Peter Hermes

Peter Hermes (8 August 1922 – 14 October 2015) was a German diplomat, best known for serving as West German Ambassador to the United States from 1979 to 1984 and West German Ambassador to the Holy See from 1984 to 1987.^[1]

Peter Hermes
West German Ambassador to the Holy See
In office August 1984 – August 1987
President	Richard von Weizsäcker
Preceded by	Walter Gehlhoff
Succeeded by	Paul Verbeek
West German Ambassador to the United States
In office November 1979 – July 1984
President	Karl Carstens
Preceded by	Berndt von Staden
Succeeded by	Günther van Well
Personal details
Born	(1922-08-08)8 August 1922 Berlin, Germany
Died	14 October 2015(2015-10-14) (aged 93) Bonn, Germany
Political party	Christian Democratic Union
Spouse	Maria Wirmer ​ (m. 1955)​
Alma mater	University of Bonn
Awards	Knight Commander's Cross of the Order of Merit (1982)
Signature
Military service
Allegiance	Germany
Branch/service	Luftwaffe
Years of service	1941–1945
Unit	Flak Corps
Battles/wars	World War II

Early life and military service

Hermes was born in Berlin, as the son of agricultural scientist and politician Andreas Hermes. He was drafted in 1941, and served in a penal battalion in 1944. He was captured by the Soviets. His father founded the CDU in the Soviet occupation zone, but left in 1945. Peter Hermes left East Germany in 1950.

Diplomatic career

Beginning in 1953, he was trade negotiator for the Foreign Office, and Head of the Department of Foreign Trade and Development, and European economic integration.

He completed a doctorate degree in law. In 1955, he joined the Diplomatic Service. He eventually became Secretary of State at the Foreign Office from 1975 to 1979. He was Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany in Washington, from 1979 to 1984. He was Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to the Vatican, from August 1984 to 1987.

After retirement, he became a member of the Commission for Contemporary History Association, and deputy chairman of the Association of the German Archaeological Institute. He is an honorary member of the German Archaeological Institute.^[2]