List of heads of state of Germany

Last updated

This is a list of heads of state of Germany.

History

Germany was ruled by monarchs from the beginning of division of the Frankish Empire in August 843 to the dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire in August 1806. [1] [2] [3] During most of 19th century, independent German principalities were organized into various confederations, such as the Confederation of the Rhine dominated by Napoleon (1806-1913) and the German Confederation created by the Congress of Vienna (1814-1866). The Prussian-led North German Confederation (1866-1871) subsequently morphed into a modern nation state, the German Reich, which was ruled by emperors from 1871 to the collapse of all German monarchies in 1918.

Contents

The President of Germany replaced the monarch in 1919. Chancellor Adolf Hitler assumed the duties of head of state as Führer and Chancellor from 1934 until his suicide in April 1945. In 1949, Germany was divided into two states. The Federal President, head of state of West Germany, became head of state for all of Germany following German reunification in 1990.

East Frankish kingdom, 843–962

Carolingians

Seal/PortraitNameHouseKingEmperorEndedNotes
Ludwig der Deutsche.jpg Louis the German
Ludwig der Deutsche		 Carolingian 11 August 843—23 August 876Son of Emperor Louis the Pious and grandson of Charlemagne
Carloman of Bavaria.png Carloman
(Karlmann)		 Carolingian 28 August

876

—22 March 880Son of Louis the German; ruled in Bavaria; from 877, also King of Italy
Louis the Younger of Saxony.PNG Louis the Younger
(Ludwig III. der Jüngere)		 Carolingian 28 August 876—20 January 882Son of Louis the German; ruled in East Francia, Saxony; from 880, also Bavaria
Sceau de Charles le gros.jpg Charles the Fat
(Karl III. der Dicke)		 Carolingian 28 August 87612 February 88111 November 887Son of Louis the German; ruled in Alemannia, Raetia, from 882 in the entire Eastern Kingdom; from 879, also King of Italy
Seal of Arnulph of Carinthia (896).jpg Arnulf of Carinthia
(Arnulf von Kärnten)		 Carolingian 30 November 88725 April 8968 December 899Illegitimate son of Carloman
Die deutschen Kaiser Ludwig das Kind.jpg Louis the Child
(Ludwig IV. das Kind)		 Carolingian 21 January 900—20/24 September 911Son of Arnulf of Carinthia

Conradine dynasty

SealNameHouseKingEmperorEndedNotes
KonradSiegel.jpg Conrad I
(Konrad I.)		 Conradine (Franconian) 10 November 911—23 December 918Elected by the nobility

Ottonian dynasty

SealNameHouseKingEmperorEndedNotes
Siegel Heinrich I Posse.JPG Henry I the Fowler
(Heinrich I. der Vogler)		 Liudolfing (Saxon) 23 April 919—2 July 936Elected by the nobility
Arnulf II. Pfalzgraf von Bayern.jpg Arnulf the Bad
(Arnulf der Böse, Herzog von Bayern)		 Luitpolding (Bavarian) 919—921Rival king to Henry I

Holy Roman Empire, 962–1806

The title "King of the Romans", used under the Holy Roman Empire, is (from this point onwards) considered equivalent to King of Germany. A king was chosen by the German electors and would then proceed to Rome to be crowned emperor by the pope.

Ottonian dynasty (continued)

ImageNameHouseKingEmperorEndedNotes
Siegel Otto I Posse.JPG Otto I the Great
(Otto I. der Große)		 Ottonian 7 August 9362 February 9627 May 973Son of Henry I; first king crowned in Aachen Cathedral since Lothair I; crowned as Otto by the grace of God King; [4] crowned Holy Roman Emperor in 961
Otto II (HRE).jpg Otto II the Red
(Otto II.)		 Ottonian 26 May 96125 December 9677 December 983Son of Otto I;
Otto by the grace of God King [4] under his father 961–973;
also crowned Emperor in his father's lifetime
Meister der Reichenauer Schule 002.jpg Otto III
(Otto III.)		 Ottonian 25 December 98321 May 99621 January 1002Son of Otto II; Otto by the grace of God King [4]
Kronung Heinrich II.jpg Henry II
(Heinrich II. der Heilige)		 Ottonian 7 June 100226 April 101413 July 1024Great-grandson of Henry I

