Frank-Walter Steinmeier (2017-present)

List of Presidents of Germany

The President of Germany, officially known as the Federal President of the Federal Republic of Germany, is the head of state of Germany. Since the establishment of the Federal Republic of Germany in 1949, there have been several individuals who have served as President....

1. Friedrich Ebert (1919-1925)

Friedrich Ebert was Germany’s first president chosen by the people. He led Germany from 1919 until he passed away in 1925. Ebert’s job was tough because he had to guide Germany from a monarchy to a republic after World War I....

2. Paul von Hindenburg (1925-1934)

Paul von Hindenburg was Germany’s second president from 1925 to 1934. He was famous for being a military leader during World War I. While he was initially well-liked and did a good job as president, some of his choices later helped the Nazi party gain power. This eventually led to big problems for Germany and the end of the Weimar Republic....

3. Adolf Hitler (1934-1945)

Adolf Hitler became the leader of Germany in 1933 and is remembered as one of the most infamous figures in history. He did terrible things, like starting World War II and the Holocaust, which led to the deaths of millions of people....

4. Karl Dönitz (1945)

Karl Dönitz was a German navy officer who briefly became Germany’s president in 1945. He’s remembered for being the last leader of Nazi Germany and for his actions during World War II. Even though he was president for a short time, Dönitz left a big mark on German history and is still talked about today....

5. Theodor Heuss (1949-1959)

Theodor Heuss was the very first president of West Germany, serving from 1949 to 1959. He was born in 1884 and was well-known in politics during the time of the Weimar Republic. He believed strongly in democracy and making society better....

6. Heinrich Lübke (1959-1969)

Heinrich Lübke was the second President of West Germany, serving from 1959 to 1969. He was born in Enkhausen, Westphalia, in 1894 and was well-known in German politics. Lübke had a long career serving the public and played a big part in rebuilding Germany after World War II. He also worked hard to make friends with other countries and improve relationships between them and Germany....

7. Gustav Heinemann (1969-1974)

Gustav Heinemann was an important person in German politics in the 20th century. He was born in 1899 and spent many years working in politics. But what he’s most known for is being the president of Germany from 1969 to 1974....

8. Walter Scheel (1974-1979)

Walter Scheel was an important person in German politics. He served as the president of Germany from 1974 to 1979. Born in 1919, Scheel had a long career in politics spanning over 40 years....

9. Karl Carstens (1979-1984)

Karl Carstens was a big deal in German politics after World War II. He was the fifth President of West Germany from 1979 to 1984. People admired him for being honest, good at talking to others, and really believing in democracy....

10. Richard von Weizsäcker (1984-1994)

Richard von Weizsacker was a big deal in German politics. He served as Germany’s president from 1984 to 1994. People really respected him and thought he was important in making Germany what it is today. He worked hard to bring East and West Germany closer together after they were separated. Throughout his long career, Weizsacker made a big difference in Germany, and people still admire him for being committed to democracy, bringing people together, and wanting peace....

11. Roman Herzog (1994-1999)

Roman Herzog was an important person in Germany. He was a politician, a legal expert, and a leader. He was born in 1934 in Bavaria. Before getting into politics, he had a successful career as a lawyer and a teacher. He was a member of the Christian Democratic Union party....

12. Johannes Rau (1999-2004)

Johannes Rau was a very important leader in Germany. He was the ninth president from 1999 to 2004. People really admired him because he strongly believed in democracy, making things fair for everyone, and working with other countries. Rau made a big difference during his time as president, and people loved him for his friendly personality, strong beliefs, and many years of experience in politics....

13. Horst Köhler (2004-2010)

Horst Köhler was the ninth president of Germany from 2004 to 2010. Before becoming president, he had a successful career in economics and politics, which made him a respected leader with a lot of experience. While he was president, Köhler did a lot to help Germany and was really important in deciding how the country dealt with other countries. He made a big difference in Germany and the world because of his leadership and love for his country....

14. Christian Wulff (2010-2012)

Christian Wulff was the 10th President of Germany from 2010 to 2012. He started his career in politics in Lower Saxony before becoming the youngest state premier in Germany’s history. Wulff was a big deal in the Christian Democratic Union party....

15. Joachim Gauck (2012-2017)

Joachim Gauck was a really important person in Germany. He was the president from 2012 to 2017 and was well-liked by many. Gauck had a background in theology and fighting for civil rights, which made him really care about human rights and fairness for everyone. While he was president, Gauck worked hard to bring people together, be more accepting of others, and talk openly about Germany’s history, even the bad parts....

16. Frank-Walter Steinmeier (2017-present)

Frank-Walter Steinmeier is the current president of Germany. He’s been in charge since 2017 and has been really important in shaping how things are run in the country. Steinmeier has been doing politics for a long time and is well-liked, not just in Germany but all over the world. People admire him for being good at talking to others, being a strong leader, and always working hard to help the people of Germany. Overall, he’s become a beloved and powerful president in his country....

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