know about the Jews, I heard from my mother. My mother was very much pro-Jewish. Helmut Kohl community broken mother night