Salian dynasty

ImageNameHouseKingEmperorEndedNotes
Conrad II (HRE).jpg Conrad II
(Konrad II.)		 Salian (Frankish) 8 September 102426 March 10274 June 1039Great-great-grandson of Otto I
Heinrich III. (HRR) Miniatur.jpg Henry III
(Heinrich III.)		 Salian 14 April 102825 December 10465 October 1056Son of Conrad II;
King (of the Germans?) [4] under his father 1028–1039
Heinrich 4 g.jpg Henry IV
(Heinrich IV.)		 Salian 17 July 105421 March 108431 December 1105Son of Henry III;
King of Germany under his father, 1054–1056
Grabplatte Rudolf von Rheinfelden Detail.JPG Rudolf of Rheinfelden
(Rudolf von Rheinfelden)		Rheinfeld15 March 1077—15 October 1080Rival king to Henry IV
Town Hall Eisleben-Smaller Detail.jpg Hermann of Salm
(Hermann von Luxemburg, Graf von Salm)		Salm6 August 1081—28 September 1088Rival king to Henry IV
Conrad II of Italy.jpg Conrad
(Konrad)		 Salian 30 May 1087—27 July 1101Son of Henry IV;
King of Germany under his father, 1087–1098,
King of Italy, 1093–1098, 1095–1101 in rebellion.
Henry V of Germany.jpg Henry V
(Heinrich V.)		 Salian 6 January 109913 April 111123 May 1125Son of Henry IV;
King of Germany under his father, 1099–1105, forced his father to abdicate

Supplinburger dynasty

ImageNameHouseKingEmperorEndedNotes
Lothair II, Holy Roman Emperor.jpg Lothair III
(Lothar III.)		 Supplinburger 30 August 11254 June 11334 December 1137He was Lothair II of Germany, but Lothair III of Italy

Hohenstaufen and Welf dynasties

ImageNameHouseKingEmperorEndedNotes
Konrad III Miniatur 13 Jahrhundert.jpg Conrad III
(Konrad III.)		 Hohenstaufen 7 March 1138—15 February 1152Grandson of Henry IV (through his mother);
Previously Rival King to Lothair III 1127–1135
Henry Berengar
(Heinrich (VI.))		 Hohenstaufen 30 March 1147—August? 1150Son of Conrad III;
King of Germany under his father 1147–1150
Friedrich-barbarossa-und-soehne-welfenchronik 1-1000x1540.jpg Frederick I Barbarossa
(Friedrich I. Barbarossa)		 Hohenstaufen 4 March 115218 June 115510 June 1190Nephew of Conrad III
Kaiser Heinrich VI. im Codex Manesse.jpg Henry VI
(Heinrich VI.)		 Hohenstaufen 15 August 116914 April 119128 September 1197Son of Frederick I;
King of Germany under his father 1169–1190
Frederick II and eagle.jpg Frederick II
(Friedrich II.)		 Hohenstaufen 1197—1197Son of Henry VI;
King of Germany under his father, 1196
Vad-0321 040 Philipp von Schwaben.jpg Philip of Swabia
(Philipp von Schwaben)		 Hohenstaufen 6 March 1198—21 August 1208Son of Frederick I; rival king to Otto IV
Ottta4Brunsvicky.jpg Otto IV
(Otto IV. von Braunschweig)		 Welf 29 March 11984 October 12095 July 1215Rival king to Philip of Swabia; later opposed by Frederick II; deposed, 1215; died 19 May 1218
Frederick II and eagle.jpg Frederick II
(Friedrich II.)		 Hohenstaufen 5 December 121222 November 122026 December 1250Son of Henry VI;
Rival king to Otto IV until 5 July 1215
Henry 7 of Germany.jpg Henry
(Heinrich (VII.))		 Hohenstaufen 23 April 1220—15 August 1235Son of Frederick II;
King of Germany under his father, 1220–1235
Seal of Conrad IV of Germany.jpeg Conrad IV
(Konrad IV.)		 Hohenstaufen May 1237—1 May 1254Son of Frederick II;
King of Germany under his father, 1237–1250

