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List of mayors of Berlin facts for kids

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Berlin is the capital city of Germany and also a special kind of state, called a city-state. The person in charge of Berlin's government is like a mayor, but their title has changed over the years. This article lists the important leaders who have guided Berlin through different times in history. These leaders are a key part of Berlin's government, known as the senate of Berlin.

Leaders of Berlin

Berlin Under French Rule (1806–1809)

In 1806, during the time of the French Empire, French forces took control of Berlin. They gathered about 2,000 wealthy citizens in St. Peter's Church to choose a "Grand Council." This council then picked a smaller "Administrative Committee" of seven people. This committee was the temporary city government. Their main job was to follow the orders of the French, especially to collect money from the citizens to pay for the war. The leader of this committee was a Prussian publisher based in Berlin.

Portrait Name
(Born–Died)
Time in Office Political Party
Started Ended Days
1 No image.svg François Théodore de Lagarde
(1756–1824)
October 27, 1806 July 6, 1809 983 Unknown

Lord Mayors of Royal Berlin (1809–1920)

After the French left, Berlin became the capital of the Kingdom of Prussia. The city's main leader was called the Lord Mayor. This period saw many changes in Germany, including the creation of the German Empire in 1871. Berlin remained a very important city throughout these times.

Political party:       Independent       SPD

Portrait Name
(Born–Died)
Time in Office Political Party
Started Ended Days
Kingdom of Prussia (until 1867)
Berlin was the capital city of the Kingdom of Prussia.
1 Carl Friedrich Leopold von Gerlach (cropped).jpg Leopold von Gerlach
(1757–1813)
July 6, 1809 June 8, 1813 1433 Non-partisan
2 JohannStephanBüsching.jpg Johann Gottfried Büsching
(1761–1833)
February 1814 March 1832 6603 Non-partisan
3 Friedrich Wilhelm Baerensprung.jpg Friedrich von Bärensprung
(1779–1841)
March 1832 October 6, 1834 949 Non-partisan
4 Heinrich Wilhelm Krausnick.jpg Wilhelm Krausnick
(1797–1882)
October 6, 1834 March 20, 1848 4914 Non-partisan
No image.svg Franz Christian Naunyn
(1799–1860)
Acting
March 20, 1848 January 23, 1851 1039 Non-partisan
(4) Heinrich Wilhelm Krausnick.jpg Wilhelm Krausnick
(1797–1882)
January 23, 1851 December 30, 1862 4359 Non-partisan
5 Karl Theodor Seydel.jpg Karl Theodor Seydel
(1812–1873)
January 12, 1863 January 18, 1871 1492 Non-partisan
German Empire (1867–1918)
Berlin was the capital city of the Kingdom of Prussia, which became part of the German Reich in 1871.
(5) Karl Theodor Seydel.jpg Karl Theodor Seydel
(1812–1873)
January 18, 1871 April 1, 1872 439 Non-partisan
6 ArthurHobrecht.jpg Arthur Hobrecht
(1824–1912)
May 16, 1872 April 1, 1878 2146 National Liberal Party
7 Max von Forckenbeck.jpg Max von Forckenbeck
(1824–1892)
November 21, 1878 May 26, 1892 4935 National Liberal Party
8 Robert Zelle, der neue Oberbürgermeister, 1893.png Robert Zelle
(1829–1901)
September 26, 1892 September 30, 1898 2191 Free-minded People's Party
9 Martin Kirschner 001.JPG Martin Kirschner
(1842–1912)
December 23, 1899 August 31, 1912 4634 Non-partisan
10 AdolfWermuth.JPG Adolf Wermuth
(1855–1927)
September 1, 1912 November 9, 1918 2260 Non-partisan

Lord Mayors of Greater Berlin (1918–1935)

After World War I, Germany became the Weimar Republic. Berlin grew into "Greater Berlin," combining many surrounding towns and villages. The city's leader was still called the Lord Mayor. This period was a time of big changes and challenges for Germany.

Portrait Name
(Born–Died)
Time in Office Political Party
Started Ended Days
Weimar Republic (1918–1933)
Berlin was the capital city of the Weimar Republic.
(10) AdolfWermuth.JPG Adolf Wermuth
(1855–1927)
November 9, 1918 October 1, 1920 692 Non-partisan
(10) AdolfWermuth.JPG Adolf Wermuth
(1855–1927)
October 1, 1920 November 30, 1920 60 Non-partisan
11 Gustav Böß (cropped).JPG Gustav Böß
(1873–1946)
February 10, 1921 November 7, 1929 3192 German Democratic Party
Arthur Scholtz (cropped).jpg Arthur Scholtz
(1871–1935)
Acting
November 7, 1929 April 20, 1931 692 German People's Party
12 Heinrich Sahm.jpg Heinrich Sahm
(1877–1939)
April 20, 1931 January 30, 1933 651 Non-partisan
Nazi Germany (1933–1945)
Berlin was the capital city of the Weimar Republic.
(12) Heinrich Sahm.jpg Heinrich Sahm
(1877–1939)
January 30, 1933 January 30, 1935 730 Non-partisan (until 1933)
Nazi Party (from 1933)

