In 1981 Ulrich was done renovating but at that moment his wife left him and 'occupied' an empty flat.

She turned her brother into an errand boy. She gave the orders. He brought her what she wanted.

She can thank her lightning political career to the fact that Helmut Kohl needed to have a woman and an east German in his cabinet in 1991. By appointing Merkel, Kohl killed two birds with one stone.