Interregnum

ImageCoat of armsNameHouseKingEmperorEndedNotes
Heinrich Raspe.jpg Die lantgreue van Hessen.svg Henry Raspe
(Heinrich Raspe)		 Thuringia 22 May 1246—16 February 1247Rival King to Frederick II and great-great-great grandson of Henry IV
Seal of William II of Holland, King of the H.R. Empire.jpg Holland wapen.svg William of Holland
(Wilhelm von Holland)		 Holland 3 October 1247—28 January 1256Rival King to Frederick II and Conrad IV, 1247–1254
Richard Cornwall.jpg Richard of Cornwall Arms (alternate).svg Richard of Cornwall
(Richard von Cornwall)		 Plantagenet 13 January 1257—2 April 1272Brother-in-law of Frederick II; rival king to Alfonso of Castile; held no real authority.
Alfonso X el Sabio en El libro de los juegos.jpg Royal Coat of Arms of the Crown of Castile (1230-1284).svg Alfonso of Castile
(Alfons von Kastilien)		 House of Ivrea 1 April 1257—1275Grandson of Philip; rival king to Richard of Cornwall; held no authority; later opposed by Rudolf I; relinquished claims 1275, died 1284

Changing dynasties

ImageCoat of armsNameHouseKingEmperorEndedNotes
Rudolf von Habsburg Speyer.jpg Arms of Counts of Habsbourg.svg Rudolf I
(Rudolf I. von Habsburg)		 Habsburg 29 September 1273—15 July 1291First of the Habsburgs
Adolf von nassau montanus.JPG Wapen Nassauw.svg Adolf of Nassau
(Adolf von Nassau)		 Nassau 5 May 1292—23 June 1298According to some historians, Adolf's election was preceded by the short-lived kingship of Conrad, Duke of Teck. See his article for details.
Albrecht Erste Habsburg.jpg Arms of the Archduchy of Austria.svg Albert I
(Albrecht I. von Habsburg)		 Habsburg 24 June 1298—1 May 1308Son of Rudolf I; Rival king to Adolf of Nassau, 1298
Henry Lux head.jpg Henric van Lusenborch.svg Henry VII
(Heinrich VII. von Luxemburg)		 Luxembourg 27 November 130813 June 131124 August 1313 Holy Roman Emperor
Ludwig der Bayer.jpg Bavaria Wittelsbach coa medieval.svg Louis IV
(Ludwig IV. der Bayer)		 Wittelsbach 20 October 131417 January 132811 October 1347Grandson of Rudolf I; rival king to Frederick the Fair, 1314–1322
Frederick III the Fair.jpg Arms of the Archduchy of Austria.svg Frederick the Fair
(Friedrich der Schöne)		 Habsburg 19 October 1314/
5 September 1325		—28 September 1322/
13 January 1330		Son of Albert I;
rival king to Louis IV, 1314–1322;
associate king with Louis IV, 1325–1330
Charles IV-John Ocko votive picture-fragment.jpg Insigne Cechicum.svg Charles IV
(Karl IV. von Luxemburg)		 Luxembourg 11 July 13465 April 135529 November 1378Grandson of Henry VII; rival king to Louis IV, 1346–1347;
also King of Bohemia, King of Italy and Holy Roman Emperor
Guenther von schwarzburg.jpg CoA Schwarzburg County.svg Günther von Schwarzburg
(Günther von Schwarzburg)		 Schwarzburg 30 January 1349—24 May 1349Rival king to Charles IV
Vaclav of Bohemia.jpg Arms of the Counts of Luxembourg.svg Wenceslaus
(Wenzel von Böhmen)		 Luxembourg 10 June 1376—20 August 1400Son of Charles IV; king of Germany under his father 1376–1378; deposed 1400;
also by inheritance King of Bohemia; died 1419
Rupert I of Germany.jpg Armoiries Baviere-Palatinat.svg Rupert of the Palatinate
(Ruprecht von der Pfalz)		 Wittelsbach 21 August 1400—18 May 1410Great-grandnephew of Louis IV
Pisanello 024b.jpg Sigismund Arms Hungarian Czech per pale.svg Sigismund
(Sigismund von Luxemburg)		 Luxembourg 20 September 1410
/21 July 1411		3 May 14339 December 1437Son of Charles IV
Jost Lucembursky.jpg Armoiries Josse de Luxembourg.svg Jobst of Moravia
(Jobst von Mähren)		 Luxembourg 1 October 1410—8 January 1411Nephew of Charles IV; rival king to Sigismund

