List of Chancellors of Germany from 1871 to 2025

The Chancellor of Germany is the head of the government and plays an important role in leading the country. The position was first established in 1871 when Germany was unified. Since then, many leaders have served as Chancellor, each influencing the country in different ways.

Akansha Arora Last updated on February 26th, 2025 03:15 pm

The Chancellor of Germany is the head of the government and plays an important role in running the country. Since 1871, Germany has had many Chancellors, each leading during different times, such as the German Empire, Weimar Republic, Nazi Germany and modern Germany. This article provides a simple overview of all Chancellors from 1871 to 2025, highlighting their leadership during various historical periods.

Who is the Chancellor of Germany?

The Chancellor of Germany is the head of the government and leads the country’s executive branch. They are elected by the Bundestag (German Parliament) based on the President’s proposal. The Chancellor controls the Federal Cabinet and makes key decisions for the nation. In times of war, they also become the commander-in-chief of the Germany military.

List of Chancellors of Germany from 1871 to 2025

Chancellors of the German Empire

Germany became a unified empire in 1871 under the leadership of Otto von Bismarck, the first Chancellor. He served until 1890 and is known for his role in uniting Germany. After Bismarck, several leaders served as Chancellor until the end of World War I in 1918.

S. No.	Name	Tenure
S. No.	Name	From	To
1.	Otto von Bismarck	21 Mar 1871	20 Mar 1890
2.	Leo von Caprivi	20 Mar 1890	26 Oct 1894
3.	Chlodwig zu Hohenlohe-Schillingsfurst	29 Oct 1894	17 Oct 1900
4.	Bernhard von Bulow	17 Oct 1900	14 Jul 1909
5.	Theobald von Bethmann Hollweg	14 Jul 1909	13 Jul 1917
6.	Georg Michaelis	14 Jul 1917	1 Nov 1917
7.	Georg von Hertling	1 Nov 1917	30 Sep 1918
8.	Max von Baden	3 Oct 1918	9 Nov 1918

Chancellor of the Weimer Republic

After World War I, Germany became a democracy known as the Weimer Republic. During this time, many Chancellors struggled to manage the country’s economic problems and political instability.

Here is the list of Chancellors of Weimer Republic from 1918 to 1933:

S. No.	Name	Tenure
S. No.	Name	From	To
1.	Friedrich Ebert	9 Nov 1918	13 Feb 1919
2.	Philipp Scheidemann	13 Feb 1919	20 Jun 1919
3.	Gustav Bauer	21 Jun 1919	14 Aug 1919
4.	Hermann Muller	27 Mar 1920	21 Jun 1920
5.	Constantin Fehrenbach	25 Jun 1920	10 May 1921
6.	Joseph Wirth	10 May 1921	22 Nov 1922
7.	Wilhelm Cuno	22 Nov 1922	12 Aug 1923
8.	Gustav Stresemann	13 Aug 1923	30 Nov 1923
9.	Wilhelm Marx	30 Nov 1923	15 Jan 1925
10.	Hans Luther	15 Jan 1925	12 May 1926
11.	Wilhelm Marx	17 May 1926	28 Jun 1928
12.	Hermann Muller	28 Jun 1928	27 Mar 1930
13.	Heinrich Bruning	30 Mar 1930	30 May 1932
14.	Franz von Papen	1 Jun 1932	3 Dec 1932
15.	Kurt von Schleicher	3 Dec 1932	30 Jan 1933

Chancellors of Nazi Germany

In 1933, Adolf Hitler became Chancellor and soon took full control of Germany. His rule led to World War II and the Holocaust.

Here is the list of Chancellors of Nazi Germany from 1933 to 1945:

S. No.	Name	Tenure
S. No.	Name	From	To
1.	Adolf Hitler	30 Jan 1933	30 Apr 1945
2.	Joseph Goebbels	30 Apr 1945	1 May 1945
3.	Lutz Graf Schwerin von Krosigk	2 May 1945	23 May 1945

Chancellors of West Germany

After World War II, Germany was divided into West Germany and East Germany. West Germany became a democracy and was led by several Chancellors.

Here is the list of Chancellors of West Germany from 1949 to 1990:

S. No.	Name	Tenure
S. No.	Name	From	To
1.	Konrad Adenauer	15 Sep 1949	16 Oct 1963
2.	Ludwig Erhard	16 Oct 1963	1 Dec 1966
3.	Kurt Georg Kiesinger	1 Dec 1966	22 Oct 1969
4.	Willy Brandt	22 Oct 1969	7 May 1974
5.	Helmut Schmidt	16 May 1974	1 Oct 1982
6.	Helmut Kohl	1 Oct 1982	3 Oct 1990

Chancellors of Germany from 1990 to Present

Germany was reunited in 1990. Since then, several Chancellors have led the country.

Here is the list of Chancellors of Germany from 1990 to present:

S. No.	Name	Tenure
S. No.	Name	From	To
1.	Helmut Kohl	3 Oct 1990	27 Oct 1998
2.	Gerhard Schroder	27 Oct 1998	22 Nov 2005
3.	Angela Merkel	22 Nov 2005	8 Dec 2021
4.	Olaf Scholz	8 Dec 2021

Who is the Next Chancellor of Germany?

Friedrich Merz is set to become Germany’s next Chancellor after the CDU’s recent election victory. He started his political in journey in 1989 and later became a key CDU leader. Though he clashed with Angela Merkel and left politics for a while, he made a strong comeback in 2022, leading the party once again.

Merz is known for his conservative views on immigration and economic policies. His background in business, including work with BlackRock, has shaped his leadership style. He aims to strengthen Germany’s role in Europe, focusing on security and economic stability. Now, he must form a coalition government in a politically divided country.