List of chancellors of Germany

Portrait of Otto von Bismarck, sitting at desk

Top left: Otto von Bismarck became the first chancellor with the creation of the North German Confederation (1867) and later the German Empire (1871).
Top right: Adolf Hitler was chancellor (from 1933) and later Führer of Nazi Germany.
Bottom left: In 1949, Konrad Adenauer became the first chancellor of West Germany after World War II.
Bottom right: Helmut Kohl held the office during the period of German reunification.

The chancellor of Germany^[1] is the political leader of Germany and the head of the federal government. The office holder is responsible for selecting all other members of the government and chairing cabinet meetings.^[2]

The office was created in the North German Confederation in 1867,^[3] when Otto von Bismarck became the first chancellor. With the unification of Germany and establishment of the German Empire in 1871, the Confederation evolved into a German nation-state and its leader became known as the chancellor of Germany.^[4] Originally, the chancellor was only responsible to the emperor. This changed with the constitutional reform in 1918, when the Parliament was given the right to dismiss the chancellor. Under the 1919 Weimar Constitution the chancellors were appointed by the directly elected president, but were responsible to Parliament.^[5] The constitution was set aside during the 1933–1945 Nazi dictatorship. During Allied occupation, no independent German government and no chancellor existed; and the office was not reconstituted in East Germany. The 1949 Basic Law made the chancellor the most important office in West Germany, while diminishing the role of the president.^[1]

North German Confederation, Bundeskanzler (1867–1871)[]

The North German Confederation came into existence after the falling apart of the German Confederation, itself caused by Prussian victory in the Austro-Prussian War of 1866. The chancellor was appointed by the Prussian king.^[3]

Political party

None

Portrait	Name (Birth–Death)	Term of office			Party
Portrait	Name (Birth–Death)	Took office	Left office	Duration	Party
	Count Otto von Bismarck (1815–1898)	1 July 1867	21 March 1871	3 years, 263 days		Non-partisan

German Empire, Reichskanzler (1871–1918)[]

The German Empire was born out of the North German Federation as result of the Franco-Prussian War. The newly created emperor named the chancellor to serve at his pleasure.^[4]

Political parties

Zentrum None

Portrait	Name (Birth–Death)	Term of office			Party		Cabinet
Portrait	Name (Birth–Death)	Took office	Left office	Duration	Party		Cabinet
	Prince Otto von Bismarck (1815–1898)	21 March 1871	20 March 1890	18 years, 364 days		Non-partisan	Bismarck
	Count Leo von Caprivi (1831–1899)	20 March 1890	26 October 1894	4 years, 220 days		Non-partisan	Caprivi
	Prince Chlodwig zu Hohenlohe-Schillingsfürst (1819–1901)	29 October 1894	17 October 1900	5 years, 353 days		Non-partisan	Hohenlohe-Schillingsfürst
	Prince Bernhard von Bülow (1849–1929)	17 October 1900	14 July 1909	8 years, 270 days		Non-partisan	Bülow
	Theobald von Bethmann-Hollweg (1856–1921)	14 July 1909	13 July 1917	7 years, 364 days		Non-partisan	Bethmann-Hollweg
	Georg Michaelis (1857–1936)	14 July 1917	1 November 1917	110 days		Non-partisan	Michaelis
	Count Georg von Hertling (1843–1919)	1 November 1917	30 September 1918	333 days		Centre Party	Hertling
	Prince Max von Baden (1867–1929)	3 October 1918	9 November 1918	37 days		Non-partisan	Baden

Revolutionary period, Reichskanzler (1918–1919)[]

On 9 November 1918, Chancellor Max von Baden handed over his office to Friedrich Ebert. Ebert continued to serve as head of government during the three months between the end of the German Empire in November 1918 and the first gathering of the National Assembly in February 1919 as Chairman of the Council of the People's Deputies, until 29 December 1918 together with USPD Leader Hugo Haase.^[6]

Political party

SPD

Portrait	Name (Birth–Death)	Term of office			Party		Cabinet
Portrait	Name (Birth–Death)	Took office	Left office	Duration	Party		Cabinet
	Friedrich Ebert (1871–1925) (Reichskanzler and Vorsitz des Rates der Volksbeauftragten)	9 November 1918	13 February 1919	96 days		Social Democratic Party of Germany	Council of the People's Deputies

