Wegner: "Berlin mourns the loss of Edzard Reuter"

Edzard Reuter, former Chairman of the Board of Management of Daimler-Benz AG, photographed in his home.

Berlin's Governing Mayor Kai Wegner has paid tribute to former Daimler boss Edzard Reuter as a great friend of Berlin and ambassador of the German capital.

The son of legendary Berlin Governing Mayor Ernst Reuter and honorary citizen of the city died in Stuttgart on Sunday at the age of 96. "Berlin mourns the loss of Edzard Reuter. Since returning home in 1946, he has worked tirelessly for his home city," said Wegner. "Edzard Reuter was one of Berlin's great friends and worked in countless formats for civic volunteering and as an important ambassador for the German capital."

"Edzard Reuter has rendered outstanding services"

Wegner added that he had thus rendered outstanding services to Berlin's image in the world. He had also given Berliners the opportunity to reflect on their own city with the odd frank word, calling for self-confidence and a spirit of optimism. Berlin owes its honorary citizen a great debt of gratitude. "Our sympathy goes out to his family. We will keep Edzard Reuter in honorable memory." Reuter was born in Berlin in 1928, fled with his family from the Nazis to Turkey in 1935 and only returned to Germany after the end of the Second World War. He was Chairman of the Board of Management of Daimler-Benz AG from 1987 to 1995.