View source for Vice-Chancellor of Germany

{{Short description|German cabinet member}}
{{pp-vandalism|small=yes}}
{{Infobox official post
| post = Deputy to the Federal Chancellor
| native_name = {{small|''Stellvertreter des Bundeskanzlers''}}
| insignia = Bundesadler Bundesorgane.svg{{!}}class=skin-invert
| insigniasize = 
| insigniacaption = Coat of Arms of the German Government
| flag = Flag of Germany.svg
| flagsize = 150px
| flagborder = 
| flagcaption = Flag of Germany
| image = 2025-05-05 Unterzeichnung des Koalitionsvertrages der 21. Wahlperiode des Bundestages by Sandro Halank–049 (cropped).jpg
| imagesize = 
| alt = 
| incumbent = [[Lars Klingbeil]]
| acting = 
| incumbentsince = 6 May 2025
| department = 
| style = Mr. Vice-chancellor {{small|(informal)}}<br />[[Excellency|His Excellency]] {{small|(diplomatic)}}
| type = 
| status = [[Head of government|Deputy head of government]]
| abbreviation = 
| member_of = [[Cabinet of Germany|Federal Cabinet]]
| reports_to = 
| residence = 
| seat = As Federal Minister; currently [[Federal Ministry of Finance (Germany)|Federal Ministry of Finance]], [[Berlin]]/[[Bonn]]
| nominator = [[Chancellor of Germany|Chancellor]] or the [[Coalition| coalition party]]
| appointer = [[Chancellor of Germany|Chancellor]]
| appointer_qualified = 
| termlength = ''At the chancellor's pleasure''
| termlength_qualified = 
| constituting_instrument = [[German Basic Law]] (German Constitution)
| precursor = 
| formation = {{start date and age|1949|5|24|df=yes}}
| first = [[Franz Blücher]]
| last = 
| abolished = 
| succession = 
| unofficial_names = 
| deputy = 
| salary = 
| website = 
}}

The '''vice-chancellor of Germany''', officially the '''deputy to the federal chancellor''' ({{Langx|de|Stellvertreter des Bundeskanzlers}}), is the second highest ranking [[German cabinet]] member. The [[Chancellor of Germany|chancellor]] is the head of government and, according to the constitution, gives this title of deputy to one of the federal ministers. It is custom that the title is given to a minister of the largest coalition partner, since 1966 typically the [[Minister for Foreign Affairs (Germany)|foreign minister]]. Since 2011, the [[Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection|minister for economic affairs]] has held the title most often.

In everyday politics, being vice-chancellor is considered more of an honorary title. The vice-chancellor may head cabinet meetings when the chancellor is absent. The function of vice-chancellor is to use the specific constitutional powers of the chancellor in case that the chancellor is unable to perform their duties. This kind of substitution has never been made use of in the history of the Federal Republic. Should a chancellor resign, die or be permanently unable to perform the duties of office, the vice-chancellor does not automatically become the next chancellor. In such a case the [[President of Germany|Federal President]] assigns a minister to serve as [[Acting (law)|acting]] chancellor until the [[Bundestag]] (parliament) elects a new chancellor.<ref>Ute Mager, in: von Münch/Kunig: Grundgesetz-Kommentar II, 5. Auflage 2001, Rn. 10/11 zu Art. 69.</ref>

Although {{Lang|de|Stellvertreter}} is the constitutional term, '''vice-chancellor''' ({{Lang|de|Vizekanzler}}) is used more commonly. ''[[Chancellor]]'' ({{Lang|de|Kanzler}}) is the traditional term for the German head of government since 1867/71. A general deputy was introduced by law in 1878 ({{Lang|de|Stellvertretungsgesetz}}). In the [[Weimar Republic]] of 1919&ndash;1933, the office of {{Lang|de|Vizekanzler}} was mentioned in the internal regulation of the government. The current title has existed since the constitution of 1949.

[[Lars Klingbeil]] ([[Social Democratic Party of Germany |Social Democratic Party]]) is the current officeholder since 6 May 2025.

== History ==
{{Politics of Germany}}
Such an office was initially established by the 1878 {{Lang|de|Stellvertretungsgesetz}} (Deputation Act), which provided for the imperial chancellor appointing a deputy, officially known as {{Lang|de|Allgemeiner Stellvertreter des Reichskanzlers}} (General Deputy to the Imperial Chancellor). In addition to the general deputy, who could sign for all the affairs of the chancellor, the chancellor could appoint deputies with limited responsibilities. The act was revised on 28 October 1918, when the possibility of appointing deputies with limited responsibilities was removed and the vice-chancellor was given the right to appear before parliament.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.documentarchiv.de/ksr/1878/reichskanzler-stellvertretung_ges.html|title=Gesetz, betreffend die Stellvertretung des Reichskanzlers ["Stellvertretungsgesetz"] (17.03.1878)|website=www.documentarchiv.de|language=German|access-date=2019-08-26}}</ref>

In the Weimar Republic, the office was considered less important. It was not even mentioned in the constitution. Usually it was held by the minister of justice or the interior. The most known office holder is [[Franz von Papen]], a former chancellor who formed a coalition government of national socialists and conservatives. [[Adolf Hitler]] became chancellor, and Papen vice-chancellor. It became soon obvious that the position of vice-chancellor provided no powers and was unsuited to constrain Hitler. Papen was convinced that him being trusted by president Hindenburg made him an important political player; soon, Hindenburg's trust went from Papen to Hitler.

In the Federal Republic (since 1949), the chancellors have had no interest in allowing the deputy to use the title for self-promotion.<ref>Roman Herzog, in: Maunz/Dürig: Kommentar zum Grundgesetz, 2008, Art. 69, Rn. 9.</ref> Since 1966 it became customary that the coalition partner of the governing party received the ministry of foreign affairs, who was also appointed deputy. The ministry of foreign affairs was considered to be the most important cabinet post besides the chancellorship. This tradition faded away during the [[Chancellorship of Angela Merkel|tenure of Angela Merkel]], partially because the leaders of her coalition partners chose a different ministry.

