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Guardians of the Republic

An authoritative exploration of the individuals who have shaped Germany's defence policy through history, detailing their terms, parties, and cabinets.

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The Role of Defence Leadership

Constitutional Authority

The Federal Minister of Defence (Bundesminister der Verteidigung) holds a pivotal position within the German government. This role entails leadership of the Federal Ministry of Defence and membership in the Federal Cabinet. Constitutionally, specifically in Article 65a of the Basic Law (Grundgesetz), the Federal Minister of Defence serves as the commander-in-chief (Inhaber der Befehls- und Kommandogewalt) of the German armed forces, the Bundeswehr, during peacetime.[1]

Command Structure

In times of declared defence, the constitutional authority shifts. The Federal Chancellor then assumes the role of commander-in-chief.[2] The highest-ranking military officer within the Bundeswehr is the Inspector General of the Bundeswehr (Generalinspekteur der Bundeswehr), who operates under the Minister's purview.

Incumbency

The current Federal Minister of Defence is Boris Pistorius, who assumed office on January 19, 2023.[3] His tenure marks the latest chapter in the history of this critical governmental position.

Historical Eras of Defence Leadership

Weimar Republic (1919–1935)

The establishment of the Federal Ministry of Defence traces back to the nascent years of the Weimar Republic. This period saw the initial formation of the ministry and the appointment of its first leaders, laying the groundwork for Germany's post-war military structure.

No. Minister of Defence Took Office Left Office Time in Office Party Cabinet
1 Gustav Noske
(1868–1946)		 13 February 1919 22 March 1920 1 year, 38 days SPD Scheidemann, Bauer
2 Otto Gessler
(1875–1955)		 27 March 1920 19 January 1928 7 years, 298 days DDP Müller I, Fehrenbach, Wirth I–II, Cuno, Stresemann I–II, Marx I–II, Luther I–II, Marx III–IV
3 Wilhelm Groener
(1867–1939)		 19 January 1928 30 May 1932 4 years, 132 days Independent Marx IV, Müller II, Brüning I–II
4 Kurt von Schleicher
(1882–1934)		 1 June 1932 28 January 1933 243 days Independent Papen, Schleicher

Nazi Germany (1933–1945)

During the Nazi era, the structure of military command evolved significantly. The Ministry of War was eventually abolished, and the Oberkommando der Wehrmacht (OKW) assumed de facto control over defence matters.

No. Minister of War / Chief of OKW Took Office Left Office Time in Office Party Cabinet
1 Werner von Blomberg
(1878–1946)		 29 January 1933 21 May 1935 2 years, 112 days Independent Hitler
1 Werner von Blomberg
(1878–1946)		 21 May 1935 27 January 1938 2 years, 251 days Independent Hitler
1 Wilhelm Keitel
(1882–1946)
Chief of the OKW		 4 February 1938 13 May 1945 7 years, 98 days Independent Hitler, Goebbels, Schwerin von Krosigk
2 Alfred Jodl
(1890–1946)
Chief of the OKW		 13 May 1945 23 May 1945 10 days Independent Schwerin von Krosigk
1 Karl Dönitz
(1891–1980)
Minister of War		 30 April 1945 23 May 1945 23 days NSDAP Goebbels, Schwerin von Krosigk

Note: In 1938, the Ministry of War was abolished and replaced by the Oberkommando der Wehrmacht (OKW) following the Blomberg–Fritsch affair.

German Democratic Republic (GDR) (1956–1990)

Following World War II, East Germany established its own Ministry of National Defence. This section details the individuals who led this ministry during the GDR's existence.

No. Minister of Defence Took Office Left Office Time in Office Party Chairman
1 Willi Stoph
(1914–1999)		 1 March 1956 14 July 1960 4 years, 135 days SED Grotewohl
2 Heinz Hoffmann
(1910–1985)		 14 July 1960 2 December 1985 25 years, 141 days SED Grotewohl, Stoph, Sindermann, Stoph
3 Heinz Kessler
(1920–2017)		 3 December 1985 18 November 1989 3 years, 351 days SED Stoph, Modrow
4 Theodor Hoffmann
(1935–2018)		 18 November 1989 12 April 1990 145 days SED Modrow
5 Rainer Eppelmann
(born 1943)		 12 April 1990 2 October 1990 173 days DA de Maizière

Federal Republic Ministers (Since 1955)

A comprehensive list of individuals who have served as Federal Minister of Defence since the establishment of the Bundeswehr.

Comprehensive List

The following table details the ministers of defence for the Federal Republic of Germany, including their terms, party affiliations, and the cabinets they served in. This provides a detailed historical overview of the leadership of the German armed forces.