Habsburg

ImageCoat of armsNameHouseKingEmperorEndedNotes
Albrecht II. von Habsburg.jpg Arms of Albert II of Habsbourg (Variant).svg Albert II
(Albrecht II.)		 Habsburg 18 March 1438—27 October 14394th in descent from Albert I;
son-in-law of Sigismund
Hans Burgkmair d. A. 005.jpg Arms of Frederick III, Holy Roman Emperor.svg Frederick III
(Friedrich III.)		 Habsburg 2 February 144016 March 145219 August 14934th in descent from Albert I; 2nd cousin of Albert II
Albrecht Durer - Portrait of Maximilian I - Google Art Project.jpg Maximilian I Arms.svg Maximilian I
(Maximilian I.)		 Habsburg 16 February 14864 February 150812 January 1519Son of Frederick III; King of Germany under his father, 1486–1493; assumed the title "Elected Emperor" in 1508 with the pope's approval
Elderly Karl V.jpg Charles V Arms-imperial.svg Charles V
(Karl V.)		 Habsburg 28 June 151928 June 15193 August 1556Grandson of Maximilian I; died 21 September 1558
Hans Bocksberger der Aeltere 001.jpg Arms of Ferdinand I, Holy Roman Emperor (variant).svg Ferdinand I
(Ferdinand I.)		 Habsburg 5 January 153114 March 155825 July 1564Grandson of Maximilian I; brother of Charles V; King of Germany under his brother Charles V 1531–1556; last king to be crowned in Aachen Cathedral. Emperor
Nicolas Neufchatel 002.jpg Arms of Ferdinand I, Holy Roman Emperor (variant).svg Maximilian II
(Maximilian II.)		 Habsburg 22 November 156225 July 156412 October 1576Son of Ferdinand I;
King of Germany under his father 1562–1564
AACHEN, Hans von - Portrait of Emperor Rudolf II - WGA.jpg Arms of Rudolph II, Holy Roman Emperor (variant).svg Rudolf II
(Rudolf II.)		 Habsburg 27 October 15752 November 157620 January 1612Son of Maximilian II;
King of Germany under his father, 1575–1576
Matthias, keizer van het Heilige Roomse Rijk (1557-1619). Rijksmuseum SK-A-1412.jpeg Arms of Rudolph II, Holy Roman Emperor (variant).svg Matthias
(Matthias)		 Habsburg 13 June 161213 June 161220 March 1619Son of Maximilian II
Kaiser Ferdinand II. 1614.jpg Arms of Rudolph II, Holy Roman Emperor (variant).svg Ferdinand II
(Ferdinand II.)		 Habsburg 28 August 161928 August 161915 February 1637Grandson of Ferdinand I
Jan van den Hoecke - Portrait of Emperor Ferdinand III.jpg Arms of Ferdinand III, Holy Roman Emperor-Or shield variant.svg Ferdinand III
(Ferdinand III.)		 Habsburg 22 December 163615 February 16372 April 1657Son of Ferdinand II;
King of Germany under his father 1636–1637
Anselmus-van-Hulle-Hommes-illustres MG 0432.tif Arms of Ferdinand III and Ferdinand VI as Kings of the Romans.svg Ferdinand IV
(Ferdinand IV.)		 Habsburg 31 May 1653—9 July 1654Son of Ferdinand III;
King of Germany under his father
Benjamin von Block 001.jpg Arms of Leopold I, Holy Roman Emperor (variant).svg Leopold I
(Leopold I.)		 Habsburg 18 July 165818 July 16585 May 1705Son of Ferdinand III
JosephI.1705.JPG Arms of Joseph I, Holy Roman Emperor (variant).svg Joseph I
(Joseph I.)		 Habsburg 23 January 16905 May 170517 April 1711Son of Leopold I; King of Germany under his father 1690–1705
Martin van Meytens (attrib.) - Portrat Kaiser Karl VI.jpg Arms of Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor-Or shield variant.svg Charles VI
(Karl VI.)		 Habsburg 27 October 171127 October 171120 October 1740Son of Leopold I