Weimar Republic, Reichskanzler (1919–1933)[]

The Weimar Constitution of 1919 set the framework for the Weimar Republic. The chancellors were often dependent on support from the president.^[1]^[5]

Political parties

SPD Zentrum DVP None


Portrait	Name (Birth–Death)	Term of office			Party		Cabinet	Reichstag
Portrait	Name (Birth–Death)	Took office	Left office	Duration	Party		Cabinet	Reichstag
	Philipp Scheidemann (1865–1939) (Reichsministerpräsident)^[a]	13 February 1919	20 June 1919	127 days		Social Democratic Party of Germany	Scheidemann	Nat.Ass. (1919)
	Gustav Bauer (1870–1944) (Reichsministerpräsident; from 14 August 1919 Reichskanzler)^[a]	21 June 1919	26 March 1920	279 days		Social Democratic Party of Germany	Bauer
	Hermann Müller (1876–1931)	27 March 1920	21 June 1920	86 days		Social Democratic Party of Germany	Müller I
	Constantin Fehrenbach (1852–1926)	25 June 1920	4 May 1921	313 days		Centre Party	Fehrenbach	1 (1920)
	Joseph Wirth (1879–1956)	10 May 1921	14 November 1922	1 year, 188 days		Centre Party	Wirth I
	Joseph Wirth (1879–1956)	10 May 1921	14 November 1922	1 year, 188 days		Centre Party	Wirth II
	Wilhelm Cuno (1876–1933)	22 November 1922	12 August 1923	263 days		Non-partisan	Cuno
	Gustav Stresemann (1878–1929)	13 August 1923	30 November 1923	109 days		German People's Party	Stresemann I
	Gustav Stresemann (1878–1929)	13 August 1923	30 November 1923	109 days		German People's Party	Stresemann II
	Wilhelm Marx (1863–1946)	30 November 1923	15 January 1925	1 year, 46 days		Centre Party	Marx I
	Wilhelm Marx (1863–1946)	30 November 1923	15 January 1925	1 year, 46 days		Centre Party	Marx II	2 (May.1924)
	Hans Luther (1879–1962)	15 January 1925	12 May 1926	1 year, 117 days		Non-partisan	Luther I	3 (Dec.1924)
	Hans Luther (1879–1962)	15 January 1925	12 May 1926	1 year, 117 days		Non-partisan	Luther II
	Wilhelm Marx (1863–1946)	17 May 1926	12 June 1928	2 years, 26 days		Centre Party	Marx III
	Wilhelm Marx (1863–1946)	17 May 1926	12 June 1928	2 years, 26 days		Centre Party	Marx IV
	Hermann Müller (1876–1931)^[b]	28 June 1928	27 March 1930	1 year, 272 days		Social Democratic Party of Germany	Müller II	4 (1928)
	Heinrich Brüning (1885–1970)^[c]	30 March 1930	30 May 1932	2 years, 61 days		Centre Party	Brüning I	5 (1930)
	Heinrich Brüning (1885–1970)^[c]	30 March 1930	30 May 1932	2 years, 61 days		Centre Party	Brüning II	5 (1930)
	Franz von Papen (1879–1969)^[c]	1 June 1932	17 November 1932	169 days		Non-partisan	Papen	6 (Jul.1932)
	Kurt von Schleicher (1882–1934)^[c]	3 December 1932	28 January 1933	56 days		Non-partisan	Schleicher	7 (Nov.1932)

^ Jump up to: ^a ^b The title of Chancellor was not formally used until the Weimar Constitution took effect. Instead Scheidemann and Bauer were appointed as Reichsministerpräsident (Minister-President or Prime Minister).
^ Müller was the last parliamentary chancellor until Konrad Adenauer in 1949
^ Jump up to: ^a ^b ^c Non-parliamentary chancellor, appointed by Reichpraesident Paul von Hindenburg after no majority parliamentary coalition could be formed

Nazi Germany, Reichskanzler (1933–1945)[]

Adolf Hitler's Machtergreifung (seizure of power) marked the end of the Weimar Republic and the beginning of Nazi Germany. Hitler reigned as dictator and consolidated all power to himself.

