Who did Germany finally surrendered?
On May 7, 1945, the German High Command, in the person of General Alfred Jodl, signs the unconditional surrender of all German forces, East and West, at Reims, in northeastern France. At first, General Jodl hoped to limit the terms of German surrender to only those forces still fighting the Western Allies.
Who was the greatest German chancellor?
Originally Answered: Who is the best German Chancellor ever? My wish is to be able to say Brandt or Schmidt, but my better self says that the answer probably has to be Der Alte, Konrad Adenauer . He was the first chancellor of post-war Germany and set the tone of the rebuilding and refocusing of a damaged nation.
Who was the scientist who left Germany?
These 15 scientists were: Hans Bethe, Felix Bloch, Max Born, Albert Einstein, James Franck, Heinrich Gerhard Kuhn, Peter Debye, Dennis Gabor, Fritz Haber, Gerhard Herzberg, Victor Hess, George de Hevesy, Erwin Schrödinger, Otto Stern, and Eugene Wigner. Britain and the United States were often the recipients of the talent which left Germany.
Who becomes chancellor or Prime Minister of Germany?
Angela Merkel becomes Chancellor of Germany. Angela Merkel is sworn in as Chancellor of Germany on November 22, 2005. The first woman to hold the position, Merkel emerged as one of the strongest ...

Who was the first chancellor of the German Empire?
Otto von BismarckOtto von Bismarck (1815-98), First Chancellor of the German Empire (governed 1871-90)
Who was the first chancellor of a united Germany in 1871?
Otto von BismarckOtto von Bismarck served as prime minister of Prussia (1862–73, 1873–90) and was the founder and first chancellor (1871–90) of the German Empire.
Who were the chancellors of Germany?
Olaf ScholzGermany / ChancellorOlaf Scholz is a German politician who has served as the chancellor of Germany since 8 December 2021. A member of the Social Democratic Party, he previously served as Vice Chancellor under Angela Merkel and as Federal Minister of Finance from 2018 to 2021. Wikipedia
Who was the chancellor of Germany before?
List of chancellors (1949–present)PortraitName (Birth–Death)Term of officeTime in office1Konrad Adenauer (1876–1967)14 years, 31 days2Ludwig Erhard (1897–1977)3 years, 46 days3Kurt Georg Kiesinger (1904–1988)2 years, 325 days7 more rows
Who founded Germany?
As a Prussian politician, Otto von Bismarck transformed a collection of small German states into the German empire, his style of rule later gaining him the nickname the 'Iron Chancellor'.
Who proclaimed the German Empire in 1871?
Proclamation of the German Empire, 1871 18 January 1871. At the end of the War of 1870, France lay defeated and invaded by its enemies. Chancellor Bismarck proclaimed the German Empire in the Hall of Mirrors.
When was Germany founded?
May 23, 1949Germany / Founded
Who was the King of Prussia in 1871?
William IWilliam I became King of Prussia in 1861 and German Emperor in 1871. He was son of Frederick William III and Louise of Mecklenburg-Strelitz.
Who was the best German chancellor?
In an opinion poll from November 2005, the polling company Emnid asked for the best German chancellor:Helmut Schmidt – 28%Helmut Kohl – 18%Konrad Adenauer – 17%Willy Brandt – 15%Gerhard Schröder – 10%Ludwig Erhard – 3%Kurt Georg Kiesinger – 1%
Who was the first chancellor of Weimar Republic?
Konrad Adenauer, (born January 5, 1876, Cologne, Germany—died April 19, 1967, Rhöndorf, West Germany), first chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany; 1949–63), presiding over its reconstruction after World War II.
Who was the chancellor of Germany before Angela Merkel?
List of chancellors of Germany by time in office# in officeChancellorTime in office1Otto von Bismarck22 years, 262 days32Helmut Kohl16 years, 26 days34Angela Merkel16 years, 16 days27Konrad Adenauer14 years, 31 days32 more rows
Who was the German chancellor in 1918?
