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Wilhelm Helms

1923 – 2019

German politician

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About Wilhelm Helms

Lived 1923 – 2019 (aged 95). Wilhelm Helms was a German politician.

Wilhelm Helms (19 December 1923 – 8 December 2019) was a German politician. He served as a member of the Bundestag from 1969 to 1972. Helms was notable for his 1972 party switch that threatened to collapse the government of Chancellor Willy Brandt.

Early life and career Wilhelm Helms was born on 19 December 1923 in the Bissenhausen district of Twistringen, Germany. His father, Heinrich Helms died in 1941 while his brother, Heinrich, was killed in World War II.

After high school, he was drafted into the Wehrmacht. He served in a tank crew on the Russian front and left the army in 1945. He worked his family's farm after the war.

At the no-confidence vote, two CDU politicians voted to support Brandt while Helms would not reveal how he had voted. However, he later stated that he would support the vote for the treaties. Helms sat with the CDU for the remainder of his term. In the 1972 West German federal election, he was not re-elected to the Bundestag.

Personal life In 1944, he met his wife, Lya Schilmbller, who had been sent to work on the farm. The couple become engaged in 1946 and married in 1948.

Helms died on 8 December 2019 in Vechta, Germany at the age of 95.

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Important facts

Birth century
Occupation
Nationality
Positions held
Member of the German Bundestag, Landrat, Member of the European Parliament

People in Wilhelm Helms's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Wilhelm Helms's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Wilhelm Helms?

German politician (1923-2019)

When was Wilhelm Helms born?

Wilhelm Helms was born on 19 December 1923 in Heiligenloh.

When did Wilhelm Helms die?

Wilhelm Helms died on 8 December 2019 in Vechta.

What was Wilhelm Helms's occupation?

Wilhelm Helms was a politician.

What nationality was Wilhelm Helms?

Wilhelm Helms was German.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Wilhelm Helms

· Wikidata: Q1226533

· DBpedia: Wilhelm Helms

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Wilhelm Helms. https://biography.guide/wilhelm-helms/

MLA: "Wilhelm Helms." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/wilhelm-helms/.

Chicago: "Wilhelm Helms." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/wilhelm-helms/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-21 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

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