Madrid: Germany was largely created in 1867 from Prussia and the amalgamation and unification of other neighbouring entities. By 1871, Germany had evolved into the German Empire, and its first Chancellor of Germany was Otto von Bismark, who had previously been the Chancellor of Prussia. The German Empire ended with its defeat to end the First World War (1914-1918).

The Weimar Republic was established by the 1919 Treaty of Versailles, and it lasted until 1933, when Adolf Hitler was appointed chancellor. He then set about accumulating powers, establishing the Third Reich, setting Germany and the world on a course that only ended by its ultimate at the end of the Second World War (1939-1945).

It’s important, however, to distinguish between divided and later re-unified Germany that emerged from the ruins of the Second World War, with the modern German Constitution established in 1949.

There have been nine Chancellors of Germany since 1949:

Konrad Adenauer, September 1949-October 1963:

Adenauer is considered to be the father of modern Germany, and his conservative values led it from the ruins of defeat into a modern and democratic state on the front line of the Iron Curtain. He reconciled with France and laid the groundwork for the treaties and organisations that would form the basis of the Europe Economic Community (EEC), a loose economic and customs agreement between Germany, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg that would evolve into the 28-member European Union of today.

Ledwig Erhart, October 1963-November 1966:

Erhart consolidated the economic gains set in motion by Adenauer, and had served as the Minister of Economy during Germany’s reconstruction and rebirth.

Kurt Georg Kiesinger, December 1966-October 1969:

Kiesinger led the first so-called ‘Grand Coalition’ of the Christian Democrats with the Social Democrats. He reduced Cold War tensions by established ties with Soviet republics in eastern Europe and is credited with introducing pension and education reforms that solidified Germany’s growth and prosperity.

Willie Brandt, October 1969-May 1974:

Brandt moved West Germany firmly into western Europe and strengthened its role in the fledgling EEC and its expansion. He also supported the United States and its role in the Vietnam War, leading to bitter domestic demonstrations. He was forced to resign when one of his senior aides was unveiled as a spy for East Germany.

Walter Scheel, May 1974:

Scheel served as Chancellor of Germany in a temporary capacity for nine days following the resignation of Brandt in an East German spying scandal.

Helmut Schmidt, May 1974-October 1982:

Even though he was leader of the Social Democrats in two coalitions, he took a firm economic line and laid the groundwork for the European Monetary System, the precursory to the common Euro currency now used by 19 of the 28 EU states. He also took a firm line against domestic terrorists and those who targeted German aircraft in the Middle East.

Helmut Kohl, October 1982-October 1998:

Kohl is now Germany’s longest-serving Chancellor and, should Angela Merkel win in Sunday’s federal election, as is widely expected, she will likely surpass Kohl’s longevity. He oversaw the re-unification of Germany after the fall of the Iron Curtain in 1990. His insistence on parity between currencies and subsidisation of the former Soviet republic contributed to its transition and integration into a united Germany. He is considered to be Merkel’s mentor, and was the last of Germany’s modern-day Chancellors who had lived through the Second World War.

Gerhard Schroder, October 1998-November 2005:

Schroder led a so-called Red-Green coalition of his Social Democrats and the Green Party, and tried to set Germany to lead a “third way” of labour reforms and encouraging entrepreneurship among centrist governments in Europe. He was a close ally of former British Prime Minister Tony Blair.

Angela Merkel, November 2005:

Merkel has led her Christian Democrats to victories in federal general elections in 2005, 2009 and 2013. She is widely predicted to win again in Sunday’s federal elections.