City President of Berlin (1935–1945)

During the time of Nazi Germany, the government changed how cities were run. The main administrative leader of Berlin was now called the "City President." The title of "Lord Mayor" still existed but became more of a ceremonial role, meaning it was mostly for show and less about actual power.

Political party:       NSDAP

Portrait Name
(Born–Died)
Time in Office Political Party
Started Ended Days
Nazi Germany (1933–1945)
Berlin was the capital city of Nazi Germany.
(12) Heinrich Sahm.jpg Heinrich Sahm
(1877–1939)
January 30, 1935 December 18, 1935 322 Nazi Party
Oskar Maretzky.jpg Oskar Maretzky [de]
(1881–1945)
Acting
December 19, 1935 January 5, 1937 383 Nazi Party
(Not party-member)
13 Bundesarchiv Bild 183-H13561, Julius Lippert.jpg Julius Lippert
(1895–1956)
January 5, 1937 July 1, 1940 1273 Nazi Party
14 No image.svg Ludwig Steeg
(1894–1945)
July 1, 1940 May 2, 1945 1766 Nazi Party

Lord Mayors Under Allied Control (1945–1948)

After World War II, Berlin was divided and controlled by four Allied powers: the United States, the United Kingdom, France, and the Soviet Union. The city's government was set up again, and the leader was once more called the "Lord Mayor." This was a challenging time as the city recovered from the war and faced new divisions.

Political party:       IND       SPD       CDU

Portrait Name
(Born–Died)
Time in Office Political Party
Started Ended Days
Berlin under quadripartite Allied control (1945–1948)
15 Fotothek df pk 0000079 061.jpg Arthur Werner
(1877–1967)
May 17, 1945 December 10, 1946 572 Non-partisan
16 Otto Ostrowski.jpg Otto Ostrowski
(1883–1963)
December 10, 1946 June 11, 1947 183 Social Democratic Party
Bundesarchiv B 145 Bild-F046121-0033, Koblenz, "Rittersturz-Konferenz", Schroeder.jpg Louise Schroeder
(1887–1957)
Acting
June 11, 1947 August 14, 1948 430 Social Democratic Party
WP Ferdinand Friedensburg.jpg Ferdinand Friedensburg
(1886–1972)
Acting for Schroeder
August 14, 1948 December 1, 1948 109 Christian Democratic Union
Bundesarchiv B 145 Bild-F046121-0033, Koblenz, "Rittersturz-Konferenz", Schroeder.jpg Louise Schroeder
(1887–1957)
Acting
December 1, 1948 December 7, 1948 6 Social Democratic Party
17 ErnstReuter1951 (cropped).jpg Ernst Reuter
(1889–1953)
(West Berlin only)
December 7, 1948 February 1, 1951 786 Social Democratic Party

Lord Mayors of East Berlin (1948–1990)

After the Allied occupation, Berlin was formally split into East and West Berlin. East Berlin became the capital of East Germany. The city's leader was called the Lord Mayor. This period lasted until Germany was reunified.

Political party:       SED       PDS       SPD

Portrait Name
(Born–Died)
Time in Office Political Party
Started Ended Days
East Berlin (1948–1949)
East Berlin was under Soviet occupation and was fully controlled by them from November 1948 until the founding of the German Democratic Republic (East Germany).
1 Bundesarchiv Bild 183-83285-0029, Friedrich Ebert.jpg Friedrich Ebert Jr.
(1894–1979)
November 30, 1948 October 7, 1949 311 Socialist Unity Party
East Berlin (1948–1990)
East Berlin was the capital city of the German Democratic Republic (East Germany).
(1) Bundesarchiv Bild 183-83285-0029, Friedrich Ebert.jpg Friedrich Ebert Jr.
(1894–1979)
October 7, 1949 July 5, 1967 6480 Socialist Unity Party
2 Herbert Fechner.jpg Herbert Fechner
(1913–1998)
July 5, 1967 February 11, 1974 2413 Socialist Unity Party
3 Bundesarchiv Bild 183-1987-1028-040, Berlin, 750-Jahr-Feier, Stadtverordnetenversammlung (cropped).jpg Erhard Krack
(1931–2000)
February 11, 1974 February 15, 1990 5848 Socialist Unity Party
No image.svg Ingrid Pankraz
(born 1948)
Acting
February 15, 1990 February 23, 1990 8 Party of Democratic Socialism
4 No image.svg Christian Hartenhauer [de]
(born 1948)
February 23, 1990 May 30, 1990 96 Party of Democratic Socialism
5 Tino Schwierzina (cropped2).jpg Tino Schwierzina
(1927–2003)
May 30, 1990 October 3, 1990 126 Social Democratic Party in the GDR
East Berlin was reunited with West Berlin on October 3, 1990 and dissolved.