== Office and appointment mechanism ==
The German cabinet consists of the chancellor and the federal ministers. According to the [[Basic Law for the Federal Republic of Germany|Basic Law]] (Article 69.1), the chancellor appoints one of the [[Cabinet of Germany|ministers]] as vice-chancellor. In contrast to the appointment of a cabinet minister, there is no need for a formal appointment by the president. The appointment is an exclusive power of the chancellor.

The chancellor is theoretically free to choose a deputy chancellor. In practice, a German government is usually based on a coalition of two or more parties and the chancellor gives the title to a minister of the second largest coalition party upon recommendation of that party's leadership.

The German vice-chancellor can be regarded as the equivalent of a [[deputy prime minister]] in other parliamentary systems. Unlike the vice president post in presidential systems of governments, the German vice-chancellor is not the automatic successor in the event that a sitting chancellor suddenly leaves office.

A German cabinet exists only as long as the current chancellor is in office. The end of a chancellor's term in office (either by death or resignation or the first meeting of a newly elected Bundestag) automatically terminates the office of any minister. If this happens, the [[president of Germany]] appoints the former chancellor or, if this is not possible, one of the former cabinet ministers (not necessarily, but most likely the former vice-chancellor) as acting chancellor, until the parliament elects a new chancellor.<ref>Georg Hermes, in: Horst Dreier (Hrsg.) Grundgesetz-Kommentar, Band 2, 2. Auflage 2006, Art. 69, Rn. 7, 17-19.</ref> When in 1974 Chancellor [[Willy Brandt]] resigned and refused to remain in office until his successor's election, President [[Gustav Heinemann]] ensured a corresponding precedent and appointed former vice-chancellor [[Walter Scheel]] as acting chancellor.

The Basic Law does not state who shall perform the chancellor's powers and duties, if both the chancellor and the vice-chancellor are unable to do so. The German cabinet's rules of procedure state that in absence of both office-holders cabinet meetings shall be chaired by a cabinet member designated for this purpose by either the chancellor or the vice-chancellor or, if such a designation has not taken place or if the designee is not able to do so, by the present cabinet member with the longest uninterrupted membership in the federal government (§22.1).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bundesregierung.de/breg-de/themen/geschaeftsordnung-der-bundesregierung-459846|title=Geschäftsordnung der Bundesregierung|access-date=2020-03-23|archive-date=2021-12-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211210155332/https://www.bundesregierung.de/breg-de/themen/geschaeftsordnung-der-bundesregierung-459846|url-status=dead}}</ref> It is however unclear, whether this provision extends to other powers of the office of chancellor. In an expertise issued by the Bundestag's scientific service in 2014, the legal opinion is that this is the case.<ref>Wissenschaftlicher Dienst des Bundestages. Sachstand. Vertretungsregelungen für das Amt des Bundeskanzlers und des Bundespräsidenten (AZ: WD 3-3000-016/14), p. 3–4.</ref>

== List of vice-chancellors ==

=== German Reich (1871–1945) ===

==== German Empire (1871–1918) ====
'''Political party:'''
{{legend2|{{party color|Free Conservative Party}}|[[Free Conservative Party|FKP]]|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}
{{legend2|{{party color|Progressive People's Party (Germany)}}|[[Progressive People's Party (Germany)|FVP]]|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}

{| class="wikitable sortable"
! class="unsortable" | {{Abbr|No.|Number}}
! class="unsortable" | Portrait
! Name
! data-sort-type="date" | Term start
! data-sort-type="date" | Term end
! Days
! Party
! Portfolio
! class="unsortable" |
! Cabinet
|-
! style="background:{{party color|Free Conservative Party}};" | 1
| [[File:Ottosw.jpg|60px]]
| '''[[Otto Graf zu Stolberg-Wernigerode]]'''<br />{{small|(1837–1896)}}
| 1 June 1878
| 20 June 1881
| {{age in days|1878|6|1|1881|6|20}}
| [[Free Conservative Party|FKP]]
| 
| style="background:{{party color|Independent (politician)}}; color:white" |
| [[Bismarck cabinet|Bismarck]]
|-
! rowspan=3 style="background:{{party color|Free Conservative Party}};" | 2
| rowspan=3|[[File:Bundesarchiv Bild 146-1981-127-06A, Karl-Heinrich von Boetticher.jpg|60px]]
| rowspan=3|'''[[Karl Heinrich von Boetticher]]'''<br />{{small|(1833–1907)}}
| rowspan=3|20 June 1881
| rowspan=3|1 July 1897
| rowspan=3|{{age in days|1881|6|20|1897|7|1}}
| rowspan=3|[[Free Conservative Party|FKP]]
| rowspan=3|[[Federal Ministry of the Interior (Germany)|Secretary of State for the Interior]]
| style="background:{{party color|Independent (politician)}}; color:white" |
| [[Bismarck cabinet|Bismarck]]
|-
| style="background:{{party color|Independent (politician)}}; color:white" |
| [[Caprivi cabinet|Caprivi]]
|-
| style="background:{{party color|Independent (politician)}}; color:white" |
| [[Hohenlohe-Schillingsfürst cabinet|Hohenlohe-Schillingsfürst]]
|-
! rowspan=2 style="background:{{party color|Free Conservative Party}};" | 3
| rowspan=2|[[File:Nicola Perscheid - Arthur von Posadowsky-Wehner.jpg|60px]]
| rowspan=2|'''[[Arthur von Posadowsky-Wehner]]'''<br />{{small|(1845–1932)}}
| rowspan=2|1 July 1897
| rowspan=2|24 June 1907
| rowspan=2|{{age in days|1897|7|1|1907|6|24}}
| rowspan=2|[[Free Conservative Party|FKP]]
| rowspan=2|[[Federal Ministry of the Interior (Germany)|Secretary of State for the Interior]]
| style="background:{{party color|Independent (politician)}}; color:white" |
| [[Hohenlohe-Schillingsfürst cabinet|Hohenlohe-Schillingsfürst]]
|-
| style="background:{{party color|Independent (politician)}}; color:white" |
| [[Bülow cabinet|Bülow]]
|-
! style="background:{{party color|Independent (politician)}};" | 4
| [[File:Theobald von Bethmann Hollweg(cropped).jpg|60px]]
| '''[[Theobald von Bethmann Hollweg]]'''<br />{{small|(1856–1921)}}
| 24 June 1907
| 14 July 1909
| {{age in days|1907|6|24|1909|7|14}}
| [[Independent (politician)|Independent]]
| [[Federal Ministry of the Interior (Germany)|Secretary of State for the Interior]]
| style="background:{{party color|Independent (politician)}}; color:white" |
| [[Bülow cabinet|Bülow]]
|-
! style="background:{{party color|Independent (politician)}};" | 5
| [[File:Delbrück, Clemens von (1856-1921).jpg|60px]]
| '''[[Clemens von Delbrück]]'''<br />{{small|(1856–1921)}}
| 14 July 1909
| 22 May 1916
| {{age in days|1909|7|17|1916|5|22}}
| [[Independent (politician)|Independent]]
| [[Federal Ministry of the Interior (Germany)|Secretary of State for the Interior]]
| style="background:{{party color|Independent (politician)}}; color:white" |
| [[Bethmann Hollweg]]
|-
! rowspan=3 style="background:{{party color|Independent (politician)}};" | 6
| rowspan=3|[[File:Karl Helfferich.jpg|60px]]
| rowspan=3|'''[[Karl Helfferich]]'''<br />{{small|(1872–1924)}}
| rowspan=3|22 May 1916
| rowspan=3|9 November 1917
| rowspan=3|{{age in days|1916|5|22|1917|11|9}}
| rowspan=3|[[Independent (politician)|Independent]]
| rowspan=3|[[Federal Ministry of the Interior (Germany)|Secretary of State for the Interior]]<br>{{small|(until 23 October 1917)}}
| style="background:{{party color|Independent (politician)}}; color:white" |
| [[Bethmann Hollweg]]
|-
| style="background:{{party color|Independent (politician)}}; color:white" |
| [[Michaelis cabinet|Michaelis]]
|-
| style="background:{{party color|Centre Party (Germany)}}; color:white" |
| [[Hertling cabinet|Hertling]]
|-
! rowspan=3 style="background:{{party color|Progressive People's Party (Germany)}};" | 7
| rowspan=3|[[File:Friedrich von Payer.jpg|60px]]
| rowspan=3|'''[[Friedrich von Payer]]'''<br />{{small|(1847–1931)}}
| rowspan=3|9 November 1917
| rowspan=3|10 November 1918
| rowspan=3|{{age in days|1917|11|9|1918|11|10}}
| rowspan=3|[[Progressive People's Party (Germany)|FVP]]
| rowspan=3|
| style="background:{{party color|Centre Party (Germany)}}; color:white" |
| [[Hertling cabinet|Hertling]]
|-
| style="background:{{party color|Independent (politician)}}; color:white" |
| [[Baden cabinet|Baden]]
|-
| style="background:{{party color|Social Democratic Party of Germany}}; color:white" |
| [[Council of the People's Deputies|Ebert]]
|}

