List of Germans

This is a list of famous Germans.

Actors/Actresses

• Mario Adorf (born 1930), actor , writer
• Hans Albers (1891–1960), actor
• Mark Bellinghaus (born 1963), actor, poet, writer
• Moritz Bleibtreu (born 1971), actor
• Eric Braeden (born Hans Gudegast, 1941), actor
• Daniel Brühl (born 1978), actor
• Horst Buchholz (1933–2003), actor
• Vicco von Bülow, aka Loriot, actor, comedian, cartoonist
• Hans Clarin (1930–2005), actor
• George Dzundza (born 1945), actor
• Marlene Dietrich (1901–1992), actress
• Heinz Erhardt (1909–1979), actor and comedian
• Gert Fröbe (1913–1988), actor
• Martina Gedeck (born 1961), actress
• Götz George (born 1938), actor
• Heinrich George (1893–1946), actor
• Gustaf Gründgens (1899–1963), actor
• Eva Habermann (born 1976), actress and model
• Brigitte Helm (1908–1996), actress
• Emil Jannings, actor
• Klaus Kinski (1926–1991), actor, Polish-German father, German mother
• Nastassja Kinski (born 1959), actress, daughter of Klaus Kinski
• Heidi Klum (born 1973), model and actress
• Hildegard Knef (1925–2002), actress, singer, writer
• Diane Kruger (born 1976), model and actress
• Alexandra Maria Lara (born 1978), actress
• Heike Makatsch (born 1971), actress
• Willy Millowitsch (1909–1999), actor
• Armin Mueller-Stahl (born 1930), actor
• Luise Neumann (1818–1905)
• Uwe Ochsenknecht (born 1956), actor
• Christian Oliver, actor
• Franka Potente (born 1974), actress
• Jürgen Prochnow (born 1941), actor
• Heinz Rühmann (1902–1994), actor
• Otto Sander (born 1941), actor
• Romy Schneider, actress
• Kristina Söderbaum (1912–2001), actress and photographer
• Claudia Schiffer (born 1970), actress and supermodel
• Til Schweiger (born 1963), actor
• Xenia Seeberg (born 1972), actress and model

Artists

• Andreas Deja, Animator
• Hans von Aachen (1552–1615), mannerist painter
• Albrecht Altdorfer (1480–1538), painter
• Ernst Barlach (1870–1938), sculptor (and writer)
• Günther Behnisch (born 1922) architect
• Peter Behrens (1868–1940) architect
• Joseph Beuys (1921–1986), artist
• Arnold Böcklin (1827–1901), painter
• Gottfried Böhm (born 1920) architect
• Arno Breker (1900–1991), sculptor
• Lovis Corinth (1858–1925), painter
• Lucas Cranach the Elder (1472–1553), painter
• Lucas Cranach the Younger (1515–1586), painter
• Albrecht Dürer (1471–1528), painter
• Egon Eiermann (1904–1970), architect and designer
• Max Ernst (1891–1976), surrealist painter
• Caspar David Friedrich (1774–1840), painter
• Walter Gropius (1883–1969), architect
• George Grosz (1893–1959), artist
• Hannah Höch - artist
• Hans Holbein the Elder (c. 1465 – 1524), painter
• Hans Holbein the Younger (c. 1497 – 1543), illustrator, painter
• Jörg Immendorff, painter
• Helmut Jahn (born 1940) architect and designer
• Anselm Kiefer (born 1945), painter
• Martin Kippenberger (1953–1997), painter
• Leo von Klenze (1784–1864) architect
• Hans Kollhoff (born 1946) architect
• Käthe Kollwitz (1867–1945), painter
• Max Liebermann, painter
• Markus Lüpertz (born 1941), painter and sculptor
• Franz Marc (1880–1916), painter
• Ludwig Mies van der Rohe (1886–1969) architect, designer
• Frei Otto (born 1925) architect and research scientist
• Sigmar Polke (born 1941), painter
• Gerhard Richter (born 1932), painter
• Karl Friedrich Schinkel, architect, painter
• Oskar Schlemmer (1888–1943), choreographer, painter, sculptor, stage & costume designer
• Eberhard Schlotter (born 1921), painter
• Kurt Schwitters, painter, poet
• Fritz Schumacher (1869–1947) architect and urban designer
• Max Slevogt, painter
• Carl Spitzweg (1808–1885), painter
• Franz Stuck, painter
• Bernd Ullrich (born 1949) painter and sculptor

Composers

• Karl Friedrich Abel (1725–1787), composer
• Martin Agricola (1466–1506), composer
• Siegfried Alkan (1858–1941), composer
• Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach (1714–1788), composer, son of J. S. Bach
• Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750), composer
• Ludwig van Beethoven (1770–1827), composer
• Martin Boettcher (born 1927), film-composer (Karl May movies)
• Johannes Brahms (1833–1897), composer
• Max Bruch (1838–1920), composer
• Hanns Eisler (1898–1962), composer
• Friedrich von Flotow (1812–1883), composer
• Georg Friedrich Händel (1685–1759), composer, opera composer
• Fanny Hensel, composer
• Paul Hindemith (1895–1963), composer
• Engelbert Humperdinck (1854–1921), composer
• Albert Lortzing (1801–1851), composer
• Giacomo Meyerbeer (1791–1864), composer
• Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy (1809–1847), composer
• Jacques Offenbach (1819–1880), composer
• Carl Orff (1895–1982), composer
• Johann Pachelbel (1653–1706), composer
• Hans Pfitzner (1869–1949), composer
• Max Reger (1873–1916), composer
• Wolfgang Rihm (born 1952), composer
• Leopold Schefer (1784–1862), writer and composer
• Heinrich Schütz (1585–1672), composer
• Clara Schumann (1819–1896), composer
• Robert Schumann (1810–1856), composer, songwriter
• Karlheinz Stockhausen (born 1928), modern composer
• Richard Strauss (1864–1949), composer, opera composer
• Georg Philipp Telemann (1681–1767), composer
• Richard Wagner (1813–1883), composer
• Carl Maria von Weber (1786–1826), composer
• Kurt Weill (1900–1950), composer (Threepenny Opera, "September Song")
• Hans Zimmer (born 1957), film-composer

