Germany bids farewell to ex-chancellor Helmut Schmidt

German Chancellor Angela Merkel makes her way back to her seat after giving a speech during the memorial service for the late former West German Chancellor Helmut Schmidt in Hamburg, Germany, November 23, 2015. [Photo/Agencies]

BERLIN -- Two weeks after the death of German ex-chancellor Helmut Schmidt, Germany's heads of state and government bade farewell to the former leader on Monday in Hamburg.

Around 1,800 guests joined the state ceremony in honor of the ex-chancellor who deceased at the age of 96, including German President Joachim Gauck, Chancellor Angela Merkel, former French President Valery Giscard d'Estaing and former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger.

"His death moved all of us. He was an instance across the boundaries of any party and generation," said Merkel.

Schmidt's high reputation has a good reason, as he had fulfilled his responsibility to all the political duties, she added.

Kissinger said, Schmidt's strengths were the vision and courage. The commitment to his own conscience was for Schmidt the highest instance.

Kissinger finished his very personal speech with the words: "Helmut will remain a great and good man."