Political parties

NSDAP

Portrait	Name (Birth–Death)	Term of office			Party		Cabinet	Reichstag^[a]
Portrait	Name (Birth–Death)	Took office	Left office	Duration	Party		Cabinet	Reichstag^[a]
	Adolf Hitler (1889–1945)^[b]^[c] (Führer und Reichskanzler from 2 August 1934)	30 January 1933	30 April 1945	12 years, 90 days		National Socialist German Workers' Party	Hitler	8 (Mar. 1933)
								9 (Nov. 1933)
								10 (Mar. 1936)
								11 (Apr. 1938)
	Joseph Goebbels (1897–1945)^[c]^[d]	30 April 1945	1 May 1945	1 day		National Socialist German Workers' Party	(Cabinet nominated in Hitler's testament but never convened)	—
	Lutz Graf Schwerin von Krosigk (1887–1977) (Leading Minister at Flensburg)^[e]^[f]	2 May 1945	23 May 1945	21 days		National Socialist German Workers' Party	Schwerin von Krosigk	—

^ No elections held during World War II. Last convened on 26 April 1942.
^ Non-parliamentary chancellor, appointed by Reichpraesident Paul von Hindenburg after no majority parliamentary coalition could be formed
^ Jump up to: ^a ^b Committed suicide in office.
^ Appointed by Adolf Hitler in his Political Testament
^ Appointed by Reichspräsident Karl Dönitz after the suicide of Goebbels
^ Arrested; government dissolved.^[7]

Federal Republic of Germany, Bundeskanzler (from 1949)[]

In 1949, two separate German states were established: the Federal Republic of Germany (known as West Germany) and the German Democratic Republic (known as East Germany). The list below gives the chancellors of West Germany; the government of East Germany was headed by the chairman of the Council of Ministers.^[8] In 1990, East Germany was dissolved as it merged with West Germany; Germany was reunified. It retained the name of the Federal Republic of Germany.^[9]

Political parties

CDU SPD FDP

Portrait	Name (Birth–Death)	Term of office			Party		Cabinet	Bundestag
Portrait	Name (Birth–Death)	Took office	Left office	Duration	Party		Cabinet	Bundestag
	Konrad Adenauer (1876–1967)	15 September 1949	20 October 1953	14 years, 30 days		Christian Democratic Union (CDU)	Adenauer I CDU/CSU–FDP–DP	1 (1949)
		20 October 1953	29 October 1957				Adenauer II CDU/CSU–FDP/FVP–DP–GB/BHE	2 (1953)
		29 October 1957	14 November 1961				Adenauer III CDU/CSU–DP	3 (1957)
		14 November 1961	13 December 1962				Adenauer IV CDU/CSU–FDP	4 (1961)
		14 December 1962	15 October 1963				Adenauer V CDU/CSU–FDP
	Ludwig Erhard (1897–1977)	16 October 1963	26 October 1965	3 years, 45 days		Independent (No party membership; but affiliated with the CDU)^[10]	Erhard I CDU/CSU–FDP
	Ludwig Erhard (1897–1977)	26 October 1965	30 November 1966	3 years, 45 days			Erhard II CDU/CSU–FDP	5 (1965)
	Kurt Georg Kiesinger (1904–1988)	1 December 1966	21 October 1969	2 years, 324 days		Christian Democratic Union (CDU)	Kiesinger CDU/CSU–SPD	5 (1965)
	Willy Brandt (1913–1992)	22 October 1969	15 December 1972	4 years, 197 days		Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD)	Brandt I SPD–FDP	6 (1969)
	Willy Brandt (1913–1992)	15 December 1972	7 May 1974	4 years, 197 days		Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD)	Brandt II SPD–FDP	7 (1972)
	Walter Scheel (1919–2016) Acting Chancellor^[a]	7 May 1974	16 May 1974	9 days		Free Democratic Party (FDP)	(acting)
	Helmut Schmidt (1918–2015)	16 May 1974	14 December 1976	8 years, 138 days		Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD)	Schmidt I SPD–FDP
		16 December 1976	4 November 1980				Schmidt II SPD–FDP	8 (1976)
		6 November 1980	1 October 1982				Schmidt III SPD–FDP	9 (1980)
	Helmut Kohl (1930–2017)	1 October 1982	29 March 1983	16 years, 26 days		Christian Democratic Union (CDU)	Kohl I CDU/CSU–FDP	9 (1980)
		30 March 1983	11 March 1987				Kohl II CDU/CSU–FDP	10 (1983)
		12 March 1987	18 January 1991				Kohl III CDU/CSU–FDP	11 (1987)
		18 January 1991	17 November 1994				Kohl IV CDU/CSU–FDP	12 (1990)
		17 November 1994	27 October 1998				Kohl V CDU/CSU–FDP	13 (1994)
	Gerhard Schröder (1944–)	27 October 1998	22 October 2002	7 years, 26 days		Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD)	Schröder I SPD–Green	14 (1998)
	Gerhard Schröder (1944–)	22 October 2002	22 November 2005	7 years, 26 days		Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD)	Schröder II SPD–Green	15 (2002)
	Angela Merkel (1954–)	22 November 2005	28 October 2009	15 years, 293 days		Christian Democratic Union (CDU)	Merkel I CDU/CSU–SPD	16 (2005)
		28 October 2009	17 December 2013				Merkel II CDU/CSU–FDP	17 (2009)
		17 December 2013	14 March 2018				Merkel III CDU/CSU–SPD	18 (2013)
		14 March 2018	Incumbent				Merkel IV CDU/CSU–SPD	19 (2017)