Filmmakers

• Andreas Deja, Animator
• Uwe Boll, film director
• Doris Dörrie, female film director
• Roland Emmerich, film director
• Rainer Werner Fassbinder (1945–1982), film director
• Werner Herzog (born 1942), film director
• Oliver Hirschbiegel, film director
• Fritz Lang (1890–1976), film director
• Ernst Lubitsch (1892–1947), film director
• F.W. Murnau (1888–1931), film director
• Wolfgang Petersen (born 1941), film director
• Anthony Radziwill (born Antoni Radziwiłł; 1959–1999) American television executive and filmmaker, descended from King Friedrich Wilhelm I of Prussia and Nephew of John F. Kennedy
• Leni Riefenstahl (1902–2003), female film director
• Volker Schlöndorff (born 1939), film director
• Andreas Schnaas (born 1968), film director
• Tom Tykwer (born 1965), film director
• Robert Wiene, film director
• Wim Wenders (born 1945), film director

Royalty

• Alix of Hesse and Rhine (1872–1918), was a German princess by birth before marrying Tsar Nicholas II to become a Russian tsarina.
• Albert of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha (1819–1861), Queen Victoria's husband & consort
• Albert (1828–1902), King of Saxony (1873–1902)
• Anton (1755–1836), King of Saxony (1827–1836)
• Carol I of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen (1839–1914), Prince (1867–1881) and King (1881–1914) of Romania
• Charles IV (1316–1378), King of Germany 1346, Holy Roman Emperor 1355–1378
• Charles V (1500–1558), King of Spain 1516, King of Germany 1519, Holy Roman Emperor 1530–1556
• Charles (1823–1891), King of Württemberg (1823–1891)
• Claus von Amsberg (1926–2002), diplomat and husband of Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands
• Ferdinand of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen (1865–1927), King of Romania (1924–1927)
• Ferdinand of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha (1861–1948), Prince of Bulgaria (1887–1908), King (or Tsar) of the Bulgarians (1908–1918)
• Frederick I Barbarossa (1122–1190), King of Germany 1152, Holy Roman Emperor 1155–1190
• Frederick I of Prussia (1657–1713), Elector of Brandenburg (1688–1713), King in Prussia (1701–1713)
• Frederick I of Württemberg (1754–1816), Duke (1797–1803), Elector (1803–1806), and King (1806–1816) of Württemberg
• Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor (1194–1250), Holy Roman Emperor and King of Jerusalem
• Frederick II of Prussia (1712–1786), King of Prussia (1740–1786)
• Friedrich III (1831–1888), German Emperor and King of Prussia (1888)
• Frederick Augustus I (1750–1827), Elector (1763–1806) and King (1806–1827) of Saxony
• Frederick Augustus II (1797–1854), King of Saxony (1836–1854)
• Frederick Augustus III (1865–1932), King of Saxony (1904–1918)
• Frederick William I (1688–1740), King of Prussia (1713–1740)
• Frederick William II (1744–1797), King of Prussia (1786–1797)
• Frederick William III (1770–1840), King of Prussia (1797–1840)
• Frederick William IV (1795–1861), King of Prussia (1840–1861)
• George (1832–1904), King of Saxony (1902–1904)
• George V (1819–1878), King of Hanover (1851–1866)
• Henry I the Fowler (876–936), King of Germany 919
• Henry II (972–1024), King of Germany 1002, Holy Roman Emperor 1014–1024
• Henry III (1017–1056), King of Germany 1039, Holy Roman Emperor 1046–1056
• Henry IV (1050–1106), King of Germany 1056, Holy Roman Emperor 1084–1106
• Henry V (1081–1125), King of Germany 1106, Holy Roman Emperor 1111–1125
• Henry VI (1165–1197), King of Germany 1190, Holy Roman Emperor 1191–1197
• John (1801–1873), King of Saxony (1854–1873)
• Louis IV (1281–1347), King of Germany 1314, Holy Roman Emperor 1328–1347
• Ludwig I (1786–1868), King of Bavaria (1825–1848)
• Ludwig II (1845–1886), King of Bavaria (1864–1886)
• Ludwig III (1845–1921), King of Bavaria (1913–1918)
• Maximilian I (1459–1519), King of Germany 1486, Holy Roman Emperor 1508–1519
• Maximilian I (1756–1825), Elector (1799–1805) and King (1805–1825) of Bavaria
• Maximilian II (1811–1864), King of Bavaria (1848–1864)
• Otto I the Great (912–973), King of Germany 936, Holy Roman Emperor 962–973
• Otto II (955–983), Holy Roman Emperor 973–983
• Otto III (980–1002), King of Germany 983, Holy Roman Emperor 996–1002
• Otto of Greece King of Bavaria (1815–1867), King of the Hellenes (1833–1862)
• Otto of Bavaria (1848–1916), King of Bavaria (1886–1913)
• Wilhelm I (1797–1888), German Emperor (1871–1888) and King of Prussia (1861–1888)
• Wilhelm II (1859–1941), German Emperor and King of Prussia (1888–1918)
• William I (1781–1864), King of Württemberg (1816–1864)
• William II (1848–1921), King of Württemberg (1891–1918)

Musicians and singers

• 4lyn
• Accept
• Hans Albers
• Alphaville
• Agonoize
• Amon Düül
• Blind Guardian
• Böhse Onkelz
• Bushido
• Dieter Bohlen (born 1954), music-producer
• Fritz Busch (1890–1951), conductor
• Caliban
• Can
• Cascada
• Sarah Connor, pop/soul singer
• Michael and Sandra Cretu, founder-performers of Enigma (musical project) and Sandra (group)