Wittelsbach

ImageCoat of armsNameHouseKingEmperorEndedNotes
Carl Albrecht VII, by workshop of George Desmarees.jpg Arms of Charles VII Albert, Holy Roman Emperor-Or shield variant.svg Charles VII
(Karl VII.)		 Wittelsbach 14 January 174214 January 174220 January 1745Great-great-grandson of Ferdinand II; Husband of Maria Amalia, daughter of Joseph I

Habsburg-Lorraine

ImageCoat of armsNameHouseKingEmperorEndedNotes
Martin van Meytens 006.jpg Arms of Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor-Or shield variant.svg Francis I
(Franz I.)		 Lorraine 13 September 174513 September 174518 August 1765Great-grandson of Ferdinand III; Husband of Maria Theresa, daughter of Charles VI
Carl von Sales Bildnis Joseph II posthum 1823.jpg Arms of Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor-Or shield variant.svg Joseph II
(Joseph II.)		 Habsburg-Lorraine 27 March 176418 August 176520 February 1790Son of Francis I and Maria Theresa; King of Germany under his father 1764–1765
Mengs, Anton Raphael - Pietro Leopoldo d'Asburgo Lorena, granduca di Toscana - 1770 - Prado.jpg Arms of Leopold II and Francis II, Holy Roman Emperors-Or shield variant.svg Leopold II
(Leopold II.)		 Habsburg-Lorraine 30 September 179030 September 17901 March 1792Son of Francis I and Maria Theresa
Francis II, Holy Roman Emperor at age 25, 1792.png Arms of Leopold II and Francis II, Holy Roman Emperors-Or shield variant.svg Francis II
(Franz II.)		 Habsburg-Lorraine 7 July 17927 July 17926 August 1806Son of Leopold II; Dissolved the Holy Roman Empire; also Emperor of Austria 1804–1835; President of the German Confederation (1815-1835), died 1835

Confederation of the Rhine, 1806–1813

NamePortraitTitleHouseBeganEnded
Napoleon
Emperor of the French
King of Italy		 Jacques-Louis David - The Emperor Napoleon in His Study at the Tuileries - Google Art Project.jpg Protector of the Confederation of the Rhine Insigne Francum Napoleonis.svg
Bonaparte 		12 July 1806December 1813
Karl Theodor von Dalberg,
Prince-Archbishop of Regensburg
Grand Duke of Frankfurt 		Portrait of Karl Theodor von Dalberg by Franz Stirnbrand.jpg Prince-primate of the
Confederation of the Rhine 		Wappen Grossherzogtum Frankfurt.svg
Dalberg 		25 July 180626 October 1813
Eugène de Beauharnais,
Grand Duke of Frankfurt 		Eugene de Beauharnais, vice-roi d'Italie.jpg Prince-primate of the
Confederation of the Rhine 		Blason Eugene de Beauharnais (1781-1824).svg
Beauharnais 		26 October 1813December
1813

German Confederation, 1815–1866

NamePortraitTitleHouseBeganEnded
Francis I,
Emperor of Austria
(Franz I., Kaiser von Österreich)		 Francis II, Holy Roman Emperor at age 25, 1792.png Head of the presiding power (Präsidialmacht) Austria [5] Imperial Coat of Arms of the Empire of Austria (1815).svg
Habsburg-Lorraine 		20 June 18152 March 1835
Ferdinand I,
Emperor of Austria
(Ferdinand I., Kaiser von Österreich)		 Kaiser Ferdinand I.jpg Head of the presiding power (Präsidialmacht) Austria [5] Imperial Coat of Arms of the Empire of Austria (1815).svg
Habsburg-Lorraine 		2 March 183512 July 1848
Archduke John of Austria
(Erzherzog Johann von Österreich)		 Leopold Kupelwieser - Erzherzog Johann.jpg Regent ( Reichsverweser ) of the revolutionary German Empire [6] Imperial Coat of Arms of the Empire of Austria (1815).svg
Habsburg-Lorraine 		12 July 184820 December 1849
Frederick William IV, King of Prussia
(Friedrich Wilhelm IV., König von Preußen)		 Friedrich Wilhelm IV of Prussia (1847).jpg Emperor of the Germans elect [7] Wappen Hohenzollern.svg
Hohenzollern 		28 March 184928 April 1849
Presidium of the Union (Unionsvorstand) of the
Erfurt Union [8] 		26 May 184929 November 1850
Francis Joseph I,
Emperor of Austria
(Franz Joseph I., Kaiser von Österreich)		 Franz Russ dA (attr) Franz Joseph I c1855.jpg Head of the presiding power (Präsidialmacht) Austria Imperial Coat of Arms of the Empire of Austria (1815).svg
Habsburg-Lorraine 		1 May 185024 August 1866