^ As Vice Chancellor under Brandt, Scheel served as acting Chancellor following Brandt's resignation.^[11]

Timeline[]

References[]

^ Jump up to: ^a ^b ^c "Neuland Grundgesetz | Abkehr von Weimarer Verfassung – Reaktion auf Nazi-Deutschland" [Virgin Soil "Basic Law" | Departure from Weimar Constitution - Reaction to Nazi Germany] (in German). Bundeszentrale für politische Bildung. 1 September 2008. Retrieved 13 March 2018.
^ "Tasks of the Federal Chancellor". bundeskanzlerin.de. The Press and Information Office of the Federal Government. Retrieved 13 March 2018.
^ Jump up to: ^a ^b Verfassung des Norddeutschen Bundes [North German Constitution] (in German). 26 June 1867 – via Wikisource.
^ Jump up to: ^a ^b Constitution of the German Empire [Verfassung des Deutschen Reichs]. 16 April 1871 – via Wikisource.
^ Jump up to: ^a ^b "The Seeds of Evil: The Rise of Hitler — The Constitution of the Weimar Republic". schoolshistory.org.uk. 2004. Archived from the original on 20 August 2011. Retrieved 13 March 2018.
^ "Biografie Friedrich Ebert 1871-1925" [Biography of Friedrich Ebert]. www.dhm.de/lemo (in German). LeMO/Deutsches Historisches Museum. Retrieved 14 March 2018.
^ Hillmann, Jörg; Zimmermann, John (2014) [2002]. "Die »Reichsregierung« in Flensburg" [The "Government" in Flensburg]. Kriegsende 1945 in Deutschland (in German). Munich: Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co KG. pp. 35–65. ISBN 978-3-486-83332-4.
^ "Entstehung der DDR: Verfassung und Führungsrolle der SED" [Formation of the GDR: Constitution and the SED's Leadership Role]. www.hdg.de/lemo (in German). LeMO/Haus der Geschichte. Retrieved 14 March 2018.
^ "Vertrag zwischen der Bundesrepublik Deutschland und der Deutschen Demokratischen Republik über die Herstellung der Einheit Deutschlands (Einigungsvertrag)" [Unification Treaty between the Federal Republic of Germany and the German Democratic Republic]. Treaty of 31 August 1990 (in German). Retrieved 13 March 2018.
^ Jörges, Hans Ulrich; Wüllenweber, Walter (25 April 2007). "CDU-Altkanzler: Ludwig Erhard war nie CDU-Mitglied" (in German). Der Stern. Retrieved 8 April 2018.
^ McFadden, Robert D. (24 August 2016). "Walter Scheel, Leading Figure in West German Thaw With the East, Dies at 97". The New York Times. Retrieved 14 March 2018.