Governing Mayors of Berlin (1951–Present)

Governing Mayor of Berlin West Berlin was closely linked to West Germany. Its leader was called the "Governing Mayor." This title continued after Berlin was reunified in 1990, becoming the leader of the entire city-state. The Governing Mayor is the head of the Berlin government today.

Political party:       SPD       CDU

Portrait Name
(Born–Died)
Time in Office Political Party
Started Ended Days
West Berlin (1948–1990)
West Berlin was part of the Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany).
1 ErnstReuter1951 (cropped).jpg Ernst Reuter
(1889–1953)
February 1, 1951 September 29, 1953 971 Social Democratic Party
2 Walther Schreiber (cropped).jpg Walther Schreiber
(1884–1958)
September 29, 1953 January 11, 1955 469 Christian Democratic Union
3 DBPB 1958 181 Otto Suhr.jpg Otto Suhr
(1894–1957)
January 11, 1955 August 30, 1957
(died in office)
962 Social Democratic Party
4 Willy Brandt (1959).jpg Willy Brandt
(1913–1992)
October 3, 1957 December 1, 1966 3346 Social Democratic Party
5 Heinrich Albertz.jpg Heinrich Albertz
(1915–1993)
December 1, 1966 October 19, 1967 322 Social Democratic Party
6 Klaus Schütz thumb.jpg Klaus Schütz
(1926–2012)
October 19, 1967 May 2, 1977 3483 Social Democratic Party
7 Bundesarchiv B 145 Bild-F043773-0039, Bonn, Laubenpieperfest Landesvertretung Berlin (cropped).jpg Dietrich Stobbe
(1938–2011)
May 2, 1978 January 23, 1981 1362 Social Democratic Party
8 Bundesarchiv B 145 Bild-F079276-0009, Münster, SPD-Parteitag, Vogel (cropped).jpg Hans-Jochen Vogel
(1926–2020)
January 23, 1981 June 11, 1981 139 Social Democratic Party
9 Richard von Weizsäcker.jpg Richard von Weizsäcker
(1920–2015)
June 11, 1981 February 9, 1984 973 Christian Democratic Union
10 KAS-Diepgen, Eberhard-Bild-4379-1 (cropped).jpg Eberhard Diepgen
(born 1941)
February 9, 1984 March 16, 1989 1862 Christian Democratic Union
11 Walter Momper 1990 (cropped).jpg Walter Momper
(born 1945)
March 16, 1989 January 24, 1991 565 Social Democratic Party
West Berlin was reunited with East Berlin on October 3, 1990 and dissolved.
Reunified Berlin (1990–present)
Berlin is now a city-state and the capital city of the Federal Republic of Germany.
Bundesarchiv Bild 183-1990-0506-022, Berlin, Kommunalwahl, Schwierzina, Momper.jpg Walter Momper
(born 1945) &
Tino Schwierzina
(1927–2003)
October 3, 1990 January 24, 1991 113 Social Democratic Party
12
(10)
KAS-Diepgen, Eberhard-Bild-4379-1 (cropped).jpg Eberhard Diepgen
(born 1941)
January 24, 1991 June 16, 2001 3796 Christian Democratic Union
13 Klaus Wowereit 2012-02-24 (cropped).jpg Klaus Wowereit
(born 1953)
June 16, 2001 December 11, 2014 4926 Social Democratic Party
14 2017-11-16 Michael Müller (Wiki Loves Parliaments 2017 in Berlin) by Sandro Halank.jpg Michael Müller
(born 1964)
December 11, 2014 December 21, 2021 2567 Social Democratic Party
15 2021-09-26 Abgeordnetenhauswahlabend SPD Berlin by Sandro Halank–030.jpg Franziska Giffey
(born 1978)
December 21, 2021 April 27, 2023 492 Social Democratic Party
16 2014-09-09 - Kai Wegner MdB - 7002.jpg Kai Wegner
(born 1972)
April 27, 2023 Incumbent 822 Christian Democratic Union

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Anexo:Alcaldes de Berlín para niños

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