North German Confederation, 1867–1871

NamePortraitTitleHouseBeganEnded
Wilhelm I,
King of Prussia
(Wilhelm I, König von Preußen)
Kaiser Wilhelm I. .JPG
Holder of the Bundespräsidium of the
North German Confederation		 Wappen Hohenzollern.svg
Hohenzollern 		1 July 18671 January 1871 [9]

German Reich, 1871–1945

German Emperor, 1871-1918

NamePortraitTitleHouseBeganEnded
Wilhelm I,
German Emperor
(Wilhelm I., Deutscher Kaiser)
Kaiser Wilhelm I. .JPG
German Emperor Wappenschild des Deutschen Kaiserreiches (1889-1918).svg
Hohenzollern 		1 January 1871 [9] 9 March 1888
Friedrich III,
German Emperor
(Friedrich III., Deutscher Kaiser)
Emperor Friedrich III.png
German Emperor Wappenschild des Deutschen Kaiserreiches (1889-1918).svg
Hohenzollern 		9 March 188815 June 1888
Wilhelm II,
German Emperor
(Wilhelm II., Deutscher Kaiser)
Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany - 1902.jpg
German Emperor Wappenschild des Deutschen Kaiserreiches (1889-1918).svg
Hohenzollern 		15 June 18889/28 November 1918 [10]

President, 1919–1945

† denotes people who died in office.

Portrait Reichspräsident Took officeLeft officeTime in officePartyElection
Friedrich Ebert face.jpg
Ebert, Friedrich Friedrich Ebert
(1871–1925)		11 February 191928 February 1925 †6 years, 17 days  SPD 1919
Bundesarchiv Bild 146-1969-008A-07, Hans Luther.jpg
Luther, Hans Hans Luther
(1879–1962)
Acting
[lower-alpha 1] 		28 February 192512 March 192512 days  Nonpartisan –
Bundesarchiv Bild 102-12279, Walter Simons.jpg
Simons, Walter Walter Simons
(1861–1937)
Acting
[lower-alpha 2] 		12 March 192512 May 192561 days  Nonpartisan –
President Hindenburg.jpg
Hindenburg, Paul Generalfeldmarschall
Paul von Hindenburg
(1847–1934)		12 May 19252 August 1934 †9 years, 82 days  Nonpartisan 1925
1932
Adolf Hitler cropped restored.jpg
Hitler, Adolf Adolf Hitler
(1889–1945)
Führer und Reichskanzler 		2 August 193430 April 1945 †10 years, 271 days  NSDAP –
Bundesarchiv Bild 146-1976-127-06A, Karl Donitz - crop.jpg
Dönitz, Karl Großadmiral
Karl Dönitz
(1891–1980)		30 April 194523 May 194523 days  NSDAP –

Federal Republic of Germany, from 1949

† denotes people who died in office.

