Kurt Waldheim

Austrian politician and diplomat (1918–2007)

Fame66.9
Momentum8.4
Austria rank#48

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Fame66.9
Momentum8.4
Austria rank#48
Wikipedia33.6K

Lived 1918–2007, aged 89Austria

Austria PoliticiansPolitician

Wikipedia
81 languages
Cross-language footprint
Rank in Austria
#48
Politicians
Era
1918–2007
Aged 89
Known for
The Waldheim Waltz
2018

Summary

Updated 2026-06-21

The Austrian diplomat who led the United Nations for nine years, then won his country's presidency — only to have wartime intelligence service in the Wehrmacht and knowledge of Nazi atrocities surface mid-campaign, triggering international scandal.

Biography

About

Kurt Josef Waldheim was a member of the Nazi Party and the Sturmabteilung before entering Austrian diplomacy. He served as secretary-general of the United Nations from 1972 to 1981. During his 1986 campaign for the Austrian presidency, revelations emerged about his service in Greece and Yugoslavia during World War II and his knowledge of Nazi atrocities as an intelligence officer in the Wehrmacht. The controversy became international. He won the presidency anyway and served from 1986 to 1992. He died on 14 June 2007.

Voice

In their own words

Sourced, dated quotes from Kurt Waldheim

Kurt Waldheim

said1986

I love him and Maria does too, and so thank you, Kurt.

— Arnold Schwarzenegger at 1986 wedding reception

Kurt Waldheim

said1978

We are men and women from many lands, representing a rich variety of cultures.

— World-service speech, 1978

Kurt Waldheim

said15 Sep 1974

You must not expect the United Nations to accomplish miracles. We are made up of sovereign nations. We can only accomplish what our member nations allow us to accomplish.

— quoted in the article The United Nations—How Strong a World Force?, in The Watchtower magazine, September 15, 1974.

via Wikiquote · CC BY-SA

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