• Die Ärzte
• Die Prinzen
• Die Toten Hosen
• DJ Tomekk
• Einstürzende Neubauten
• Eisbrecher
• Frank Farian
• Faust
• Fischer-Chöre
• Fler
• Freundeskreis
• Funker Vogt
• Wilhelm Furtwängler (1886–1954), conductor and composer
• Herbert Grönemeyer (born 1956)
• Guano Apes
• Heino, popular singer
• Helloween, power metal band
• Chris Hülsbeck
• In Extremo
• Juli
• Michael Kiske
• KMFDM
• Kraftwerk
• Gundula Krause (born 1966)
• LaFee
• Fernge Jussa, (born 1937)
• Reinhard Mey (born 1942)
• Marius Müller-Westernhagen
• Anne-Sophie Mutter (born 1963), violinist
• Modern Talking
• Karl Münchinger, conductor
• Xavier Naidoo
• Necrophagist
• Nena (born 1960)
• Nevada Tan
• Megaherz
• Meshell Ndegeocello (born 1969)
• Klaus Nomi (1944–1983)
• Kool Savas, half German, half Turkish
• Oomph!
• Lisa Otto, opera singer
• Project Pitchfork
• Rammstein
• Michael Schenker (born 1955), guitar player of UFO and solo career
• Sandra
• SASH!
• Scooter
• Scorpions
• Seeed
• Sido (rapper)
• Silbermond
• Söhne Mannheims
• Tokio Hotel
• Ton Steine Scherben
• Melanie Thornton (1967–2001) (born in Charleston) Pop,Dance,R&B Singer
• Hannes Wader
• Bruno Walter (1876–1962), conductor and composer
• Konstantin Wecker
• Wir sind Helden
• Funny van Dannen
• Paul Van Dyk
• U96
• U.D.O.
• Willy Hess, violinist
• Wumpscut

Philosophers

• Theodor Adorno (1903–1969), philosopher, sociologist and composer
• Albertus Magnus (c. 1193 – 1280), medieval philosopher and theologian
• Hannah Arendt (1906–1975), political theorist
• Bruno Bauer (1809–1882), political theorist and philosopher
• Walter Benjamin (1892–1940)
• Ernst Bloch (1885–1977)
• Jakob Böhme (1575–1624), mystic philosopher
• Rudolf Carnap (1891–1970), philosopher
• Ernst Cassirer (1874–1945)
• Friedrich Engels (1820–1895), philosopher, political economist, and collaborator with Karl Marx
• Ludwig Feuerbach (1804–1872), philosopher
• Johann Gottlieb Fichte (1762–1814), philosopher
• Gottlob Frege (1848–1925), mathematician, logician and philosopher
• Erich Fromm (1900–1980)
• Hans-Georg Gadamer (1900–2002), philosopher
• Jürgen Habermas (born 1929), philosopher, social theorist
• Eduard von Hartmann (1842–1906), philosopher
• Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel (1770–1831), philosopher
• Martin Heidegger (1889–1976), philosopher
• Max Horkheimer (1895–1973)
• Karl Jaspers (1883–1969), philosopher
• Immanuel Kant (1724–1804), philosopher
• Ludwig Klages (1872–1956), philosopher
• Gottfried Leibniz (1646–1716), physicist, philosopher
• Leo Löwenthal (1921–1966)
• Karl Löwith (1897–1973)
• Herbert Marcuse (1898–1979)
• Karl Marx (1818–1883), philosopher and sociologist. Founder of Marxist political and economic philosophy
• Nikolaus Cusanus (1401–1462), philosopher, theologian, mathematician
• Friedrich Nietzsche (1844–1900), early existentialist philosopher
• Bernhard Philberth (born 1927), physicist, engineer, philosopher, theologian
• Johann Karl Friedrich Rosenkranz (1805–1879)
• Franz Rosenzweig (1886–1929)
• Max Scheler (1874–1928), philosopher
• Friedrich Schelling (1775–1854), philosopher
• Moritz Schlick (1882–1936), philosopher
• Carl Schmitt (1888–1985), political theorist
• Arthur Schopenhauer (1788–1860), philosopher
• Georg Simmel (1859–1918) philosopher and sociologist
• Ferdinand Tönnies (1855–1936), philosopher, founder of German sociology
• Carl Friedrich von Weizsäcker (1912–2007), philosopher and physicist

Politicians

Miscellaneous

• August Bebel (1840–1913), co-founder of the SPD]
• Rudolf von Bennigsen (1824–1902), founder of the National Liberal Party.
• Eduard Bernstein (1850–1932), Social Democratic leader
• Julius Curtius (1877–1948), Foreign Minister (DVP)
• Matthias Erzberger (1875–1921), Catholic Center party leader
• Joschka Fischer (born 1948), Foreign Minister and vice chancellor 1998–2005 (Bündnis 90/Die Grünen)
• Hans-Dietrich Genscher (born 1927), former minister for foreign affairs (FDP)
• Jakob Grimm (1785–1863), parliamentarian
• Wilhelm Grimm (1786–1859), parliamentarian
• Gregor Gysi (born 1948), former leader of the Party of Democratic Left
• Adolf Hitler (1889–1945), leader of the Nazi regime, born in Austria-Hungary
• Alfred Hugenberg )1865–1951), leader of the DNVP
• Johann Jacoby (1805–1877), radical democrat in Prussia
• Karl Kautsky (1854–1938), Social Democratic leader and theoretician
• Petra Kelly (1947–1992), cofounder of the German Green Party
• Ferdinand Lassalle (1825–1864), democrat and socialist
• Karl Liebknecht (1871–1919), Socialist
• Wilhelm Liebknecht (1826–1900), co-founder of the SPD
• Rosa Luxemburg (1870–1919), left wing Social Democratic leader
• Jakob Maria Mierscheid (born 1933), virtual parliamentarian (SPD)
• Hermann Müller (1876–1931), Chancellor of the Weimar Republic (SPD)
• Hans Modrow (born 1928), former leader of GDR, honorary chairman of PDS
• Walther Rathenau (1867–1922), foreign minister (DDP)
• Eugen Richter (1838–1906), liberal politician
• Gerhard Schröder (1910–1989), foreign minister (CDU)
• Kurt Schumacher (1895–1952), leader of the Social Democratic Party of Germany in the early years of the FRG
• Baron Heinrich vom Stein (1757–1831)
• Edmund Stoiber - party leader of the CSU and minister president of Bavaria
• Franz Josef Strauß (1915–1988), Bavarian Politician (CSU)
• Ernst Thälmann (1886–1944), leader of the Communist Party of Germany during the Weimar period
• Guido Westerwelle - party leader of the liberal party (FDP)
• Clara Zetkin (1857–1933), socialist and fighter for women's rights

