The birth of Heinz Alfred Kissinger in Fuerth, Germany, 90 years ago on May 27, 1923.


Henry Kissinger, influential and talented secretary of state, diplomat involved in the establishment of détente with both the Soviet Union and Communist China, 1973 Nobel Peace Prize winner for his work in helping negotiate a ceasefire in Vietnam.

And for some time a rather unlikely sex symbol.

A refugee from Nazi Germany, whose Jewish family had fled first to England and then to the United States in September 1938, his fluent German was useful in post war Germany, and Kissinger saw service with the Counter Intelligence Corp as well as working on the country's de-Nazification program.

He became a Harvard professor in 1954, after gaining a doctorate there with a dissertation covering 19th century Austrian Prince Metternich and the balance of power, and eventually moved into the political and diplomatic world. Serving as National Security Advisor and Secretary of State during the presidencies of Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford.

At 90, and still with his thick Frankish accent, Kissinger's influence endures and he remains the dean of modern U.S. foreign-policy professionals, called upon to advise both presidents and foreign governments, as well as continuing to be a loyal supporter of SpVgg Greuther Fuerth.

A soccer club based in his birthplace, Fuerth, Bavaria.

A young Henry Kissinger had watched their games and during his time in the White House the team's weekend results were waiting on his desk on Monday morning, while last year he attended a match as he had promised he would if they were promoted to the Bundesliga.

Unfortunately the team was demoted again after this 2012-2013 season.

The Fuerth Fan is wearing his team's colors and a fan of the local rival Nuernberg team wears its colors, September 2012.

Photograph by Reto Klar, a member of the Hamburg Photographic Family Klar, via Welt.de


Francine A. McKenna - German Culture Editor

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Avatar: HOHENZOLLERNBRÃœCKE Cologne with CATHEDRAL and LUDWIG MUSEUM. The Bridge a symbol of how Germany was rebuilt after WWII, it was left in ruins, the Cathedral with roots in the 13th century represents the country's history, Museum of Modern Art the present day.