==== Weimar Republic (1918–1933) ====
'''Political party:'''
{{legend2|{{party color|German Democratic Party}}|[[German Democratic Party|DDP]]|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}
{{legend2|{{party color|Centre Party (Germany)}}|[[Centre Party (Germany)|Centre]]|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}
{{legend2|{{party color|German People's Party}}|[[German People's Party|DVP]]|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}
{{legend2|{{party color|Social Democratic Party of Germany}}|[[Social Democratic Party of Germany|SPD]]|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}
{{legend2|{{party color|German National People's Party}}|[[German National People's Party|DNVP]]|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}

{| class="wikitable sortable"
! class="unsortable" | {{Abbr|No.|Number}}
! class="unsortable" | Portrait
! Name
! data-sort-type="date" | Term start
! data-sort-type="date" | Term end
! Days
! Party
! Portfolio
! class="unsortable" |
! Cabinet
|-
! style="background:{{party color|German Democratic Party}};" | 1
| [[File:Eugen Schiffer (1919).jpg|60px]]
| '''[[Eugen Schiffer]]'''<br />{{small|(1860–1954)}}
| 13 February 1919
| 19 April 1919
| {{age in days|1919|2|13|1919|4|19}}
| [[German Democratic Party|DDP]]
| Deputy Minister-President &<br> [[Federal Ministry of Finance (Germany)|Minister of Finance]]
| style="background:{{party color|Social Democratic Party of Germany}}; color:white" |
| [[Scheidemann cabinet|Scheidemann]]
|-
| style="text-align:center;" bgcolor=#EEEEEE colspan=10 | ''The office was vacant from 19 April to 30 April 1919.''
|-
! style="background:{{party color|German Democratic Party}};" | 2
| [[File:Bundesarchiv Bild 102-12088, Bernhard Dernburg (cropped).jpg|60px]]
| '''[[Bernhard Dernburg]]'''<br />{{small|(1865–1937)}}
| 30 April 1919
| 21 June 1919
| {{age in days|1919|4|30|1919|6|21}}
| [[German Democratic Party|DDP]]
| Deputy Minister-President &<br> [[Federal Ministry of Finance (Germany)|Minister of Finance]]
| style="background:{{party color|Social Democratic Party of Germany}}; color:white" |
| [[Scheidemann cabinet|Scheidemann]]
|-
! style="background:{{party color|Centre Party (Germany)}}; color:white" | 3
| [[File:Bundesarchiv Bild 146-1989-072-16, Matthias Erzberger.jpg|60px]]
| '''[[Matthias Erzberger]]'''<br />{{small|(1875–1921)}}
| 21 June 1919
| 3 October 1919
| {{age in days|1919|6|21|1919|10|3}}
| [[Centre Party (Germany)|Centre]]
| Deputy Minister-President {{small|(until 14 August 1919)}} &<br> [[Federal Ministry of Finance (Germany)|Minister of Finance]]
| style="background:{{party color|Social Democratic Party of Germany}}; color:white" |
| [[Bauer cabinet|Bauer]]
|-
! style="background:{{party color|German Democratic Party}};" | 4<br>{{small|(1)}}
| [[File:Eugen Schiffer (1919).jpg|60px]]
| '''[[Eugen Schiffer]]'''<br />{{small|(1860–1954)}}
| 3 October 1919
| 27 March 1920
| {{age in days|1919|10|3|1920|3|27}}
| [[German Democratic Party|DDP]]
| [[Federal Ministry of Justice and Consumer Protection|Minister of Justice]]
| style="background:{{party color|Social Democratic Party of Germany}}; color:white" |
| [[Bauer cabinet|Bauer]]
|-
! style="background:{{party color|German Democratic Party}};" | 5
| [[File:Erich Koch-Weser circa 1920 (cropped).jpg|60px]]
| '''[[Erich Koch-Weser]]'''<br />{{small|(1875–1944)}}
| 27 March 1920
| 21 June 1920
| {{age in days|1920|3|27|1920|6|21}}
| [[German Democratic Party|DDP]]
| [[Federal Ministry of the Interior (Germany)|Minister of the Interior]]
| style="background:{{party color|Social Democratic Party of Germany}}; color:white" |
| [[First Müller cabinet|Müller I]]
|-
| style="text-align:center;" bgcolor=#EEEEEE colspan=10 | ''The office was vacant from 21 June to 25 June 1920.''
|-
! style="background:{{party color|German People's Party}}; color:white" | 6
| [[File:Dr. Rudolf Heinze.jpg|60px]]
| '''[[Rudolf Heinze]]'''<br />{{small|(1865–1928)}}
| 25 June 1920
| 10 May 1921
| {{age in days|1920|6|25|1921|5|10}}
| [[German People's Party|DVP]]
| [[Federal Ministry of Justice and Consumer Protection|Minister of Justice]]
| style="background:{{party color|Centre Party (Germany)}}; color:white" |
| [[Fehrenbach cabinet|Fehrenbach]]
|-
! rowspan=2 style="background:{{party color|Social Democratic Party of Germany}}; color:white" | 7
| rowspan=2|[[File:Bundesarchiv Bild 183-J0113-0500-001, Gustav Bauer.jpg|60px]]
| rowspan=2|'''[[Gustav Bauer]]'''<br />{{small|(1870–1944)}}
| rowspan=2|10 May 1921
| rowspan=2|22 November 1922
| rowspan=2|{{age in days|1921|5|10|1922|11|22}}
| rowspan=2|[[Social Democratic Party of Germany|SPD]]
| rowspan=2|[[Federal Ministry of Finance (Germany)|Minister of Finance]]
| style="background:{{party color|Centre Party (Germany)}}; color:white" |
| [[First Wirth cabinet|Wirth I]]
|-
| style="background:{{party color|Centre Party (Germany)}}; color:white" |
| [[Second Wirth cabinet|Wirth II]]
|-
| style="text-align:center;" bgcolor=#EEEEEE colspan=10 | ''The office was vacant from 22 November 1922 to 13 August 1923.''
|-
! style="background:{{party color|Social Democratic Party of Germany}}; color:white" | 8
| [[File:Robert Schmidt (politician).jpg|60px]]
| '''[[Robert Schmidt (German politician)|Robert Schmidt]]'''<br />{{small|(1864–1943)}}
| 13 August 1923
| 6 October 1923
| {{age in days|1923|8|13|1923|10|6}}
| [[Social Democratic Party of Germany|SPD]]
| Minister for Reconstruction
| style="background:{{party color|German People's Party}}; color:white" |
| [[First Stresemann cabinet|Stresemann I]]
|-
| style="text-align:center;" bgcolor=#EEEEEE colspan=10 | ''The office was vacant from 6 October to 30 November 1923.''
|-
! rowspan=2 style="background:{{party color|German People's Party}}; color:white" | 9
| rowspan=2|[[File:Dr. Jarres LCCN2014716741 (cropped).jpg|60px]]
| rowspan=2|'''[[Karl Jarres]]'''<br />{{small|(1874–1951)}}
| rowspan=2|30 November 1923
| rowspan=2|15 December 1924
| rowspan=2|{{age in days|1923|11|30|1924|12|15}}
| rowspan=2|[[German People's Party|DVP]]
| rowspan=2|[[Federal Ministry of the Interior (Germany)|Minister of the Interior]]
| style="background:{{party color|Centre Party (Germany)}}; color:white" |
| [[First Marx cabinet|Marx I]]
|-
| style="background:{{party color|Centre Party (Germany)}}; color:white" |
| [[Second Marx cabinet|Marx II]]
|-
| style="text-align:center;" bgcolor=#EEEEEE colspan=10 | ''The office was vacant from 15 December 1924 to 28 January 1927.''
|-
! style="background:{{party color|German National People's Party}}; color:white" | 10
| [[File:Oskar Hergt.jpg|60px]]
| '''[[Oskar Hergt]]'''<br />{{small|(1869–1967)}}
| 28 January 1927
| 28 June 1928
| {{age in days|1927|1|28|1928|6|28}}
| [[German National People's Party|DNVP]]
| [[Federal Ministry of Justice and Consumer Protection|Minister of Justice]]
| style="background:{{party color|Centre Party (Germany)}}; color:white" |
| [[Fourth Marx cabinet|Marx IV]]
|-
| style="text-align:center;" bgcolor=#EEEEEE colspan=10 | ''The office was vacant from 28 June 1928 to 30 March 1930.''
|-
! rowspan=2 style="background:{{party color|German Democratic Party}};" | 11
| rowspan=2|[[File:Bundesarchiv Bild 102-10015, Robert Hermann Dietrich (cropped).jpg|60px]]
| rowspan=2|'''[[Hermann Dietrich]]'''<br />{{small|(1879–1954)}}
| rowspan=2|30 March 1930
| rowspan=2|1 June 1932
| rowspan=2|{{age in days|1930|3|30|1932|6|1}}
| rowspan=2|[[German Democratic Party|DDP]]
| rowspan=2|[[Federal Ministry of Finance (Germany)|Minister of Finance]] {{small|(from 26 June 1930)}}
| style="background:{{party color|Centre Party (Germany)}}; color:white" |
| [[First Brüning cabinet|Brüning I]]
|-
| style="background:{{party color|Centre Party (Germany)}}; color:white" |
| [[Second Brüning cabinet|Brüning II]]
|-
| style="text-align:center;" bgcolor=#EEEEEE colspan=10 | ''The office was vacant from 1 June 1932 to 30 January 1933.''
|}