[reichs-m-p-7] Jump up to: ^a ^b The title of Chancellor was not formally used until the Weimar Constitution took effect. Instead Scheidemann and Bauer were appointed as Reichsministerpräsident (Minister-President or Prime Minister).

[8] Müller was the last parliamentary chancellor until Konrad Adenauer in 1949

[presidential-9] Jump up to: ^a ^b ^c Non-parliamentary chancellor, appointed by Reichpraesident Paul von Hindenburg after no majority parliamentary coalition could be formed

[10] No elections held during World War II. Last convened on 26 April 1942.

[presdential-11] Non-parliamentary chancellor, appointed by Reichpraesident Paul von Hindenburg after no majority parliamentary coalition could be formed

[suicide-12] Jump up to: ^a ^b Committed suicide in office.

[13] Appointed by Adolf Hitler in his Political Testament

[14] Appointed by Reichspräsident Karl Dönitz after the suicide of Goebbels

[16] Arrested; government dissolved.^[7]

[21] As Vice Chancellor under Brandt, Scheel served as acting Chancellor following Brandt's resignation.^[11]

[grundgesetz-bpb-1] Jump up to: ^a ^b ^c "Neuland Grundgesetz | Abkehr von Weimarer Verfassung – Reaktion auf Nazi-Deutschland" [Virgin Soil "Basic Law" | Departure from Weimar Constitution - Reaction to Nazi Germany] (in German). Bundeszentrale für politische Bildung. 1 September 2008. Retrieved 13 March 2018.

[2] "Tasks of the Federal Chancellor". bundeskanzlerin.de. The Press and Information Office of the Federal Government. Retrieved 13 March 2018.

[north-german-constitution-3] Jump up to: ^a ^b Verfassung des Norddeutschen Bundes [North German Constitution] (in German). 26 June 1867 – via Wikisource.

[empire-constitution-4] Jump up to: ^a ^b Constitution of the German Empire [Verfassung des Deutschen Reichs]. 16 April 1871 – via Wikisource.

[weimar-constitution-5] Jump up to: ^a ^b "The Seeds of Evil: The Rise of Hitler — The Constitution of the Weimar Republic". schoolshistory.org.uk. 2004. Archived from the original on 20 August 2011. Retrieved 13 March 2018.

[6] "Biografie Friedrich Ebert 1871-1925" [Biography of Friedrich Ebert]. www.dhm.de/lemo (in German). LeMO/Deutsches Historisches Museum. Retrieved 14 March 2018.

[15] Hillmann, Jörg; Zimmermann, John (2014) [2002]. "Die »Reichsregierung« in Flensburg" [The "Government" in Flensburg]. Kriegsende 1945 in Deutschland (in German). Munich: Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co KG. pp. 35–65. ISBN 978-3-486-83332-4.

[17] "Entstehung der DDR: Verfassung und Führungsrolle der SED" [Formation of the GDR: Constitution and the SED's Leadership Role]. www.hdg.de/lemo (in German). LeMO/Haus der Geschichte. Retrieved 14 March 2018.

[unification-treaty-18] "Vertrag zwischen der Bundesrepublik Deutschland und der Deutschen Demokratischen Republik über die Herstellung der Einheit Deutschlands (Einigungsvertrag)" [Unification Treaty between the Federal Republic of Germany and the German Democratic Republic]. Treaty of 31 August 1990 (in German). Retrieved 13 March 2018.

[stern-erhard-cdu-19] Jörges, Hans Ulrich; Wüllenweber, Walter (25 April 2007). "CDU-Altkanzler: Ludwig Erhard war nie CDU-Mitglied" (in German). Der Stern. Retrieved 8 April 2018.