Chancellors of Germany 1871–1945

• Gustav Bauer (1870–1944), chancellor of the Weimar Republic (SPD)
• Theobald von Bethmann Hollweg (1856–1921), Imperial Chancellor
• Otto von Bismarck (1815–1898), Imperial Chancellor
• Heinrich Brüning (1885–1970), Chancellor of the Weimar Republic (Centre Party)
• Bernhard von Bülow (1849–1929), Imperial Chancellor
• Leo von Caprivi (1831–1899), Imperial Chancellor
• Wilhelm Cuno (1876–1933), Chancellor of the Weimar Republic
• Konstantin Fehrenbach (1852–1926), Chancellor of the Weimar Republic (Centre)
• Georg von Hertling (1843–1919), Imperial Chancellor
• Adolf Hitler (1889–1945), combining legally both offices, President and Chancellor ("Führer und Reichskanzler") 1934–1945
• Prince Chlodwig zu Hohenlohe-Schillingsfürst (1819–1901), Imperial Chancellor
• Hans Luther (1885–1962), Chancellor of the Weimar Republic
• Wilhelm Marx (1863–1946), Chancellor of the Weimar Republic (Centre)
• Prince Maximilian of Baden (1867–1929), Last Imperial Chancellor
• Georg Michaelis (1857–1936), Imperial Chancellor
• Franz von Papen (1879–1969), Chancellor of the Weimar Republic
• Philipp Scheidemann (1865–1939), Chancellor of Weimar Republic (SPD)
• Kurt von Schleicher (1882–1934), last Chancellor of the Weimar Republic
• Gustav Stresemann (1878–1929), Chancellor of the Weimar Republic (DVP)
• Joseph Wirth (1879–1956), Chancellor of the Weimar Republic (Centre)

Chancellors of Germany (after 2nd World War)

• Konrad Adenauer (1876–1967), first democratically elected Federal Chancellor in Western Germany (after the second world war) from 1949 to 1963 (Christian-Democratic Union, CDU)
• Ludwig Erhard (1897–1977), Federal Chancellor from 1963 to 1966 (CDU)
• Kurt Georg Kiesinger (1904–1988), Federal Chancellor from 1966 to 1969 (CDU)
• Willy Brandt (1913–1992), Federal Chancellor from 1969 to 1974 (Social Democratic Party, SPD)
• Helmut Schmidt (born 1918), Federal Chancellor from 1974 to 1984 (SPD)
• Helmut Kohl (born 1930), Federal Chancellor from 1982 to 1998 (CDU)
• Gerhard Schröder (born 1944), Federal Chancellor from 1998 to 2005 (SPD)
• Angela Merkel (born 1954), Federal Chancellor since 2005 (CDU)

Presidents of Germany

• Friedrich Ebert (1871–1925), First President of the Weimar Republic (SPD) 1919–1925
• Paul von Hindenburg (1847–1934), Field Marshal, President 1925–1934
• Adolf Hitler (1889–1945), combining legally both offices, President and Chancellor ("Führer und Reichskanzler") 1934–1945
• Karl Dönitz (1891–1980), Admiral of the Fleet, after Hitler's death, President for 27 days, 1945

Presidents of the Federal Republic of Germany since 1949:

• Theodor Heuss (1884–1963), Federal President 1949–1959 (Liberal-Democratic Party, FDP)
• Heinrich Lübke (1894–1972), Federal President 1959–1969 (CDU)
• Gustav Heinemann (1899–1976), Federal President 1969–1974 (SPD)
• Walter Scheel (born 1919), Federal President 1974–1979 (FDP)
• Karl Carstens (1914–1992), Federal President 1979–1984 (CDU)
• Richard von Weizsäcker (born 1920), Federal President 1984–1994 (CDU)
• Roman Herzog (born 1934), Federal President 1994–1999 (CDU)
• Johannes Rau (1931–2006), Federal President 1999–2004 (SPD)
• Horst Köhler (born 1943), Federal President since 2004 (CDU)

Politicians in East Germany

• Otto Grotewohl (1894–1964), minister president of the GDR
• Erich Honecker (1912–1994), leader of the GDR until 1989
• Egon Krenz (born 1937), leader of the GDR after Honecker
• Erich Mielke (1907–2000), head of the Stasi
• Wilhelm Pieck (1876–1960), first president of the GDR
• Günter Schabowski (born 1929), member of politburo
• Willy Stoph (1914–1999), Premier of the GDR
• Walter Ulbricht (1893–1973), leader of the GDR