Portrait Bundespräsident Took officeLeft officeTime in officePartyElection
Bundesarchiv Bild 146-1983-098-20a, Heuss.jpg
Heuss, Theodor Theodor Heuss
(1884–1963)		13 September 194912 September 19599 years, 364 days  FDP 1949
1954
Bundesarchiv Bild 146-1994-034-22A, Heinrich Lubke.jpg
Lübke, Heinrich Heinrich Lübke
(1894–1972)		13 September 195930 June 1969
(resigned)		9 years, 290 days  CDU 1959
1964
Bundesarchiv B 145 Bild-F029021-0010, Gustav Heinemann.jpg
Heinemann, Gustav Gustav Heinemann
(1899–1976)		1 July 196930 June 19744 years, 364 days  SPD 1969
Bundesarchiv Bild 146-1989-047-20, Walter Scheel.jpg
Scheel, Walter Walter Scheel
(1919–2016)		1 July 197430 June 19794 years, 364 days  FDP 1974
Bundesarchiv B 145 Bild-F040153-0032, Bonn, Pressekonferenz CDU-Vorstand, Carstens.jpg
Carstens, Karl Karl Carstens
(1914–1992)		1 July 197930 June 19844 years, 365 days  CDU 1979
Bundesarchiv Bild 146-1991-039-11, Richard v. Weizsacker.jpg
Weizsäcker, Richard Richard von Weizsäcker
(1920–2015)		1 July 198430 June 19949 years, 364 days  CDU 1984
1989
Roman Herzog.jpg
Herzog, Roman Roman Herzog
(1934–2017)		1 July 199430 June 19994 years, 364 days  CDU 1994
Johannes rau 2004-05-16 berlin ausschnitt.jpg
Rau, Johannes Johannes Rau
(1931–2006)		1 July 199930 June 20044 years, 365 days  SPD 1999
Horst Kohler.jpg
Köhler, Horst Horst Köhler
(born 1943)		1 July 200431 May 2010
(resigned)		5 years, 334 days  CDU 2004
2009
Portrait Buergermeister Boehrnsen.jpg
Böhrnsen, Jens Jens Böhrnsen
(born 1949)
Acting
[lower-alpha 3] 		31 May 201030 June 201030 days  SPD –
Christian Wulff crop.jpg
Wulff, Christian Christian Wulff
(born 1959)		30 June 201017 February 2012
(resigned)		1 year, 232 days  CDU 2010
12-07-17-landtagsprojekt-bayern-RalfR-001.jpg
Seehofer, Horst Horst Seehofer
(born 1949)
Acting
[lower-alpha 3] 		17 February 201218 March 201230 days  CSU –
2012-06-05 Bundespraesident Joachim Gauck Berlin.jpg
Gauck, Joachim Joachim Gauck
(born 1940)		18 March 201218 March 20175 years, 0 days  Independent 2012
Frank-Walter Steinmeier - 2018 (cropped).jpg
Steinmeier, Frank-Walter Frank-Walter Steinmeier
(born 1956)		18 March 2017Incumbent7 years, 65 days  SPD 2017
2022

German Democratic Republic (East Germany), 1949–1990

† denotes people who died in office.

PortraitNameTook officeLeft officeTime in officeParty
President of the Republic
Präsident der Republik
Fotothek df roe-neg 0002793 004 Portrait Wilhelm Piecks im Publikum der Bachfeier.jpg
Pieck, Wilhelm Wilhelm Pieck
(1876–1960)		11 October 19497 September 1960 †10 years, 332 days  SED
Bundesarchiv Bild 183-F0711-0037-001, Johannes Dieckmann.jpg
Dieckmann, Johannes Johannes Dieckmann
(1893–1969)
Acting
[lower-alpha 4] 		7 September 196012 September 19605 days  LDPD
Chairman of the State Council
Vorsitzender des Staatsrats
Opvolger van Pieck, Walter Ulbricht, Bestanddeelnr 911-5926.jpg
Ulbricht, Walter Walter Ulbricht
(1893–1973)		12 September 19601 August 1973 †12 years, 323 days  SED
Bundesarchiv Bild 183-83285-0029, Friedrich Ebert.jpg
Ebert, Friedrich Friedrich Ebert Jr.
(1894–1979)
Acting
[lower-alpha 5] 		1 August 19733 October 197363 days  SED
Bundesarchiv Bild 183-R0430-0305A, Willi Stoph.jpg
Stoph, Willi Willi Stoph
(1914–1999)		3 October 197329 October 19763 years, 26 days  SED
Bundesarchiv Bild 183-1986-0421-044, Berlin, XI. SED-Parteitag, Erich Honecker.jpg
Honecker, Erich Erich Honecker
(1912–1994)		29 October 197618 October 1989
(resigned)		12 years, 354 days  SED
Bundesarchiv Bild 183-1984-0704-400, Egon Krenz.jpg
Krenz, Egon Egon Krenz
(born 1937)		18 October 19896 December 1989
(resigned)		49 days  SED
Bundesarchiv Bild 183-1986-0617-034, Prof. Dr. Manfred Gerlach.jpg
Gerlach, Manfred Manfred Gerlach
(1928–2011)		6 December 19895 April 1990
(office abolished)		120 days  LDPD
President of the People's Chamber
Präsident der Volkskammer
Sabine Bergmann-Pohl.jpg
Bergmann-Pohl, Sabine Sabine Bergmann-Pohl
(born 1946)		5 April 19902 October 1990
( East Germany joined Federal Republic )		180 days  CDU

