Angela Merkel's Milestones
Birth
Angela Merkel was born in Hamburg, West Germany, to Horst Kasner and Herlind Kasner.
Moved to East Germany
Family moved to East Germany when she was an infant; her father became a pastor in Templin, Brandenburg.
Attended Polytechnic High School
Attended school in Templin, excelling in mathematics and Russian.
Attended University of Leipzig
Studied physics at the University of Leipzig, earning a degree in physics.
First marriage
Married fellow physics student Ulrich Merkel; they divorced in 1982 but she kept his surname.
PhD in physics
Earned a doctorate in quantum chemistry at the Central Institute for Physical Chemistry, Academy of Sciences, East Berlin.
Research scientist
Worked as a research scientist in East Germany, publishing several scientific papers.
Joined Democratic Awakening
Joined the Democratic Awakening party during the collapse of East Germany and served as spokeswoman.
Joined Christian Democratic Union (CDU)
Joined the CDU after German reunification, quickly rising in party ranks.
Elected to Bundestag
Elected to the Bundestag (German parliament) for Mecklenburg-Vorpommern after reunification.
Appointed Minister for Women and Youth
Appointed Federal Minister for Women and Youth in Chancellor Helmut Kohl's cabinet.
Appointed Minister for the Environment
Appointed Federal Minister for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety, representing Germany at international climate conferences.
General Secretary of CDU
Appointed General Secretary of the CDU, gaining national prominence after the party's electoral defeat.
Elected CDU Chair
Elected chair of the CDU, becoming the first woman and first East German to lead the party.
First female Chancellor
Became Germany's first female Chancellor, serving four terms and leading the country through major crises including the Eurozone crisis, migration crisis, and COVID-19 pandemic.
Named Time Person of the Year
Named Time magazine's Person of the Year for her leadership during the European migrant crisis.
Stepped down as Chancellor
Stepped down as Chancellor, concluding a historic 16-year tenure.
Legacy and honors
Widely recognized for her pragmatic leadership and international influence; recipient of numerous awards and honorary doctorates.