List of presidents of Germany Facts for Kids

Germany has had different types of leaders since the end of the German Empire in 1918. After World War I, the country became a republic, and new leadership roles were created. This article explores the different presidential offices that have existed in Germany throughout its history.

After the German Empire ended in 1918, the Weimar Constitution was created in August 1919. This set up the role of the President of the Reich (which means President of the Realm in German). When President Paul von Hindenburg passed away in August 1934, the position was left empty. Instead, Adolf Hitler became the head of state, calling himself Führer und Reichskanzler (Leader and Chancellor). This change was later approved by a public vote. Towards the end of World War II, in April–May 1945, Karl Dönitz briefly became President after Hitler's death, following Hitler's last wishes.

After World War II, in May 1949, the Basic Law for the Federal Republic of Germany created the office of Federal President of the Federal Republic of Germany. Since German reunification in 1990, this President has been the head of state for all of Germany.

Meanwhile, in East Germany, a separate country from 1949 to 1990, the constitution of October 1949 created the office of President of the German Democratic Republic. When Wilhelm Pieck, the first president, died in 1960, the role of president was replaced. Instead, a group of leaders called the Staatsrat (State Council) became the head of state. The Staatsrat was removed on April 5, 1990. After that, the president of the Volkskammer (People's Chamber), which was East Germany's parliament, served as head of state until East Germany joined West Germany on October 3, 1990.

Presidents of the Weimar Republic (1919-1933)
Leaders During Nazi Germany (1933-1945)
Presidents of East Germany (1949-1990)
Presidents of Modern Germany (Since 1949)
See also

Presidents of the Weimar Republic (1919-1933)

This section lists the leaders of Germany during the Weimar Republic, a period after World War I. † means the person died while in office.

Reichspräsident	Took office	Left office	Time in office		Election
Ebert, FriedrichFriedrich Ebert (1871–1925)	11 February 1919	28 February 1925 †	6 years, 17 days	SPD	1919
Luther, HansHans Luther (1879–1962) Acting	28 February 1925	12 March 1925	12 days	Non partisan	–
Simons, WalterWalter Simons (1861–1937) Acting	12 March 1925	12 May 1925	61 days	Non partisan	–
Hindenburg, PaulGeneralfeldmarschall Paul von Hindenburg (1847–1934)	12 May 1925	2 August 1934 †	9 years, 82 days	Non partisan	1925 1932

Leaders During Nazi Germany (1933-1945)

This section lists the leaders of Germany during the Nazi era. † means the person died while in office.

Reichspräsident	Took office	Left office	Time in office		Election
Hindenburg, PaulGeneralfeldmarschall Paul von Hindenburg (1847–1934)	12 May 1925	2 August 1934 †	9 years, 82 days	Non partisan	1925 1932
Hitler, AdolfAdolf Hitler (1889–1945) Führer und Reichskanzler	2 August 1934	30 April 1945 †	10 years, 271 days	NSDAP	–
Dönitz, KarlGroßadmiral Karl Dönitz (1891–1980)	30 April 1945	23 May 1945	23 days	NSDAP	–

Presidents of East Germany (1949-1990)

This section lists the leaders of the German Democratic Republic (East Germany). † means the person died while in office.

Portrait	Name	Took office	Left office	Time in office
President of the Republic Präsident der Republik
	Pieck, WilhelmWilhelm Pieck (1876–1960)	11 October 1949	7 September 1960 †	10 years, 332 days	SED
	Dieckmann, JohannesJohannes Dieckmann (1893–1969) Acting	7 September 1960	12 September 1960	5 days	LDPD
Chairman of the State Council Vorsitzender des Staatsrats
	Ulbricht, WalterWalter Ulbricht (1893–1973)	12 September 1960	1 August 1973 †	12 years, 323 days	SED
	Ebert, FriedrichFriedrich Ebert Jr. (1894–1979) Acting	1 August 1973	3 October 1973	63 days	SED
	Stoph, WilliWilli Stoph (1914–1999)	3 October 1973	29 October 1976	3 years, 26 days	SED
	Honecker, ErichErich Honecker (1912–1994)	29 October 1976	18 October 1989 (resigned)	12 years, 354 days	SED
	Krenz, EgonEgon Krenz (born 1937)	18 October 1989	6 December 1989 (resigned)	49 days	SED
	Gerlach, ManfredManfred Gerlach (1928–2011)	6 December 1989	5 April 1990 (office abolished)	120 days	LDPD
President of the People's Chamber Präsident der Volkskammer
	Bergmann-Pohl, SabineSabine Bergmann-Pohl (born 1946)	5 April 1990	2 October 1990 (office abolished)	180 days	CDU

Presidents of Modern Germany (Since 1949)

This section lists the leaders of the Federal Republic of Germany, which is modern Germany. † means the person died while in office.

Bundespräsident	Took office	Left office	Time in office		Election
Heuss, TheodorTheodor Heuss (1884–1963)	12 September 1949	12 September 1959	10 years	FDP	1949 1954
Lübke, HeinrichHeinrich Lübke (1894–1972)	13 September 1959	30 June 1969 (resigned)	9 years, 290 days	CDU	1959 1964
Heinemann, GustavGustav Heinemann (1899–1976)	1 July 1969	30 June 1974	4 years, 364 days	SPD	1969
Scheel, WalterWalter Scheel (1919–2016)	1 July 1974	30 June 1979	4 years, 364 days	FDP	1974
Carstens, KarlKarl Carstens (1914–1992)	1 July 1979	30 June 1984	4 years, 365 days	CDU	1979
Weizsäcker, RichardRichard von Weizsäcker (1920–2015)	1 July 1984	30 June 1994	9 years, 364 days	CDU	1984 1989
Herzog, RomanRoman Herzog (1934–2017)	1 July 1994	30 June 1999	4 years, 364 days	CDU	1994
Rau, JohannesJohannes Rau (1931–2006)	1 July 1999	30 June 2004	4 years, 365 days	SPD	1999
Köhler, HorstHorst Köhler (born 1943)	1 July 2004	31 May 2010 (resigned)	5 years, 334 days	CDU	2004 2009
Böhrnsen, JensJens Böhrnsen (born 1949) Acting	31 May 2010	30 June 2010	30 days	SPD	–
Wulff, ChristianChristian Wulff (born 1959)	30 June 2010	17 February 2012 (resigned)	1 year, 232 days	CDU	2010
Seehofer, HorstHorst Seehofer (born 1949) Acting	17 February 2012	18 March 2012	30 days	CSU	–
Gauck, JoachimJoachim Gauck (born 1940)	18 March 2012	18 March 2017	5 years	Independent	2012
Steinmeier, Frank-WalterFrank-Walter Steinmeier (born 1956)	19 March 2017	Incumbent	8 years, 88 days	SPD	2017 2022