Styles of the Heads of State

Unified state (1871 to 1945)
CountryYearsTitle of Head of State
Flag of the German Empire.svg German Empire 1871–1918 German Emperor Deutscher Kaiser
Flag of Germany (3-2 aspect ratio).svg Weimar Republic 1919–1933 President of the Reich Reichspräsident
Flag of Germany (1935-1945).svg Nazi Germany 1933–1934 President of the Reich Reichspräsident
1934–1945 Leader and Chancellor Führer und Reichskanzler
1945 President of the Reich Reichspräsident
East and West Germany (1949 to 1990)
CountryYearsTitle of Head of State
Flag of Germany.svg West Germany 1949–1990 Federal President Bundespräsident
Flag of East Germany.svg East Germany 1949–1960 President of the German Democratic Republic Präsident der Deutschen Demokratischen Republik
1960–1990Chairman of the State Council Vorsitzender des Staatsrates
1990President of the People's Chamber Präsident der Volkskammer
Unified state (1990 to present)
CountryYearsTitle of Head of State
Flag of Germany.svg Germany 1990–Present Federal President Bundespräsident

Notes

  1. ↑ Acting head of state, as Chancellor of Germany
  2. ↑ Acting head of state, as President of the Reichsgericht.
  3. 1 2 Acting head of state, as President of the Bundesrat.
  4. ↑ Acting head of state, as President of the Volkskammer.
  5. ↑ Acting head of state, as Deputy Chairman of the State Council.

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References

  1. ↑ Gowers, Bernard (December 2011). "III The Central Middle Ages (900-1200)". Annual Bulletin of Historical Literature. 95 (1): 12–21. doi:10.1111/j.1467-8314.2011.01248.x. ISSN   0066-3832.
  2. ↑ Arnold, Benjamin (1997). Medieval Germany 500–1300. doi:10.1007/978-1-349-25677-8. ISBN   978-0-333-61092-3.
  3. ↑ The bee and the eagle: Napoleonic France and the end of the Holy Roman Empire, 1806. Forrest, Alan I., Wilson, Peter H. (Peter Hamish). Basingstoke [England]: Palgrave Macmillan. 2009. ISBN   978-0-230-00893-9. OCLC   227575082.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  4. 1 2 3 4 Medieval Europeans: studies in ethnic identity and national perspectives in medieval Europe By Alfred P. Smyth, Palgrave Macmillan (1998), p. 64
  5. 1 2 Ernst Rudolf Huber: Deutsche Verfassungsgeschichte seit 1789. Vol. I: Reform und Restauration 1789 bis 1830. 2nd edition, Kohlhammer Verlag, Stuttgart [et.al.] 1967, p. 589.
  6. ↑ Ernst Rudolf Huber: Deutsche Verfassungsgeschichte seit 1789. Vol. I: Reform und Restauration 1789 bis 1830. 2nd edition, Kohlhammer Verlag, Stuttgart [et.al.] 1967, p. 625–627, 808.
  7. ↑ Elected Emperor of the Germans by the Frankfurt National Assembly on 28 March 1849, but refused the crown on 28 April 1849. Manfred Botzenhart: Deutscher Parlamentarismus in der Revolutionszeit 1848–1850. Droste Verlag, Düsseldorf 1977, pp. 697/698.
  8. ↑ Anlage II: Additional-Akte zu dem Entwurf der Verfassung des Deutschen Reichs. In: Thüringer Landtag Erfurt (ed.): 150 Jahre Erfurter Unionsparlament (1850–2000) (= Schriften zur Geschichte des Parlamentarismus in Thüringen. H. 15) Wartburg Verlag, Weimar 2000, ISBN   3-86160-515-5, S. 27–44, here pp. 185–187.
  9. 1 2 Ernst Rudolf Huber: Deutsche Verfassungsgeschichte seit 1789. Band III: Bismarck und das Reich. 3. Auflage, Kohlhammer Verlag, Stuttgart 1988, S. 750/751.
  10. ↑ His abdication was announced by the Chancellor on 9 November, and the Emperor went into exile in the Netherlands. He did not formally abdicate until 28 November.
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