==== Nazi Germany (1933–1945) ====
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! class="unsortable" | {{Abbr|No.|Number}}
! class="unsortable" | Portrait
! Name
! data-sort-type="date" | Term start
! data-sort-type="date" | Term end
! Days
! Party
! Portfolio
! Other positions
! class="unsortable" |
! Cabinet
|-
! colspan="15"| The deputy to the chancellor of the Reich
|-
! style="background:{{party color|Independent (politician)}};" | 12
| [[File:Bundesarchiv Bild 183-S00017, Franz von Papen crop.jpg|60px]]
| '''[[Franz von Papen]]'''<br />{{small|(1879–1969)}}
| 30 January 1933
| 7 August 1934
| {{age in days|1933|1|30|1934|8|7}}
| Non-partisan
|
| [[Minister President of Prussia]]<br>{{small|(until 10 April 1933)}}
| style="background:{{party color|Nazi Party}}; color:white" |
| [[Hitler cabinet|Hitler]]
|-
| style="text-align:center;" bgcolor=#EEEEEE colspan=15 | ''From 7 August 1934 until 20 September 1949, the office of the vice-chancellor of Germany was abolished''.
|}

=== Federal Republic of Germany (1949–present) ===
'''Political party:'''
{{legend2|{{party color|Free Democratic Party (Germany)}}|[[Free Democratic Party (Germany)|FDP]]|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}
{{legend2|{{party color|CDU/CSU}}|[[Christian Democratic Union (Germany)|CDU]]|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}
{{legend2|{{party color|Social Democratic Party of Germany}}|[[Social Democratic Party of Germany|SPD]]|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}
{{legend2|{{party color|Alliance '90/The Greens}}|[[Alliance '90/The Greens|Green]]|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}