Personalities of the Nazi Party and Regime

• Klaus Barbie (1913–1991), the "Butcher of Lyon"
• Martin Bormann (1900 – probably 1945), nazi leader
• Eva Braun (1912–1945), Hitler's mistress and finally his wife
• Karl Brandt (1904–1948)
• Karl Dönitz (1891–1980), Admiral of the Fleet, briefly Hitler's successor as President
• Anton Drexler (1884–1942), founder of German Workers Party, which became the NSDAP
• Hans Frank (1900–1946), Governor-General of Poland
• Roland Freisler (1893–1945), infamous Nazi-judge
• Wilhelm Frick (1877–1946), Minister of the Interior
• Walter Funk (1890–1960), Minister of Economics
• Joseph Goebbels (1897–1945), Chancellor of Germany, propaganda chief for the Nazis
• Hermann Göring (1893–1946), Nazi, Reich Marshal and chief of Luftwaffe
• Rudolf Hess (1894–1987), Hitler's private secretary, later Deputy Führer
• Reinhard Heydrich (1904–1942), Nazi officer, head of the Sicherheitsdienst and Gestapo
• Heinrich Himmler (1900–1945), Nazi head of the SS
• Adolf Hitler (1889–1945), Reichskanzler and Nazi leader
• Ernst Kaltenbrunner (1903–1946), Heydrich's successor at the SD
• Hans Kammler, author and organiser of first Death Camps
• Wilhelm Keitel (1882–1946), Field Marshal, head of the OKW (1939–45)
• Robert Ley (1890–1945), head of the German Labour Front
• Erich von Manstein (1885–1973), Field Marshal and commander of the Eleventh Army (1941–42), Army Group Don (1942–43), and Army Group South (1943–44)
• Erhard Milch (1892–1972), Göring's second-in-command, Air Inspector General
• Konstantin von Neurath (1873–1956), Foreign Minister in the early years of the regime
• Franz von Papen (1879–1969), Deputy Chancellor in Hitler's first cabinet.
• Erich Raeder (1876–1960), Admiral of the Fleet
• Joachim von Ribbentrop (1893–1946), Nazi foreign minister
• Ernst Röhm (1887–1934), head of the SA
• Alfred Rosenberg (1893–1946), Nazi ideologist
• Gerd von Rundstedt (1875–1953), Field Marshal, Commander-in-Chief East (1939–40), commander of Army Group South (1939–41), Commander-in-Chief West (1942–44 and then 1944–45)
• Hjalmar Schacht, Minister of Finance
• Baldur von Schirach (1907–1974), Hitler Youth leader
• Arthur Seyss-Inquart (1892–1946), Austrian Nazi leader
• Albert Speer (1905–1981), "Hitler's architect", Minister of Armaments
• Gregor Strasser, Left-wing Nazi leader
• Julius Streicher (1885–1946), Nazi Party leader in Franconia

Scientists and engineers

A-G

• Otto Wilhelm Hermann von Abich (1806–1886), mineralogist, geologist
• Peter Apian (1495–1552), mathematician, astronomer and cartographer
• Manfred von Ardenne (1907–1997), physicist
• Anton de Bary (1831–1888), surgeon, botanist, microbiologist
• Johann Bayer (1572–1625), astronomer
• Karl Benz (1844–1929), inventor and engineer
• Friedrich Bessel (1784–1846), mathematician
• Hans Bethe (1906–2005), physicist
• Max Born (1882–1970), physicist
• Robert Bosch (1861-1942) industrialist
• Carl Ferdinand Braun - physicist
• Wernher von Braun (1912–1977), space engineer, rocket scientist
• Robert Wilhelm Bunsen (1811–1899), chemist
• Georg Cantor (1845–1918), mathematician
• Hans Gerhard Creutzfeldt - neuropathologist
• Gottlieb Daimler (1834–1900), inventor and engineer
• Carl Duisberg (1861–1935), chemist and industrialist
• Rudolf Diesel (1858–1913), inventor of the Diesel engine
• Albert Einstein (1879–1955) physicist
• Hans Jürgen Eysenck, psychologist
• Joseph von Fraunhofer (1787–1826), physicist
• Gottlob Frege (1848–1925), mathematician and logicist
• Wilhelm Siegmund Frei (1885–1943), dermatologist
• Erich Fromm (1900–1980), psychologist
• Klaus Fuchs (1911–1988), physicist and spy
• Carl Friedrich Gauss (1777–1855), mathematician

H-J

• Fritz Haber (1868–1934), chemist
• Ernst Haeckel (1834–1919), physician
• Otto Hahn (1879–1968), chemist
• Felix Hausdorff (1868–1942), mathematician
• Robert Havemann (1910–1982), chemist
• Ernst Heinkel (1888–1958), Aircraft engineer
• Werner Karl Heisenberg (1901–1976), physicist
• Hermann Helmholtz, physicist
• Heinrich Rudolf Hertz (1857–1894), physicist
• David Hilbert (1862–1943), mathematician
• Johann Homann (1664–1724), geographer
• Erich Hueckel (1896–1980), physicist
• Carl Gustav Jakob Jacobi (1804–1851), mathematician
• Alfons Maria Jakob (1884–1931), neurologist
• Hugo Junkers (1859–1935), Aircraft engineer

K-L

• Theodor Kaluza (1885–1954), mathematician, theoretical physicist
• Friedrich August Kekulé von Stradonitz (1829–1896), chemist
• Johannes Kepler (1571–1630), astronomer
• Gustav Robert Kirchhoff (1824–1887), physicist
• Felix Klein (1849–1925), mathematician
• Wolfgang Franz von Kobell (1803–1882), mineralogist
• Robert Koch (1843–1910), physician
• Walter Karl Koch (1880–1962), surgeon
• Adolph Wilhelm Hermann Kolbe (1818–1884), chemist
• Leopold Kronecker (1823–1891), mathematician
• Ernst Eduard Kummer (1810–1893), mathematician
• Edmund Landau (1877–1938), mathematician
• Max von Laue (1879–1960), physicist
• Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz (1646–1716), mathematician
• Justus von Liebig (1803–1873), chemist
• Otto Lilienthal (1848 - 1896), the aviation pioneer
• Ferdinand von Lindemann (1852–1939), mathematician
• Alexander Lippisch (1894–1976), aerodynamicist
• Johann Josef Loschmidt (1821–1895), physicist, chemist
• Reimar Lüst (born 1923), astrophysicist

M-R

• (Albertus Magnus see "A")
• Ludwig Immanuel Magnus, mathematician
• Siegfried Marcus (1831–1898), automobile pioneer
• Wilhelm Maybach (1846–1929), car-engine and automobile constructor
• Wilhelm Messerschmitt (1898–1978), Aircraft engineer
• Lothar Meyer (1830–1895), chemist
• Franz Mertens (1840–1927), mathematician
• August Ferdinand Möbius (1790–1868), mathematician, theoretical astronomer
• Johannes Müller (1801–1858), physiologist
• Walther Nernst (1864–1941), physicist
• Franz Ernst Neumann (1798–1895), mathematician
• Carl Gottfried Neumann (1832–1925), mathematician
• Emmy Noether (1882–1935), mathematician
• Georg Ohm (1789–1854), physicist
• Wilhelm Ostwald, Nobel prize winning chemist, philosopher
• Nikolaus Otto (1832–1891), coinventor of the Otto cycle
• Bernhard Philberth (born 1927), physicist, engineer, philosopher, theologian
• Jesco von Puttkamer (born 1933), space-scientist (NASA-Manager), engineer and author
• Max Planck (1858–1947), physicist
• Bernhard Riemann (1826–1866) mathematician
• Adam Riese (1492–1559), mathematician
• Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen (1845–1923), physicist