[20] McFadden, Robert D. (24 August 2016). "Walter Scheel, Leading Figure in West German Thaw With the East, Dies at 97". The New York Times. Retrieved 14 March 2018.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[a]

[b]

[c]

[a]

[b]

[c]

[d]

[e]

[f]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

[a]

[11]

show v t Chancellors of Germany
North German Confederation Bundeskanzler (1867–1871)	Otto von Bismarck
German Empire Reichskanzler (1871–1918)	Otto von Bismarck Leo von Caprivi Prince Chlodwig zu Hohenlohe-Schillingsfürst Bernhard von Bülow Theobald von Bethmann Hollweg Georg Michaelis Georg von Hertling Prince Maximilian of Baden Friedrich Ebert
Weimar Republic Reichskanzler (1919–1933)	Philipp Scheidemann (as Ministerpräsident) Gustav Bauer (as Ministerpräsident and Chancellor) Hermann Müller Konstantin Fehrenbach Joseph Wirth Wilhelm Cuno Gustav Stresemann Wilhelm Marx Hans Luther Wilhelm Marx Hermann Müller Heinrich Brüning Franz von Papen Kurt von Schleicher
Nazi Germany Reichskanzler (1933–1945)	Adolf Hitler Joseph Goebbels Count Schwerin von Krosigk (as Leading Minister)
Federal Republic Bundeskanzler (1949–present)	Konrad Adenauer (CDU, 1949–1963) Ludwig Erhard (CDU, 1963–1966) Kurt Georg Kiesinger (CDU, 1966–1969) Willy Brandt (SPD, 1969–1974) Helmut Schmidt (SPD, 1974–1982) Helmut Kohl (CDU, 1982–1998) Gerhard Schröder (SPD, 1998–2005) Angela Merkel (CDU, 2005-2021)
List of chancellors

List of chancellors of Germany

Contents

North German Confederation, Bundeskanzler (1867–1871)[]

German Empire, Reichskanzler (1871–1918)[]

Revolutionary period, Reichskanzler (1918–1919)[]

Weimar Republic, Reichskanzler (1919–1933)[]

Nazi Germany, Reichskanzler (1933–1945)[]

Federal Republic of Germany, Bundeskanzler (from 1949)[]

Timeline[]

See also[]

References[]

Politics of Germany


show Constitution (Basic Law) Federal Constitutional Court Human rights
show Executive President of Germany Frank-Walter Steinmeier (formerly SPD) Chancellor of Germany (list) Angela Merkel (CDU) Vice-Chancellor of Germany Olaf Scholz (SPD) Cabinet Merkel IV Federal agencies
show Legislature Bundestag constituencies Bundesrat Gemeinsamer Ausschuss Federal Convention (Bundesversammlung)
show Judiciary Federal Constitutional Court Federal courts Ordinary Administrative Fiscal Labour Social Joint Senate Other courts
show Subdivisions *State (Land)* Minister president State Parliament (Landtag) composition Regierungsbezirk District (Kreis) list Collective municipality (Amt) Municipality (Gemeinde) list
show Elections Electoral system Political parties Referendums Presidential elections Weimar Republic (1919–1933) 1919 1925 1932 East Germany (1949–1960) Federal Republic of Germany (since 1949) 1949 1954 1959 1964 1969 1974 1979 1984 1989 1994 1999 2004 2009 2010 2012 2017 2022 Parliamentary election 1867 (Feb) 1867 (Aug) 1868 1871 1874 1877 1878 1881 1884 1887 1890 1893 1898 1903 1907 1912 1919 1920 1924 (May) 1924 (Dec) 1928 1930 1932 (July) 1932 (Nov) 1933 (Mar) 1933 (Nov) 1936 1938 1949 1953 1957 1961 1965 1969 1972 1976 1980 1983 1987 1990 1994 1998 2002 2005 2009 2013 2017 2021
show State and Local Politics State Politics Baden-Württemberg Bavaria Berlin Brandenburg Hamburg Hesse Lower Saxony North Rhine-Westphalia Rhineland-Palatinate Saarland Schleswig-Holstein
show Foreign relations Foreign relations by country France Italy UK USA Russia International Relations Politics of the European Union Visa Passport
show Political Ideologies Political culture Communism Conservatism (Agrarian Conservatism) Far-right Liberalism
Germany portal Other countries
v t