{| class="wikitable sortable"
! class="unsortable" | {{Abbr|No.|Number}}
! class="unsortable" | Portrait
! Name
! data-sort-type="date" | Term start
! data-sort-type="date" | Term end
! Days
! Party
! Portfolio
! class="unsortable" |
! Cabinet
|-
! style="background:{{party color|Free Democratic Party (Germany)}};" | 1
| [[File:Bundesarchiv B 145 Bild-P001512, Franz Blücher 2.jpg|60px]]
| '''[[Franz Blücher]]'''<br />{{small|(1896–1959)}}
| 20 September 1949
| 29 October 1957
| {{age in days|1949|9|20|1957|10|29}}
| [[Free Democratic Party (Germany)|FDP]] {{small|(until 1956)}}<br>[[Free People's Party (Germany)|FVP]] {{small|(1956–57)}}<br>[[German Party (1947)|DP]] {{small|(1957–)}}
| [[Federal Ministry of Matters of the Marshall Plan|Marshall Plan]]<br>{{small|(later renamed to<br>''Economic Cooperation'')}}
| style="background:{{party color|CDU/CSU}}; color:white" |
| [[Cabinet Adenauer I|Adenauer I]] • [[Second Adenauer cabinet|II]]
|-
! style="background:{{party color|CDU/CSU}}; color:white" | 2
| [[File:Einde bezoek bondskanselier dr Ludwig Erhard en gaf persconferentie in het Haag, Bestanddeelnr 916-1325 (cropped).jpg|60px]]
| '''[[Ludwig Erhard]]'''<br />{{small|(1897–1977)}}
| 29 October 1957
| 16 October 1963
| {{age in days|1957|10|29|1963|10|16}}
| [[Christian Democratic Union of Germany|CDU]]
| [[Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology (Germany)|Economic Affairs]]
| style="background:{{party color|CDU/CSU}}; color:white" |
| [[Third Adenauer cabinet|Adenauer III]] • [[Fourth Adenauer cabinet|IV]]
|-
! style="background:{{party color|Free Democratic Party (Germany)}};" | 3
| [[File:Bundesarchiv Bild 183-87989-0060, Erich Mende.jpg|60px]]
| '''[[Erich Mende]]'''<br />{{small|(1916–1998)}}
| 17 October 1963
| 28 October 1966
| {{age in days|1963|10|17|1966|10|28}}
| [[Free Democratic Party (Germany)|FDP]]
| [[Minister of Intra-German Relations|Intra-German Relations]]
| style="background:{{party color|CDU/CSU}}; color:white" |
| [[First Erhard cabinet|Erhard I]] • [[Second Erhard cabinet|II]]
|-
| style="text-align:center;" bgcolor=#EEEEEE colspan=10 | ''The office was vacant from 28 October to 8 November 1966.''
|-
! style="background:{{party color|CDU/CSU}}; color:white" | 4
| [[File:Einweihung des Mosel-Schiffahrtsweges 1964, Seebohm-MK060 RGB (cropped).jpg|60px]]
| '''[[Hans-Christoph Seebohm]]'''<br />{{small|(1903–1967)}}
| 8 November 1966
| 1 December 1966
| {{age in days|1966|11|8|1966|11|30}}
| [[Christian Democratic Union (Germany)|CDU]]
| [[Federal Ministry of Transport, Building and Urban Affairs (Germany)|Transport]]
| style="background:{{party color|CDU/CSU}}; color:white" |
| [[Second Erhard cabinet|Erhard II]]
|-
! style="background:{{party color|Social Democratic Party of Germany}}; color:white" | 5
| [[File:Bundesarchiv B 145 Bild-F057884-0009, Willy Brandt.jpg|60px]]
| '''[[Willy Brandt]]'''<br />{{small|(1913–1992)}}
| 1 December 1966
| 22 October 1969
| {{age in days|1966|12|1|1969|10|20}}
| [[Social Democratic Party of Germany|SPD]]
| [[Federal Foreign Office|Foreign Affairs]]
| style="background:{{party color|CDU/CSU}}; color:white" |
| [[Cabinet Kiesinger|Kiesinger]]
|-
! style="background:{{party color|Free Democratic Party (Germany)}};" | 6
| [[File:Bundesarchiv Bild 146-1989-047-20, Walter Scheel.jpg|60px]]
| '''[[Walter Scheel]]'''<br />{{small|(1919–2016)}}
| 22 October 1969
| 16 May 1974
| {{age in days|1969|10|21|1974|5|16}}
| [[Free Democratic Party (Germany)|FDP]]
| [[Federal Foreign Office|Foreign Affairs]]
| style="background:{{party color|Social Democratic Party of Germany}}; color:white" |
| [[Cabinet Brandt I|Brandt I]] • [[Cabinet Brandt II|II]]
|-
! style="background:{{party color|Free Democratic Party (Germany)}};" | 7
| [[File:Bundesarchiv FDP-Bundesparteitag, Genscher.jpg|60px]]
| '''[[Hans-Dietrich Genscher]]'''<br />{{small|(1927–2016)}}<br />{{small|First term}}
| 17 May 1974
| 17 September 1982
| {{age in days|1974|5|17|1982|9|17}}
| [[Free Democratic Party (Germany)|FDP]]
| [[Federal Foreign Office|Foreign Affairs]]
| style="background:{{party color|Social Democratic Party of Germany}}; color:white" |
| [[Cabinet Schmidt I|Schmidt I]] • [[Second Schmidt cabinet|II]] • [[Third Schmidt cabinet|III]]
|-
! style="background:{{party color|Social Democratic Party of Germany}}; color:white" | 8
| [[File:Bundesarchiv B 145 Bild-F048636-0022, Dortmund, SPD-Parteitag, Egon Franke (cropped).jpg|60px]]
| '''[[Egon Franke (politician)|Egon Franke]]'''<br />{{small|(1913–1995)}}
| 17 September 1982
| 1 October 1982
| {{age in days|1982|9|17|1982|10|1}}
| [[Social Democratic Party of Germany|SPD]]
| [[Minister of Intra-German Relations|Intra-German Relations]]
| style="background:{{party color|Social Democratic Party of Germany}}; color:white" |
| [[Third Schmidt cabinet|Schmidt III]]
|-
| style="text-align:center;" bgcolor=#EEEEEE colspan=10 | ''The office was vacant from 1 October to 4 October 1982.''
|-
! style="background:{{party color|Free Democratic Party (Germany)}};" | 9<br>{{small|(7)}}
| [[File:Hans-Dietrich Genscher (1989).jpg|60px]]
| '''[[Hans-Dietrich Genscher]]'''<br />{{small|(1927–2016)}}<br />{{small|Second term}}
| 4 October 1982
| 18 May 1992
| {{age in days|1982|10|1|1992|5|17}}
| [[Free Democratic Party (Germany)|FDP]]
| [[Federal Foreign Office|Foreign Affairs]]
| style="background:{{party color|CDU/CSU}}; color:white" |
| [[Cabinet Kohl I|Kohl I]] • [[Cabinet Kohl II|II]] • [[Cabinet Kohl III|III]] • [[Cabinet Kohl IV|IV]]
