Germany's popular postwar president recalls his fascinating life, which he devoted to a country that rose from utter destruction to reunification & a secure future. From Weimar to the Wall is not only an absorbing, deeply personal memoir, it also illuminates some of the most dramatic moments of our century. From the days of the Wilhelm Empire, the prominent von Weizsacker family always played an active role in every major event affecting their country. Richard von Weizsacker was no exception to the legacy, serving during the Second World War as a front-line officer in the German Army. He later became president of the German Evangelical Congress & served as mayor of West Berlin. But his election in 1984 as president of the Federal Republic of Germany brought him to center stage in the struggle for a new vision for Central Europe. His brilliant diplomacy earned the respect of the political & intellectual leaders around the world, gained immense popularity among the population at home, & helped shepherd Germany toward a stable future as a united democracy. From Weimar to the Wall, written in an engaging, candid one, was a huge bestseller in Europe. It brims with fascinating portraits of leaders such as George Bush, Margaret Thatcher, & Francois Mitterand, & vividly captures the spirit of one of Germany's most well-known & admired figures.