Eckhard Seeber, longtime chauffeur to Helmut Kohl, dies

Eckhard ‘Ecki’ Seeber, the long-time chauffeur and close confidant of former German Chancellor Helmut Kohl, has passed away. Seeber’s relationship with Kohl began in 1962 and lasted for nearly four decades.

More than just a driver, Seeber served as a personal attendant who accompanied Kohl through significant historical moments. He traveled alongside the Chancellor to international meetings, including encounters with Boris Yeltsin and Bill Clinton. Due to his height, Kohl preferred sitting in the front seat to maintain closer contact with Seeber.

The Seeber family was deeply integrated into the Kohl household. Eckhard’s wife, Hilde, served as a housekeeper and was a close support to Hannelore Kohl. Notably, Hilde Seeber was the person who discovered Hannelore Kohl after her suicide in 2001.