|-
! style="background:{{party color|Free Democratic Party (Germany)}};" | 10
| [[File:Jürgen Möllemann 2002 (cropped).jpeg|60px]]
| '''[[Jürgen Möllemann]]'''<br />{{small|(1945–2003)}}
| 18 May 1992
| 21 January 1993
| {{age in days|1992|5|18|1993|1|21}}
| [[Free Democratic Party (Germany)|FDP]]
| [[Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology (Germany)|Economic Affairs]]
| style="background:{{party color|CDU/CSU}}; color:white" |
| [[Cabinet Kohl IV|Kohl IV]]
|-
! style="background:{{party color|Free Democratic Party (Germany)}};" | 11
| [[File:Bundesarchiv B 145 Bild-F063645-0024, Pullach, Besuch Carstens beim BND.jpg|60px]]
| '''[[Klaus Kinkel]]'''<br />{{small|(1936–2019)}}
| 21 January 1993
| 27 October 1998
| {{age in days|1993|1|21|1998|10|26}}
| [[Free Democratic Party (Germany)|FDP]]
| [[Federal Foreign Office|Foreign Affairs]]
| style="background:{{party color|CDU/CSU}}; color:white" |
| [[Cabinet Kohl IV|Kohl IV]] • [[Cabinet Kohl V|V]]
|-
! style="background:{{party color|Alliance '90/The Greens}};" | 12
| [[File:Fischer und Paul Wolfowitz (Headshot).jpg|60px]]
| '''[[Joschka Fischer]]'''<br />{{small|(born 1948)}}
| 27 October 1998
| 22 November 2005
| {{age in days|1998|10|27|2005|11|22}}
| [[Alliance '90/The Greens|Green]]
| [[Federal Foreign Office|Foreign Affairs]]
| style="background:{{party color|Social Democratic Party of Germany}}; color:white" |
| [[Cabinet Schröder I|Schröder I]] • [[Cabinet Schröder II|II]]
|-
! style="background:{{party color|Social Democratic Party of Germany}}; color:white" | 13
| [[File:FranzMüntefering mw1.jpg|60px]]
| '''[[Franz Müntefering]]'''<br />{{small|(born 1940)}}
| 22 November 2005
| 21 November 2007
| {{age in days|2005|11|22|2007|11|21}}
| [[Social Democratic Party of Germany|SPD]]
| [[Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (Germany)|Labour and Social Affairs]]
| style="background:{{party color|CDU/CSU}}; color:white" |
| [[Cabinet Merkel I|Merkel I]]
|-
! style="background:{{party color|Social Democratic Party of Germany}}; color:white" | 14
| [[File:Frank-Walter Steinmeier Feb 2014 (cropped).jpg|60px]]
| '''[[Frank-Walter Steinmeier]]'''<br />{{small|(born 1956)}}
| 21 November 2007
| 27 October 2009
| {{age in days|2007|11|21|2009|10|27}}
| [[Social Democratic Party of Germany|SPD]]
| [[Federal Foreign Office|Foreign Affairs]]
| style="background:{{party color|CDU/CSU}}; color:white" |
| [[Cabinet Merkel I|Merkel I]]
|-
! style="background:{{party color|Free Democratic Party (Germany)}};" | 15
| [[File:Guido westerwelle.jpg|60px]]
| '''[[Guido Westerwelle]]'''<br />{{small|(1961–2016)}}
| 27 October 2009
| 16 May 2011
| {{age in days|2009|10|28|2011|5|16}}
| [[Free Democratic Party (Germany)|FDP]]
| [[Federal Foreign Office|Foreign Affairs]]
| style="background:{{party color|CDU/CSU}}; color:white" |
| [[Cabinet Merkel II|Merkel II]]
|-
! style="background:{{party color|Free Democratic Party (Germany)}};" | 16
| [[File:Roesler-klein.jpg|60px]]
| '''[[Philipp Rösler]]'''<br />{{small|(born 1973)}}
| 16 May 2011
| 17 December 2013
| {{age in days|2011|5|16|2013|12|17}}
| [[Free Democratic Party (Germany)|FDP]]
| [[Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology (Germany)|Economic Affairs]] 
| style="background:{{party color|CDU/CSU}}; color:white" |
| [[Cabinet Merkel II|Merkel II]]
|-
! style="background:{{party color|Social Democratic Party of Germany}}; color:white" | 17
| [[File:Sigmar Gabriel (2013).jpg|60px]]
| '''[[Sigmar Gabriel]]'''<br />{{small|(born 1959)}}
| 17 December 2013
| 14 March 2018 
| {{age in days|2013|12|17|2018|3|14}}
| [[Social Democratic Party of Germany|SPD]]
| [[Federal Ministry of Economics and Energy|Economic Affairs]]<br /><small>(2013–17)</small><br />[[Federal Foreign Office|Foreign Affairs]]<br /><small>(2017–18)</small>
| style="background:{{party color|CDU/CSU}}; color:white" |
| [[Third Merkel Cabinet|Merkel III]]
|-
! style="background:{{party color|Social Democratic Party of Germany}}; color:white" | 18
| [[File:Olaf Scholz September 2024.jpg|60px]]
| '''[[Olaf Scholz]]'''<br />{{small|(born 1958)}}
| 14 March 2018
| 8 December 2021
| {{age in days|2018|3|14|2021|12|8}}
| [[Social Democratic Party of Germany|SPD]]
| [[Federal Ministry of Finance (Germany)|Finance]]
| style="background:{{party color|CDU/CSU}}; color:white" |
| [[Fourth Merkel cabinet|Merkel IV]]
|-
! style="background:{{party color|Alliance '90/The Greens}};" | 19
| [[File:2021-12-07 Unterzeichnung des Koalitionsvertrages der 20. Wahlperiode des Bundestages by Sandro Halank–018 (cropped).jpg|60px]]
| '''[[Robert Habeck]]'''<br>{{small|(born 1969)}}
| 8 December 2021
| 6 May 2025
| {{age in days|2021|12|8}}
| [[Alliance '90/The Greens|Green]]
| [[Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy|Economic Affairs and Climate Protection]]
| style="background:{{party color|Social Democratic Party of Germany}}; color:white" |
| [[Scholz cabinet|Scholz]]
|-
! style="background:{{party color|Social Democratic Party of Germany}}; color:white" | 20
| [[File:2025-05-05 Unterzeichnung des Koalitionsvertrages der 21. Wahlperiode des Bundestages by Sandro Halank–049 (cropped).jpg|60px]]
| '''[[Lars Klingbeil]]'''<br>{{small|(born 1978)}}
| 6 May 2025
| ''Incumbent'' 
| {{age in days|2025|5|6}}
| [[Social Democratic Party of Germany|SPD]]
| [[Federal Ministry of Finance (Germany)|Finance]]
| style="background:{{party color|CDU/CSU}}; color:white" |
| [[Merz cabinet|Merz]]
|}