S-V

• Carl Wilhelm Scheele (1742–1786), chemist
• Matthias Jakob Schleiden (1804–1881), botanist
• Heinrich Schliemann (1822–1890), archaeologist
• Christian Friedrich Schonbein (1799–1868), chemist
• Friedrich Hermann Schottky (1851–1935), mathematician
• Theodor Schwann (1810–1882), physiologist
• Hermann Amandus Schwarz (1843–1921), mathematician
• Karl Schwarzschild (1873–1916), physicist
• Carl Semper (1832–1893), ecologist
• Rolf Singer (1906–1994), mycologist
• Arnold Sommerfeld (1868–1951), physicist
• Eduard Adolf Strasburger (1844–1912), German-Polish professor, one of the most famous botanists of the 19th century
• Georg Steller (1709–1746), naturalist
• William Stern (1871–1938), psychologist, philosopher
• Alfred Stock (1876–1946), chemist
• Levi Strauss (1829–1902), jeans
• Werner von Siemens (1816 - 1892), inventor, industrialist
• Max Vasmer (1886–1962), linguist
• Rudolf Virchow (1821–1902), pioneer of medicine

W-Z

• Otto Wallach, physicist
• Hellmuth Walter (1900–1980), propulsion
• Felix Wankel (1902–1988), inventor of the Wankel engine
• Alfred Wegener, meteorologist
• Karl Weierstrass (1815–1897), mathematician
• August Weismann (1834–1914), biologist
• Carl Friedrich von Weizsäcker (born 1912), physicist
• Hermann Weyl (1885–1955), mathematician
• Maximilian zu Wied-Neuwied (1782–1867), zoologist
• Wilhelm Wien (1864–1928), physicist
• Mieczysław Wolfke (1883–1947), Polish physicist of German descent
• Wilhelm Wundt (1832–1920), physiologist, psychologist
• Ferdinand von Zeppelin (1838–1917), inventor of the Zeppelin
• Ernst Zermelo (1871–1953), mathematician
• Konrad Zuse (1910–1995), computers

Sportspersons

• Adolf Anderssen (1818–1879), chess grandmaster
• Michael Ballack (born 1976), football player
• Karin Balzer (born 1938), hurdler
• Dieter Baumann (born 1965), athlete
• Franz Beckenbauer (born 1945), football player
• Boris Becker (born 1967), tennis player
• Elly Beinhorn (born 1907), aviatrix
• Stefan Bellof (1957–1985), race car driver
• Frank Biela , race car driver
• Oliver Bierhoff (born 1968),football player
• Heike Drechsler (born 1964), athlete
• Timo Boll, table tennis player
• Kai Budde (born 1979), professional Magic: The Gathering player
• Bettina Bunge (born 1963), tennis player
• Rudolf Caracciola (1901–1959), race car driver
• Ursula "Uschi" Disl (born 1970), biathlete
• Christian Ehrhoff, German Olympian and NHL hockey player currently playing for the San Jose Sharks.
• Erich Gottlieb Eliskases (1913–1997) leading chess player of the 1930s–40s, represented Austria, Germany and Argentina in international competition
• Harald Ertl , race car driver
• Jürgen Fanghänel (born 1951), boxer
• Rudi Fink (born 1958), boxer
• Birgit Fischer (born 1962), kayaker
• Sven Fischer (born 1971), biathlete
• Torsten Frings (born 1976),football player
• Marcel Goc, German Olympian and NHL hockey player currently playing for the San Jose Sharks.
• Steffi Graf (born 1969), tennis player
• Michael Greis (born 1976), biathlete
• Michael Groß (born 1964), swimmer
• Ricco Groß (born 1970), biathlete
• Georg Hackl (born 1966), luger
• Sven Hannawald (born 1974), ski jumper
• Armin Hary (born 1937), athlete
• Nick Heidfeld (born 1977), racing driver
• Peter Hussing (born 1948), boxer
• Robert Hübner (born 1948), chess grandmaster
• Reinhold Joest , race car driver and racing team owner
• Klaus Junge (1924–1945), one of the youngest German chess grandmasters
• Oliver Kahn (born 1969), football player
• Andy Kapp (born 1967), curler
• Jutta Kleinschmidt, rally driver
• Jürgen Klinsmann (born 1964), football player and coach
• Olaf Kölzig (born 1970), ice hockey player
• Louis Krages (1949–2001), racing driver who raced under the pseudonym of "John Winter"
• Philipp Lahm (born 1983), football player
• Andre Lange, Bobsledding champion
• Hermann Lang (1909–1987), Champion race car driver
• Bernhard Langer (born 1957), golfer
• Emanuel Lasker (1868–1941), the second World Chess Champion (1894–1921)
• Jens Lehmann (born 1969), football player (goalkeeper)
• Ellen Lohr, racing driver
• Klaus Ludwig, racing driver
• Sepp Maier (born 1944), football player
• Henry Maske (born 1964), boxer
• Jochen Mass, racing driver
• Lothar Matthäus (born 1961), football player
• Georg Meier (1910–1999) Motor-Cycle Racer
• Christoph Metzelder (born 1980), football player
• Ulrike Meyfarth (born 1956), high jumper
• Rosi Mittermaier (born 1950), alpine ski champion
• Gerd Müller (born 1945), football player
• Jörg Müller, race car driver
• Petra Müller (born 1965), athlete
• Patricia Neske (born 1966), figure skater
• Gunda Niemann-Stirnemann (born 1966), speed skater
• Sophie Norden, mountaineer
• Dirk Nowitzki (born 1978), NBA star
• Aron Nimzowitsch (1886–1935) Latvian-Danish German chess master and chess writer
• Sylke Otto (born 1969), luger
• Claudia Pechstein (born 1972), speed skater
• Uta Pippig (born 1965), athlete
• Birgit Prinz (born 1977), football player
• Lina Radke (1903–1983), athlete
• Teodor Regedziński (aka Theodor Reger) (1894–1954) Polish chess master of German origin, fathers name was Reger
• Annegret Richter (born 1950), athlete
• Lars Riedel (born 1967), athlete
• Walter Röhrl, rally and racing driver (2-times Rally World Champion)
• Bernd Rosemeyer (1909–1938), racing driver
• Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, football player
• Max Schmeling (1905–2003), World Heavyweight Boxing Champion
• Martin Schmitt (born 1978), ski jumper
• Paul Felix Schmidt (1916–1984), an Estonian–German chess master.
• Bernd Schneider, racing driver
• Bernd Schneider,football player
• Detlef Schrempf (born 1963), former NBA star
• Rainer Schüttler, tennis player
• Michael Schumacher (born 1969), racing driver (7-times Formula One World Champion)
• Ralf Schumacher (born 1975), racing driver, brother of Michael
• Harald Schumacher (born 1954), football player
• Ralf Schumann (born 1962), pistol shooter
• Bastian Schweinsteiger,football player
• Uwe Seeler,football player
• Werner Seelenbinder (1904–1944), wrestler
• Katja Seizinger, alpine ski champion
• Renate Stecher (born 1950), athlete
• Michael Stich (born 1968), tennis player
• Rolf Stommelen (died 1983), racing driver
• Hans Stuck (died 1978), racing driver
• Hans Joachim Stuck, racing driver and son of Hans
• Siegbert Tarrasch (1862–1934), chess grandmaster
• Axel Teichmann (born 1979),cross-country skier
• Richard Teichmann (1868–1925), leading German chess player, easily of grandmaster strength
• Toni Turek (1919–1984), football player
• Jan Ullrich (born 1973), cyclist
• Wolfgang Unzicker (1925–2006), chess grandmaster
• Franziska van Almsick (born 1978), swimmer
• Berti Vogts, football player and coach
• Rudi Völler (born 1960), football player
• Ralf Waldmann, motorcycle racer
• Fritz Walter (1920–2002), football player
• Fritz Walter (born 1960), football player
• Jens Weissflog (born 1964), ski jumper
• Kati Wilhelm (born 1976), biathlete
• Joachim Winkelhock, racing driver
• Manfred Winkelhock (1951–1985), racing driver, brother of Joachim
• Katarina Witt (born 1965), figure skater
• Sigrun Wodars (born 1965), athlete
• Erik Zabel (born 1970), cyclist
• Johannes Hermann Zukertort (1842–1888), German Polish-Jewish chessmaster