No. Name Took Office Left Office Time in Office Party Cabinet
1 Theodor Blank
(1905–1972)		 7 June 1955 16 October 1956 1 year, 131 days CDU Adenauer II
2 Franz Josef Strauss
(1915–1988)		 16 October 1956 9 January 1963 6 years, 85 days CSU Adenauer II–V
3 Kai-Uwe von Hassel
(1913–1997)		 9 January 1963 1 December 1966 3 years, 326 days CDU Erhard I–II
4 Gerhard Schröder
(1910–1989)		 1 December 1966 21 October 1969 2 years, 324 days CDU Kiesinger I
5 Helmut Schmidt
(1918–2015)		 22 October 1969 7 July 1972 2 years, 259 days SPD Brandt I
6 Georg Leber
(1920–2012)		 7 July 1972 16 February 1978 5 years, 224 days SPD Brandt I–II, Schmidt I–II
7 Hans Apel
(1932–2011)		 17 February 1978 1 October 1982 4 years, 226 days SPD Schmidt II–III
8 Manfred Wörner
(1934–1994)		 4 October 1982 18 May 1988 5 years, 227 days CDU Kohl I–III
9 Rupert Scholz
(born 1937)		 18 May 1988 21 April 1989 338 days CDU Kohl III
10 Gerhard Stoltenberg
(1928–2001)		 21 April 1989 31 March 1992 2 years, 345 days CDU Kohl III–IV
11 Volker Rühe
(born 1942)		 1 April 1992 26 October 1998 6 years, 188 days CDU Kohl IV–V
12 Rudolf Scharping
(born 1947)		 27 October 1998 19 July 2002 3 years, 265 days SPD Schröder I
13 Peter Struck
(1943–2012)		 19 July 2002 22 November 2005 3 years, 126 days SPD Schröder II
14 Franz Josef Jung
(born 1949)		 22 November 2005 28 October 2009 3 years, 340 days CDU Merkel I
15 Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg
(born 1971)		 28 October 2009 3 March 2011 1 year, 126 days CSU Merkel II
16 Thomas de Maizière
(born 1954)		 3 March 2011 17 December 2013 2 years, 289 days CDU Merkel II
17 Ursula von der Leyen
(born 1958)		 17 December 2013 17 July 2019 5 years, 212 days CDU Merkel III–IV
18 Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer
(born 1962)		 17 July 2019 8 December 2021 2 years, 144 days CDU Merkel IV
19 Christine Lambrecht
(born 1965)		 8 December 2021 19 January 2023 1 year, 42 days SPD Scholz
20 Boris Pistorius
(born 1960)		 19 January 2023 Incumbent 2 years, 265 days SPD Scholz

Timeline of Leadership

Key Transitions

This section highlights the chronological progression of individuals holding the defence portfolio, illustrating the shifts in political leadership and party influence over Germany's complex history.

Weimar Republic:

  • Gustav Noske (SPD): 1919–1920
  • Otto Gessler (DDP): 1920–1928
  • Wilhelm Groener (Independent): 1928–1932
  • Kurt von Schleicher (Independent): 1932–1933

Nazi Germany:

  • Werner von Blomberg (Independent): 1933–1938
  • Wilhelm Keitel (Independent, Chief of OKW): 1938–1945
  • Alfred Jodl (Independent, Chief of OKW): May 1945
  • Karl Dönitz (NSDAP, Minister of War): April–May 1945

German Democratic Republic (GDR):

  • Willi Stoph (SED): 1956–1960
  • Heinz Hoffmann (SED): 1960–1985
  • Heinz Kessler (SED): 1985–1989
  • Theodor Hoffmann (SED): 1989–1990
  • Rainer Eppelmann (DA): 1990

Federal Republic of Germany (FRG):

  • Theodor Blank (CDU): 1955–1956
  • Franz Josef Strauss (CSU): 1956–1963
  • Kai-Uwe von Hassel (CDU): 1963–1966
  • Gerhard Schröder (CDU): 1966–1969
  • Helmut Schmidt (SPD): 1969–1972
  • Georg Leber (SPD): 1972–1978
  • Hans Apel (SPD): 1978–1982
  • Manfred Wörner (CDU): 1982–1988
  • Rupert Scholz (CDU): 1988–1989
  • Gerhard Stoltenberg (CDU): 1989–1992
  • Volker Rühe (CDU): 1992–1998
  • Rudolf Scharping (SPD): 1998–2002
  • Peter Struck (SPD): 2002–2005
  • Franz Josef Jung (CDU): 2005–2009
  • Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg (CSU): 2009–2011
  • Thomas de Maizière (CDU): 2011–2013
  • Ursula von der Leyen (CDU): 2013–2019
  • Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer (CDU): 2019–2021
  • Christine Lambrecht (SPD): 2021–2023
  • Boris Pistorius (SPD): 2023–Present

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References

References

A full list of references for this article are available at the List of German defence ministers Wikipedia page

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Disclaimer

Important Notice

This page was generated by an Artificial Intelligence and is intended for informational and educational purposes only. The content is based on a snapshot of publicly available data from Wikipedia and may not be entirely accurate, complete, or up-to-date. The historical context and political nuances of defence leadership are complex and subject to ongoing scholarly interpretation.

This is not professional advice. The information provided on this website is not a substitute for professional historical, political science, or governmental consultation. Always refer to primary sources and consult with qualified professionals for in-depth analysis and specific research needs. Never disregard professional advice because of something you have read on this website.

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