From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Vice-Chancellor of Germany (Vizekanzler) in Germany is the second highest position in the cabinet. In case of the Chancellor's absence, the Vice-Chancellor acts in his place, for instance heading cabinet meetings. The Vice-Chancellor will not automatically become Chancellor for the rest of the term if the Chancellor dies or becomes unable to fulfill his duties in any other way.

The Vice-Chancellor is not an independent office, but a Cabinet minister, often but not always as Minister of Foreign Affairs (see below for exception).

Since coalition governments are usual in German politics, the Vice-Chancellor is usually represents the junior coalition partner and is often the chairman of that party.

The prefix "Vize-" is derived from the Latin "vicis" meaning "in place of".

• Graf Otto zu Stolberg-Wernigerode, 1 June 1878 - 20 June 1881.
• Karl Heinrich von Boetticher, 20 June 1881 - 1 July 1897, also Secretary of the Interior.
• Arthur Graf von Posadowsky-Wehner, 1 July 1897 - 24 June 1907, also Secretary of the Interior.
• Theobald von Bethmann Hollweg, 24 June 1907 - 14 July 1909, also Secretary of the Interior.
• Clemens von Delbrück, 14 July 1909 - 22 May 1916, also Secretary of the Interior.
• Karl Helfferich, 22 May 1916 - 9 November 1917, also Secretary of the Interior (until 23 October 1917).
• Friedrich von Payer (FVP), 9 November 1917 - 10 November 1918.

• Eugen Schiffer (DDP), 13 February - 19 April 1919 (as Deputy Minister-President); also Minister of Finances.
• Bernhard Dernburg (DDP), 30 April - 20 June 1919 (as Deputy Minister-President); also Minister of Finances.
• Matthias Erzberger (Centre Party), 21 June - 3 October 1919 (until 14 August 1919 as Deputy Minister-President); also Minister of Finances.
• Eugen Schiffer (DDP), 3 October 1919 - 27 March 1920; also Minister of Justice.
• Erich Koch-Weser (DDP), 27 March 1920 - 21 June 1920; also Minster of the Interior.
• Rudolf Heinze (DVP), 25 June 1920 - 4 May 1921; also Minister of Justice.
• Gustav Bauer (SPD), 10 May 1921 - 14 November 1922; also Minister of the Treasury.

vacant 1922-1923

• Robert Schmidt (SPD), 13 August 1923 - 3 November 1923; also Minister for Reconstruction.
• Karl Jarres (DVP), 30 November 1923 - 15 December 1924; also Minister of the Interior.

vacant 1925-1927

• Oskar Hergt (DNVP), 28 January 1927 - 12 June 1928; also Minister of Justice.

vacant 1928-1930

• Hermann R. Dietrich (DDP, later DStP), 30 March 1930 - 30 May 1932; also Minister of Finances since 26 June 1930.

vacant 1932-1933

• Franz von Papen (non-partisan), 30 January 1933 - 7 August 1934; no government department.

After Papen's resignation, the office of Vice-Chancellor remained vacant until the demise of the Third Reich.