Theologians, Saints, Beatified Persons

See also List of German popes

• Heinrich Abeken (1809–1872), theologian
• Johannes Agricola (1494–1566), Protestant reformer
• Albertus Magnus, medieval philosopher and theologian
• Eusebius Amort (1692–1775)
• Pope Benedict XVI, a.k.a. Joseph Ratzinger (born 1927)
• Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906–1945), Theologian
• Johannes Bugenhagen (1485–1558) Protestand Reformer of Pomerania and Denmark, Theologian
• Rudolf Bultmann
• Alfred Delp
• Johann Eck (1486–1543)
• Matthias Faber (1586–1653)
• Adolf Harnack (1851–1930)
• Johann Gottfried Herder, poet, translator, philosopher and theologian
• Hedwig of Andech (1174–1243)
• Clemens August Graf von Galen, beatified, cardinal
• Adolph Kolping (1813–1865), beatified, priest
• Hans Küng
• Karl Lehmann
• Martin Luther (1483–1546), of the Protestant Reformation
• Philipp Melanchthon (1497–1560), Protestant Reformation
• Moses Mendelssohn
• Jürgen Moltmann (born 1926), theologian
• Bernhard Philberth (born 1927), physicist, engineer, philosopher, theologian
• Karl Rahner, theologian
• Friedrich Schleiermacher (1768–1834), theologian, philosopher
• Albert Schweitzer (1875–1965), musician, physician, pastor, philosopher and theologian
• Dorothee Sölle (1929–2003)
• Edith Stein (1891–1942), saint, nun, victim of Holocaust
• Carsten Peter Thiede (1952–2004), theologian, New Testament historian, chaplain
• Helmut Thielicke, theologian
• Paul Tillich, theologian, philosopher