On 9 November 1918, Chancellor Max von Baden handed over his office of chancellor 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, but did not use the title of chancellor.
Who is the current chancellor of Germany?
The current officeholder is Angela Merkel, who was elected in 2005 and re-elected in 2009, 2013 and 2017. She is the first woman to be elected chancellor.
What is the correct style of address in German?
The correct style of address in German is Herr Bundeskanzler (male) or Frau Bundeskanzlerin (female). Use of the mixed form "Frau Bundeskanzler" was deprecated by the government in 2004 because it is regarded as impolite.
What is the role of the chancellor?
The chancellor's authority emanates from the provisions of the Basic Law and in practice from their status as leader of the party (or coalition of parties) holding a majority of seats in the Bundestag (federal parliament). With the exception of Helmut Schmidt, the chancellor has also been chairman of their own party.
What is the German government called?
The 1949 German constitution, the Basic Law ( Grundgesetz ), invests the chancellor (German, Bundeskanzler) with broad powers to initiate government policy. For that reason, some observers refer to the German political system as a "chancellor democracy". Whichever major party ( CDU /CSU or SPD) does not hold the chancellorship usually calls its leading candidate for the federal election "chancellor-candidate" ( Kanzlerkandidat ). The federal government ( Bundesregierung) consists of the chancellor and cabinet ministers .
What was the title of the king in 1871?
Under the constitution of 1 January 1871, the king had additionally the title of Emperor. The constitution still called the chancellor Bundeskanzler. This was only changed in the new constitution of 16 April 1871 to Reichskanzler. The office remained the same, and Bismarck was not even re-installed.
What was the Weimar Constitution?
According to the Weimar Constitution of 1919, the chancellor was head of a collegial government. The chancellor was appointed and dismissed by the president, as were the ministers, upon proposal by the chancellor. The chancellor or any minister had to be dismissed if demanded by parliament.
Who was the chancellor of Germany during the German reunification?
Bottom right: Helmut Kohl was chancellor during the period of German reunification. The chancellor of Germany is the political leader of Germany. They choose all other members of the government and lead cabinet meetings. The office first started in the North German Confederation in 1867. Otto von Bismarck became the first chancellor.
What was the name of the German leader during the Unification of Germany?
Its leader was called chancellor of Germany. At first, the chancellor was only an advisor to the emperor. The emperor chose the chancellor. Later this changed.
Why did the German Empire start?
German Empire, Reichskanzler (1871–1918) The German Empire started from the North German Federation because of the Franco-Prussian War. The new Emperor named the chancellor to advise him.
Why did the North German Confederation start?
The North German Confederation started after the German Confederation ended. This happened because Prussia won the Austro-Prussian War of 1866. The Prussian king chose the Chancellor.
When did Germany merge with West Germany?
In 1949, two separate German countries started: the Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany) and the German Democratic Republic (East Germany). The list below gives the chancellors of West Germany. The Chairman of the Council of Ministers controlled the government of East Germany. In 1990, East Germany ended. It merged with West Germany. It kept the name "Federal Republic of Germany".
Who was the dictator of Germany in 1933?
Nazi Germany, Reichskan zler (1933–1945) Adolf Hitler 's Machtergreifung (taking power) was the end of the Weimar Republic. It was the beginning of Nazi Germany. Hitler was dictator and had all the power.
Who was the head of the German government during the war?
On 9 November 1918, chancellor Max von Baden gave his office to Friedrich Ebert. Ebert continued to be the head of government during the three months between the end of the German Empire in November 1918 and the start of the National Assembly in February 1919. He was Chairman of the Council of the People's Deputies together with USPD Leader Hugo Haase.
When did Konrad Adenauer become Chancellor?
After the Federal Republic of Germany was established after World War II, Konrad Adenauer became its first Chancellor on September 15, 1949, at age 73. Many expected him to stay in office for a short period - yet he was reelected three times afterwards.
How many years did Konrad Adenauer serve as chancellor?
