From Deutsche Welle:  Former German Defense Minister Peter Struck, a long-time member of the Social Democratic Party (SPD), has died of a heart attack in a Berlin hospital. He was 69.

Struck, who became defense minister under former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder in 2002, passed away Wednesday, his family said.

He served as defense minister until 2005, when Schröder’s SPD-led government lost power. He remained a member of parliament when the CDU and SPD formed a grand coalition. 

During his time in office, he oversaw the early years of Germany’s military engagement in Afghanistan, famously coining the phrase that "German security is being defended in the Hindu Kush" mountains. However, Struck was a strong opponent of the Iraq war. . . .

Chancellor Angela Merkel, of the Christian Democrats (CDU), said it was with great sadness that she heard the news of Struck’s death, calling him a "significant parliamentarian and a great social democrat."  (photo: Picture Alliance)

Image: pa%2012%2019%2012%20Peter%20Struck.jpg