==Timeline==
{{#tag:timeline|
ImageSize = width:1000 height:auto barincrement:12
PlotArea  = top:10 bottom:130 right:80 left:20
AlignBars = late

Colors     =
  id:ind   value:rgb(0.8, 0.8, 0.8) legend:Independent
  id:fkp   value:rgb(0, 0.75, 1)    legend:Free_Conservative_Party
  id:fovp   value:rgb(1, 0.85, 0)    legend:Progressive_People's_Party_(Germany)
  id:ddp   value:rgb(0.86, 0.79, 0.29)    legend:German_Democratic_Party
  id:dzp   value:black         legend:Centre_Party_(Germany)
  id:dvp   value:rgb(0.83, 0.71, 0.33)  legend:German_People's_Party
  id:spd   value:rgb(0.89, 0, 0.06)              legend:Social_Democratic_Party_of_Germany
  id:dnvp   value:rgb(0.25, 0.48, 0.76)  legend:German_National_People's_Party
  id:fdp   value:rgb(1, 0.93, 0)           legend:Free_Democratic_Party_(Germany)
  id:frvp   value:rgb(1, 0.93, 0)           legend:Free_People's_Party_(Germany)
  id:dp   value:rgb(0.4, 0.71, 0.5)           legend:German_Party_(1947)
  id:cdu   value:rgb(0.08, 0.08, 0.09)            legend:Christian_Democratic_Union_of_Germany
  id:b90dg   value:rgb(0.25, 0.6, 0.24)            legend:Alliance_90/The_Greens


  id:gray1 value:gray(0.8)
  id:gray2 value:gray(0.9)

DateFormat = dd/mm/yyyy
Period     = from:1878 till:{{#time:d/m/Y}}
TimeAxis   = orientation:horizontal
ScaleMajor = gridcolor:gray1 unit:year increment:10 start:1880
ScaleMinor = gridcolor:gray2 unit:year increment:2 start:1878

Define $now = {{#time:d/m/Y}}

Legend     = columns:1 left:140 top:100 columnwidth:90

TextData =
  pos:(20,104) textcolor:black fontsize:M
  text:"Political party:"

