Germany's chancellors have played pivotal roles in shaping the nation's history since 1815. One notable leader is Otto von Bismarck, who unified Germany in 1871 and served as its first chancellor.
In the 20th century, Konrad Adenauer became the first chancellor of West Germany after World War II, leading from 1949 to 1963. He is credited with rebuilding the country and fostering strong ties with Western nations.
Willy Brandt, chancellor from 1969 to 1974, is remembered for his Ostpolitik policy, aiming to improve relations with East Germany and Eastern Europe. For these efforts, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1971.
Helmut Kohl, serving from 1982 to 1998, oversaw the reunification of East and West Germany in 1990 and was instrumental in establishing the European Union.
Angela Merkel, chancellor from 2005 to 2021, was Germany's first female leader and became known for her steady leadership during numerous global crises. These chancellors, among others, have significantly influenced Germany's path over the past two centuries.
Check Out| List of Presidents of Germany (1919-2025)
List of German Chancellors from 1867 Till Now
Prussia was a powerful German state that played a key role in European history. It was known for its strong military, efficient government, and influential leaders.
After Prussia defeated Austria in the Austro-Prussian War of 1866, the North German Confederation came into existence, setting the stage for the eventual unification of Germany under Prussian leadership.
Otto von Bismarck became the first Chancellor of Germany in 1871 after successfully unifying the German states under Prussian leadership. His rise to power was driven by strategic diplomacy and military victories.
German Empire (1867–1918)
| No. | Name | Birth–Death | Term of Office |
| 1 | Otto von Bismarck | (1815–1898) | 21 Mar 1871 – 20 Mar 1890 |
| 2 | Leo von Caprivi | (1831–1899) | 20 Mar 1890 – 26 Oct 1894 |
| 3 | Chlodwig zu Hohenlohe-Schillingsfürst | (1819–1901) | 29 Oct 1894 – 17 Oct 1900 |
| 4 | Bernhard von Bülow | (1849–1929) | 17 Oct 1900 – 14 Jul 1909 |
| 5 | Theobald von Bethmann Hollweg | (1856–1921) | 14 Jul 1909 – 13 Jul 1917 |
| 6 | Georg Michaelis | (1857–1936) | 14 Jul 1917 – 1 Nov 1917 |
| 7 | Georg von Hertling | (1843–1919) | 1 Nov 1917 – 30 Sep 1918 |
| 8 | Max von Baden | (1867–1929) | 3 Oct 1918 – 9 Nov 1918 |
Weimar Republic (1918–1933)
| No. | Name | Birth–Death | Term of Office |
| 9 | Friedrich Ebert | (1871–1925) | 9 Nov 1918 – 13 Feb 1919 |
| 10 | Philipp Scheidemann | (1865–1939) | 13 Feb 1919 – 20 Jun 1919 |
| 11 | Gustav Bauer | (1870–1944) | 21 Jun 1919 – 14 Aug 1919 |
| 12 | Hermann Müller | (1876–1931) | 27 Mar 1920 – 21 Jun 1920 |
| 13 | Constantin Fehrenbach | (1852–1926) | 25 Jun 1920 – 10 May 1921 |
| 14 | Joseph Wirth | (1879–1956) | 10 May 1921 – 22 Nov 1922 |
| 15 | Wilhelm Cuno | (1876–1933) | 22 Nov 1922 – 12 Aug 1923 |
| 16 | Gustav Stresemann | (1878–1929) | 13 Aug 1923 – 30 Nov 1923 |
| 17 | Wilhelm Marx | (1863–1946) | 30 Nov 1923 – 15 Jan 1925 |
| 18 | Hans Luther | (1879–1962) | 15 Jan 1925 – 12 May 1926 |
| 19 | Wilhelm Marx | (1863–1946) | 17 May 1926 – 28 Jun 1928 |
| 20 | Hermann Müller | (1876–1931) | 28 Jun 1928 – 27 Mar 1930 |
| 21 | Heinrich Brüning | (1885–1970) | 30 Mar 1930 – 30 May 1932 |
| 22 | Franz von Papen | (1879–1969) | 1 Jun 1932 – 3 Dec 1932 |
| 23 | Kurt von Schleicher | (1882–1934) | 3 Dec 1932 – 30 Jan 1933 |