Writers

• Ernst Moritz Arndt - poet, songwriter, and patriot
• Achim von Arnim (1781–1831), poet
• Bettina von Arnim (1785–1859), writer and novelist
• Mark Bellinghaus (born 1963), poet, satirist, writer
• Heinrich Böll (1917–1985), author
• Bertolt Brecht (1898–1956), playwright, poet
• Clemens Brentano (1778–1842), poet and novelist
• Georg Büchner, dramatist and author
• Wilhelm Busch (1832–1908), poet and satirist
• Matthias Claudius (1740–1815), poet and writer
• Annette von Droste-Hülshoff (1797–1848), poet
• Michael Ende (1929–1995), author of fantasy novels and children's books
• Joseph von Eichendorff (1788–1857), poet
• Hans Magnus Enzensberger (born 1929), essayist and poet
• Theodor Fontane (1819–1898), novelist and poet
• Paul Gerhardt (c. 1606 – 1676), hymn writer
• Johann Wolfgang Goethe (1749–1832), author, poet
• Joseph Görres (1776–1848), essayist
• Günter Grass (born 1927), author, Nobel Prize in Literature 1999
• Brothers Grimm, famous collectors of fairy tales
• Wilhelm Hauff (1802–1827), wrighter
• Heinrich Heine (1797–1856), poet
• Johann Gottfried Herder (1744–1803), essayist and poet
• Hermann Hesse (1877–1962), author
• Rolf Hochhuth (born 1931), playwright
• E.T.A. Hoffmann (1776–1822), author
• Friedrich Hölderlin (1770–1843), poet
• Ernst Jünger (1895–1998), writer, novelist
• Wladimir Kaminer (born 1967), short story writer
• Erich Kästner (1899–1974), novelist
• Daniel Kehlmann (born 1975), novelist
• Friedrich Kellner (1885–1970, diarist My Opposition
• Heinrich von Kleist (1777–1811), poet, dramatist, novelist
• Brigitte Kronauer (born 1941), novelist and essayist
• Siegfried Lenz (born 1926), author
• Gotthold Lessing (1729–1781), writer
• Golo Mann (1909–1994), author, historian (second-oldest of Thomas Mann)
• Heinrich Mann (1871–1950), author (brother of Thomas Mann)
• Klaus Mann (1906–1949), author (oldest son of Thomas Mnn)
• Thomas Mann (1875–1955), author (brother of Heinrich Mann)
• Karl May (1842–1912), author
• Christian Morgenstern (1871–1914), poet
• Friedrich de la Motte Fouqué (1777–1843), writer
• Novalis (1772–1801), poet and novelist
• Hermann von Pückler-Muskau (1785–1871), writer and landscape gardener
• Wilhelm Raabe (1831–1910), novelist
• Erich Maria Remarque (1898–1970), novelist
• Rainer Maria Rilke (1875–1926), poet
• Peter Rühmkorf (born 1929), poet
• Leopold Schefer (1784–1861), writer, poet, and composer
• Friedrich Schiller (1759–1805), poet, playwright
• August Wilhelm Schlegel (1767–1845), poet, translator
• Bernhard Schlink (born 1944), author, professor of law
• Arno Schmidt (1914–1979), writer
• Theodor Storm (1817–1888), author
• Patrick Süskind (born 1949), author, screenwriter
• Ludwig Tieck (1773–1853), poet, editor, novelist
• Kurt Tucholsky (1890–1935), writer, satirist
• Ludwig Uhland (1787–1862), poet, writer, playwright
• Martin Walser (born 1927), playwright and novelist
• Walter von der Vogelweide (c. 1170 – c. 1230), poet
• Gero von Wilpert (born 1933), essayist
• Christa Wolf (born 1929), novelist and essayist
• Wolfram von Eschenbach (died 1220), poet

Military

• Carl von Clausewitz (1780–1831), Prussian professional soldier, military historian, and influential military theorist
• Erich von Falkenhayn (1861–1922), General, Prussian Minister of War (1913–15) and Chief of General Staff (1914–16)
• August von Gneisenau (1760–1831), Prussian field marshal and chief of the Prussian General Staff (1813–14)
• Heinz Guderian (1888–1954), Military theorist and innovative General (1907–1945)
• Erich Hartmann (1922–1993), fighter pilot and air ace (1941–1970)
• Alfred Jodl (1890–1946), general, operations chief of the OKW
• Günther von Kluge (1882–1944), field marshal and commander of the Fourth Army (1939–41) and Army Group Center (1941–43)
• Erich Ludendorff (1865–1937), General and Quartermaster General (1916–18)
• Erich von Manstein (1887–1973), Field Marshal and professional soldier (1906–1944)
• Friedrich Paulus (1890–1957), General and commander of the German Sixth Army, later promoted to Field Marshal (1910–1943)
• Manfred von Richthofen, also known as the Red Baron, (1892–1918), fighter pilot and air ace
• Erwin Rommel (1891–1944), field marshal and commander of Afrika Korps (1942–43) and Army Group B (1944)
• Hans-Ulrich Rudel (1916–1982), Stuka dive-bomber pilot and air ace (1936–1945)
• Gerd von Rundstedt (1875–1953), Field Marshal and famed commander (1892–1945)
• Alfred von Schlieffen (1833–1913), Field Marshall, Strategist and Chief of General Staff (1891–1905)
• Gerhard von Scharnhorst (1755–1813), General and Prussian Minister of War (1808–10)
• Michael Wittman (1914–1944), SS-Captain and celebrated tank ace (1934–1944)

Others

• Rodolphus Agricola (1443–1485)
• Hugo Boss, fashion designer
• Dieter Claessens (1921–1997), sociologist
• Gudrun Ensslin (1940–1977), terrorist
• Adolf Eugen Fick, inventor of contact lenses
• Anne Frank (1929–1945), diarist and victim of the Holocaust
• Reinhard Furrer (1940–1995), astronaut
• Herschel Grynszpan
• Johann Gutenberg (c. 1390s – 1468), printer
• Hildegard von Bingen (1098–1179), abbess, mystic
• August Horch (1868–1951), car designer and manufacturer
• Karen Horney, psychoanalyst
• Heribert Illig (born 1947), historian
• Sigmund Jähn (born 1937), the first German in space
• Siegfried Kracauer
• Johann Machemehl (1816–1880), forester for Annaberg, Saxony
• Michael Machemehl, a German Texan Forty Eighter
• Ulrike Meinhof (1934–1976), journalist and terrorist
• Ulf Merbold (born 1941), astronaut
• Christian Frederick Martin (1796–1867), Inventor of the steel-string guitar
• Heinrich Meyerfreund, founder of Garoto, a chocolate company in Brazil
• Carl von Ossietzky (1889–1938), journalist and pacifist
• Ferry Porsche (1909–1998), designer and founder of Porsche
• Ferdinand Alexander Porsche (born 1935), designer and member of the Porsche family
• Ferdinand Oliver Porsche (born 1961), lawyer, executive and family member of Porsche
• Ludwig Quidde (1858–1941), historian and pacifist
• Mathias Rust (born 1968), aviator who landed on Moscow's Red Square in 1987
• Albert Schweitzer (1875–1965), physician, humanitarian
• Henry Shultz (1776–1851), emigrant to USA, entrepreneur
• Edith Stein (1891–1942), nun, victim of Holocaust
• Johann Tetzel (1465–1519), monk
• Ulrich Walter (born 1954), astronaut
• Alfred Weber, sociologist
• Max Weber, sociologist
• Diedrich Hermann Westermann (1875–1956), linguist
• Adi Dassler (1900–1978), founder of Adidas

See also

• Germans of Romania
• Germans of Paraguay
• Germans of Poland
• German Americans
• List of German Jews
• List of Austrians
• List of Swiss people
• List of Alsatians and Lorrainians
• List of Austrian Jews
• List of Ashkenazi Jews
• List of people by nationality
• List of Baltic Germans