of the post world war ii era. he passed away at his home in connecticut. here s a look back at his life from our diplomatic correspondent james landale. to landale. some, henry kissinger was one to some, henry kissinger was one of the cold war s most influential statesman who advised presidents and prime ministers for decades. two others he was a war criminal. whose ruthless defence of american interest cost thousands of lives. either way, the sweep of his life was immense. he was born heinz kissinger in nazi germany. his family fled to america in 1938 but the young henry, as he became, returned to europe fighting with the us army helping to liberate concentration camps. in peacetime the soldier became a scholar at harvard university making his name arguing that nuclear weapons could be used in conventional wars. n0 audio although in conventional wars. no audio although that is less desirable. it was president richard nixon who brought him into government, first as national s