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This is a list of famous Germans.

Contents 1 Actors/Actresses 2 Artists 3 Composers 4 Filmmakers 5 Royalty 6 Musicians and singers 7 Philosophers 8 Politicians 8.1 Miscellaneous 8.2 Chancellors of Germany 1871–1945 8.3 Chancellors of Germany (after 2nd World War) 8.4 Presidents of Germany 8.5 Politicians in East Germany 8.6 Personalities of the Nazi Party and Regime 9 Scientists and engineers 9.1 A-G 9.2 H-J 9.3 K-L 9.4 M-R 9.5 S-V 9.6 W-Z 10 Sportspersons 11 Theologians, Saints, Beatified Persons 12 Writers 13 Military 14 Others 15 See also

• Mario Adorf (born 1930), actor
• Hans Albers (1891–1960), actor
• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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)

• 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)
• Culcha Candela
• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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)

• 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)

• 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)

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• (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

• 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

• 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

• 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
• 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
• 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
• 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

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

• Ernst Moritz Arndt - poet, songwriter, and patriot
• Achim von Arnim (1781–1831), poet
• Bettina von Arnim (1785–1859), writer and novelist
• 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

• Carl von Clausewitz (1780–1831), Prussian professional soldier, military historian, and influential military theorist
• Erich von Falkenhayn (1861–1922), General,Prussian minister for 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 for War (1808–10)
• Michael Wittman (1914–1944), SS-Captain and celebrated tank ace (1934–1944)

• 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

• 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