The 14 years of his chancellorship coincided with the preliminary phase of the Cold War and the consolidation of two separate German states. How Konrad Adenauer's Cold War strategy aimed at reunification.
How many times was Konrad Adenauer reelected?
Many expected him to stay in office for a short period - yet he was reelected three times afterwards. The 14 years of his chancellorship coincided with the preliminary phase of the Cold War and the consolidation of two separate German states. How Konrad Adenauer's Cold War strategy aimed at reunification. A clear plan.
Why did Adenauer reject the project of a united "neutral" Germany?
However, Adenauer didn't trust Stalin's intentions and therefore rejected the project of a united "neutral" Germany. He believed West Germany should first deepen its ties with the West to avoid communist influence. The exhibition shows how Adenauer aimed to connect the Federal Republic with the West.
How long did Adenauer lead Germany?
He became the first post-war chancellor of Germany at the age of 73 - and led the country for the following 14 years . Fifty years after his death on April 19, several aspects of Adenauer's life remain to be explored.
Who is Konrad Adenauer's son?
Hanns Jürgen Küsters: In 2015, when the housekeeper of Konrad Adenauer's son, Paul Adenauer, who was a priest, died, one of his journals was discovered.
Who was Paul Adenauer?
Paul Adenauer, born in 1923, was the second son from Konrad Adenauer's second marriage . During the first 10 years of his life, he didn't get to see his father much, as he was so deeply involved in regional and communal politics as the mayor of Cologne at the time.
Overview
The chancellor of Germany 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.
The office was created in the North German Confederation in 1867, when Otto von Bismarck became the first chancellor. With the unification of Germany and establishment of the German E…
History of the office
Federal Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany (1949–present)
The Chancellor of Germany, officially the Federal Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany , is the head of the federal government of Germany and the commander in chief of the German Armed Forces during wartime. The chancellor is the chief executive of the Federal Cabinet and heads the executive branch. The chancellor is elected by the Bundestag on the proposal of the federal presid…
See also
The office of Chancellor has a long history, stemming back to the Holy Roman Empire, when the office of German archchancellor was usually held by archbishops of Mainz. The title was, at times, used in several states of German-speaking Europe. The modern office of chancellor was established with the North German Confederation, of which Otto von Bismarck became Bundeskanz…
Further reading
The 1949 German constitution, the Basic Law (Grundgesetz), invests the chancellor (German, Bundeskanzler) with broad powers to initiate government policy. For that reason, some observers refer to the German political system as a "chancellor democracy". Even though the office of chancellor is practically the most powerful in the German political system and is seen as such within the G…
External links
• List of chancellors of Germany
• List of chancellors of Germany by time in office
• Religious affiliations of chancellors of Germany
• Leadership of East Germany
North German Confederation, Bundeskanzler
• Klein, Herbert, ed. 1993. The German Chancellors. Berlin: Edition.
• Padgett, Stephen, ed. 1994. The Development of the German Chancellorship: Adenauer to Kohl. London: Hurst.
• Harlen, Christine M. 2002. "The Leadership Styles of the German Chancellors: From Schmidt to Schröder". Politics and Policy 30 (2 (June)): 347–371.
German Empire, Reichskanzler
• Media related to Federal Chancellors of Germany at Wikimedia Commons
• Official website
Revolutionary Period, Reichskanzler
Weimar Republic, Reichskanzler
- The German Empire started from the North German Federation because of the Franco-Prussian War. The new Emperor named the chancellor to advise him. Political parties ZentrumNone
Nazi Germany, Reichskanzler
- On 9 November 1918, chancellor Max von Baden gave his office to Friedrich Ebert. Ebert continued to be the head of government during the three months between the end of the German Empire in November 1918 and the start of the National Assembly in February 1919. He was Chairman of the Council of the People's Deputies together with USPD Leader Hugo Haase. Politi…
Federal Republic of Germany, Bundeskanzler
- The Weimar Constitution of 1919 started the Weimar Republic. The chancellors often needed support from the President. Political parties SPDZentrumDVPDDPDNVPNone