Nazi Germany (1933–1945)
| No. | Name | Birth–Death | Term of Office |
| 24 | Adolf Hitler | (1889–1945) | 30 Jan 1933 – 30 Apr 1945 |
| 25 | Joseph Goebbels | (1897–1945) | 30 Apr 1945 – 1 May 1945 |
| 26 | Lutz Graf Schwerin von Krosigk | (1887–1977) | 2 May 1945 – 23 May 1945 |
West Germany (1949–1990)
| No. | Name | Birth–Death | Term of Office | Vice Chancellor(s) |
| 1 | Konrad Adenauer | (1876–1967) | 15 Sep 1949 – 16 Oct 1963 | Franz Blücher, Ludwig Erhard |
| 2 | Ludwig Erhard | (1897–1977) | 16 Oct 1963 – 1 Dec 1966 | Erich Mende, Hans-Christoph Seebohm |
| 3 | Kurt Georg Kiesinger | (1904–1988) | 1 Dec 1966 – 22 Oct 1969 | Willy Brandt |
| 4 | Willy Brandt | (1913–1992) | 22 Oct 1969 – 7 May 1974 | Walter Scheel |
| 5 | Helmut Schmidt | (1918–2015) | 16 May 1974 – 1 Oct 1982 | Hans-Dietrich Genscher |
| 6 | Helmut Kohl | (1930–2017) | 1 Oct 1982 – 3 Oct 1990 | Hans-Dietrich Genscher |
Germany (1990–Present)
| No. | Name | Birth–Death | Term of Office | Vice Chancellor(s) |
| 1 | Helmut Kohl | (1930–2017) | 3 Oct 1990 – 27 Oct 1998 | Klaus Kinkel |
| 2 | Gerhard Schröder | (b. 1944) | 27 Oct 1998 – 22 Nov 2005 | Joschka Fischer |
| 3 | Angela Merkel | (b. 1954) | 22 Nov 2005 – 8 Dec 2021 | Franz Müntefering, Sigmar Gabriel, Olaf Scholz |
| 4 | Olaf Scholz | (b. 1958) | 8 Dec 2021 – Present | Robert Habeck |
Who is Friedrich Merz, the Next Chancellor of Germany?
Friedrich Merz is poised to become the next Chancellor of Germany, following the Christian Democratic Union's (CDU) victory in the recent national election. Here are key points about him:
Background and Career
- Early Life and Politics: Merz hails from the Sauerland region in western Germany, known for its social conservatism. He first entered politics by winning a seat in the European Parliament in 1989 and later in the German Parliament in 1994.
- Rise in the CDU: Merz was a protege of Wolfgang Schaeuble, a prominent figure in German fiscal conservatism. He rose through the ranks of the CDU, becoming the party's parliamentary leader in the early 2000s.
- Conflict with Angela Merkel: Merz was ousted from his leadership role by Angela Merkel, who became the CDU leader in 2002. This led to Merz's temporary departure from politics.
Business Career and Return to Politics
- Business Ventures: After leaving politics, Merz built a successful career in business, working with major firms like BlackRock and accumulating significant wealth. Critics argue he leveraged political connections for business gains.
- Return to Politics: Merz returned to politics in 2022, becoming the leader of the CDU. His business experience is seen as an asset by many Germans amidst economic challenges.
Political Stance and Future Role
- Conservative Stance: Merz is known for his conservative views, particularly on immigration and economic policies. He has taken a firm stance on asylum-seekers and has suggested stricter border controls.
- Leadership in Europe: Merz vows to bring stronger leadership to Europe, emphasising the need for European security and independence, especially in light of changing U.S. policies under the Trump administration.
As the likely next chancellor, Merz faces the task of forming a coalition government in a divided political landscape.
What's Next| Who is Friedrich Merz, the Next Chancellor of Germany? All you need to know
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