Angela Merkel's Milestones

Angela Merkel served as Germany’s first female chancellor from 2005 to 2021, guiding the country and the EU through economic, political, and refugee crises with pragmatic, steady leadership.
1954

Birth

Angela Merkel was born in Hamburg, West Germany, to Horst Kasner and Herlind Kasner.

Family July 17, 1954

Moved to East Germany

Family moved to East Germany when she was an infant; her father became a pastor in Templin, Brandenburg.

Location July 31, 1954
1961

Attended Polytechnic High School

Attended school in Templin, excelling in mathematics and Russian.

Education September 1, 1961 - June 1, 1973
1973

Attended University of Leipzig

Studied physics at the University of Leipzig, earning a degree in physics.

Education September 1, 1973 - June 1, 1978
1977

First marriage

Married fellow physics student Ulrich Merkel; they divorced in 1982 but she kept his surname.

Relationship September 3, 1977 - January 1, 1982
1978

PhD in physics

Earned a doctorate in quantum chemistry at the Central Institute for Physical Chemistry, Academy of Sciences, East Berlin.

Education September 1, 1978 - January 1, 1986

Research scientist

Worked as a research scientist in East Germany, publishing several scientific papers.

Career September 1, 1978 - December 31, 1989
1989

Joined Democratic Awakening

Joined the Democratic Awakening party during the collapse of East Germany and served as spokeswoman.

Career December 1, 1989
1990

Joined Christian Democratic Union (CDU)

Joined the CDU after German reunification, quickly rising in party ranks.

Career August 1, 1990

Elected to Bundestag

Elected to the Bundestag (German parliament) for Mecklenburg-Vorpommern after reunification.

Career December 2, 1990
1991

Appointed Minister for Women and Youth

Appointed Federal Minister for Women and Youth in Chancellor Helmut Kohl's cabinet.

Career January 18, 1991 - November 17, 1994
1994

Appointed Minister for the Environment

Appointed Federal Minister for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety, representing Germany at international climate conferences.

Career November 17, 1994 - October 27, 1998
1998

General Secretary of CDU

Appointed General Secretary of the CDU, gaining national prominence after the party's electoral defeat.

Career December 7, 1998 - April 10, 2000
2000

Elected CDU Chair

Elected chair of the CDU, becoming the first woman and first East German to lead the party.

Career April 10, 2000 - January 22, 2021
2005

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.

Achievement November 22, 2005 - December 8, 2021
2015

Named Time Person of the Year

Named Time magazine's Person of the Year for her leadership during the European migrant crisis.

Achievement December 9, 2015
2021

Stepped down as Chancellor

Stepped down as Chancellor, concluding a historic 16-year tenure.

Other December 8, 2021

Legacy and honors

Widely recognized for her pragmatic leadership and international influence; recipient of numerous awards and honorary doctorates.

Achievement December 9, 2021 - June 5, 2025