BarData =
  bar:SWernigerode
  bar:Boetticher
  bar:PWehner
  bar:BHollweg
  bar:Delbrück
  bar:Helfferich
  bar:Payer
  bar:Schiffer
  bar:Dernburg
  bar:Erzberger
  bar:KWeser
  bar:Heinze
  bar:Bauer
  bar:Schmidt
  bar:Jarres
  bar:Hergt
  bar:Dietrich
  bar:Papen
  bar:Blücher
  bar:Erhard
  bar:Mende
  bar:Seebohm
  bar:Brandt
  bar:Scheel
  bar:Genscher
  bar:Franke
  bar:Möllemann
  bar:Kinkel
  bar:Fischer
  bar:Müntefering
  bar:Steinmeier
  bar:Westerwelle
  bar:Rösler
  bar:Gabriel
  bar:Scholz
  bar:Habeck
  bar:Klingbeil

PlotData =
  width:5 align:left fontsize:S shift:(5,-4) anchor:till

 bar:SWernigerode
  from: 01/06/1878 till: 20/06/1881 color:fkp   text:"[[Otto Graf zu Stolberg-Wernigerode]]"
 bar:Boetticher
  from: 20/06/1881 till: 01/07/1897 color:fkp   text:"[[Karl Heinrich von Boetticher]]"
 bar:PWehner
  from: 01/07/1897 till: 24/06/1907 color:fkp   text:"[[Arthur von Posadowsky-Wehner]]"
 bar:BHollweg
  from: 24/06/1907 till: 14/07/1909 color:ind   text:"[[Theobald von Bethmann Hollweg]]"
 bar:Delbrück
  from: 14/07/1909 till: 22/05/1916 color:ind   text:"[[Clemens von Delbrück]]"
 bar:Helfferich
  from: 22/05/1916 till: 09/11/1917 color:ind   text:"[[Karl Helfferich]]"
 bar:Payer
  from: 09/11/1917 till: 10/11/1918 color:fovp   text:"[[Friedrich von Payer]]"
 bar:Schiffer
  from: 13/02/1919 till: 19/04/1919 color:ddp
  from: 03/10/1919 till: 27/03/1920 color:ddp   text:"[[Eugen Schiffer]]"
 bar:Dernburg
  from: 30/04/1919 till: 21/06/1919 color:ddp   text:"[[Bernhard Dernburg]]"
 bar:Erzberger
  from: 21/06/1919 till: 03/10/1919 color:dzp   text:"[[Matthias Erzberger]]"
 bar:KWeser
  from: 27/03/1920 till: 21/06/1920 color:ddp   text:"[[Erich Koch-Weser]]"
 bar:Heinze
  from: 25/06/1920 till: 10/05/1921 color:dvp   text:"[[Rudolf Heinze]]"
 bar:Bauer
  from: 10/05/1921 till: 22/11/1922 color:spd   text:"[[Gustav Bauer]]"
 bar:Schmidt
  from: 13/08/1923 till: 06/10/1923 color:spd   text:"[[Robert Schmidt (German politician)|Robert Schmidt]]"
 bar:Jarres
  from: 30/11/1923 till: 15/12/1924 color:dvp   text:"[[Karl Jarres]]"
 bar:Hergt
  from: 28/01/1927 till: 28/06/1928 color:dnvp   text:"[[Oskar Hergt]]"
 bar:Dietrich
  from: 30/03/1930 till: 01/06/1932 color:ddp   text:"[[Hermann Dietrich]]"
 bar:Papen
  from: 30/01/1933 till: 07/08/1934 color:ind   text:"[[Franz von Papen]]"
 bar:Blücher
  from: 20/09/1949 till: 01/01/1956 color:fdp
  from: 01/01/1956 till: 01/01/1957 color:frvp
  from: 01/01/1957 till: 29/10/1957 color:dp   text:"[[Franz Blücher]]"
 bar:Erhard
  from: 29/10/1957 till: 16/10/1963 color:cdu text:"[[Ludwig Erhard]]"
 bar:Mende
  from: 17/10/1963 till: 28/10/1966 color:fdp text:"[[Erich Mende]]"
 bar:Seebohm
  from: 08/11/1966 till: 01/12/1966 color:cdu text:"[[Hans-Christoph Seebohm]]"
 bar:Brandt
  from: 01/12/1966 till: 22/10/1969 color:spd   text:"[[Willy Brandt]]"
 bar:Scheel
  from: 22/10/1969 till: 16/05/1974 color:fdp   text:"[[Walter Scheel]]"
 bar:Genscher
  from: 17/05/1974 till: 17/09/1982 color:fdp
  from: 04/10/1982 till: 18/05/1992 color:fdp   text:"[[Hans-Dietrich Genscher]]"
 bar:Franke
  from: 17/09/1982 till: 01/10/1982 color:spd   text:"[[Egon Franke (politician)|Egon Franke]]
 bar:Möllemann
  from: 18/05/1992 till: 21/01/1993 color:fdp   text:"[[Jürgen Möllemann]]"
 bar:Kinkel
  from: 21/01/1993 till: 27/10/1998 color:fdp   text:"[[Klaus Kinkel]]"
 bar:Fischer
  from: 27/10/1998 till: 22/11/2005 color:b90dg   text:"[[Joschka Fischer]]"
 bar:Müntefering
  from: 22/11/2005 till: 21/11/2007 color:spd   text:"[[Franz Müntefering]]"
 bar:Steinmeier
  from: 21/11/2007 till: 27/10/2009 color:spd   text:"[[Frank-Walter Steinmeier]]"
 bar:Westerwelle
  from: 27/10/2009 till: 16/05/2011 color:fdp   text:"[[Guido Westerwelle]]"
 bar:Rösler
  from: 16/05/2011 till: 17/12/2013 color:fdp   text:"[[Philipp Rösler]]"
 bar:Gabriel
  from: 17/12/2013 till: 14/03/2018 color:spd   text:"[[Sigmar Gabriel]]"
 bar:Scholz
  from: 14/03/2018 till: 08/12/2021 color:spd   text:"[[Olaf Scholz]]"
 bar:Habeck
  from: 08/12/2021 till: 06/05/2025 color:b90dg   text:"[[Robert Habeck]]"
 bar:Klingbeil
  from: 06/05/2025 till: $now       color:spd   text:"[[Lars Klingbeil]]"

}}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

{{GermanViceChancellors}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Vice-Chancellor Of Germany}}
[[Category:Vice-chancellors of Germany| ]]
[[Category:Federal Government of Germany]]