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Minister President of Prussia

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Portrait of Prince Charles Anton von Hohenzollern, a historical figure from the 19th century.

The minister-president, or prime minister, of Prussia was the head of government of the Prussian state. This important role began in 1848 when King Frederick William IV created it during the 1848–49 Revolution. The minister-president helped lead Prussia through many changes and challenges over the years.

Prussia was a big and powerful state in Germany, and its leader played a key part in shaping the country's history. The office of minister-president continued until 1947 when Prussia was dissolved by the Allied Control Council after World War II. During this time, the minister-presidents worked closely with kings and emperors to guide Prussia through times of peace and war.

History of the office

The minister-president of Prussia was the main leader of the government in Prussia. This role started in 1848 when the Kingdom of Prussia created a new government system. The minister-president worked closely with the king and led the Landtag, which was the group of people who made laws.

Later, after Germany became one country in 1871, the person in this role was often also the leader of all of Germany. After World War I, the role changed again. But during the time of Nazi Germany, Prussia’s special government was removed. Finally, after World War II, Prussia and this job no longer existed.

Chief ministers of the Kingdom of Prussia (1702–1848)

The leaders of the government in Prussia from 1702 to 1848 were called chief ministers. Here is a list of the people who held this important job during that time:

These leaders helped guide Prussia during a time of big changes.

List of minister-presidents of Prussia (1848–1945)

Minister-presidents of the Kingdom of Prussia (1848–1918)

The role of minister-president in Prussia started in 1848. This was when King Frederick William IV created the position during a big change in the country. Many people held this important job over the years.

Minister-presidents of the Free State of Prussia (1918–1945)

After World War I, Prussia became a free state, and the minister-president role continued until 1945. Different groups, like the SPD and others, had leaders in this role during this time.

Timeline

The timeline shows how the leaders changed from 1848 until Prussia ended in 1945.

PortraitName
(Birth–Death)
Term of officePolitical party
Took officeLeft officeDays
Count Adolf Heinrich von Arnim-Boitzenburg
(1803–1868)
19 March 184829 March 184810Non-partisan
Gottfried Ludolf Camphausen
(1803–1890)
29 March 184820 June 184883Non-partisan
Rudolf von Auerswald
(1795–1866)
25 June 18488 September 184875Non-partisan
Ernst von Pfuel
(1779–1866)
21 September 18481 November 184841Non-partisan
Count Friedrich Wilhelm von Brandenburg
(1792–1850)
2 November 18486 November 1850734Non-partisan
Baron Otto Theodor von Manteuffel
(1805–1882)
9 December 18506 November 18582889Non-partisan
Prince Karl Anton von Hohenzollern
(1811–1885)
6 November 185812 March 18621222Non-partisan
Prince Adolf zu Hohenlohe-Ingelfingen
(1797–1873)
17 March 186223 September 1862190Non-partisan
Prince Otto von Bismarck
(1815–1898)
First term
23 September 18621 January 18733753Non-partisan
Count Albrecht von Roon
(1803–1879)
1 January 18739 November 1873312Non-partisan
Prince Otto von Bismarck
(1815–1898)
Second term
9 November 187320 March 18905975Non-partisan
Count Leo von Caprivi
(1831–1899)
20 March 189022 March 1892733Non-partisan
Count Botho zu Eulenburg
(1831–1912)
22 March 189226 October 1894948Non-partisan
Prince Chlodwig zu Hohenlohe-Schillingsfürst
(1819–1901)
29 October 189417 October 19002179Non-partisan
Prince Bernhard von Bülow
(1849–1929)
17 October 190014 July 19093192Non-partisan
Theobald von Bethmann Hollweg
(1856–1921)
14 July 190913 July 19172921Non-partisan
Georg Michaelis
(1857–1936)
14 July 19171 November 1917110Non-partisan
Count Georg von Hertling
(1843–1919)
1 November 191730 September 1918333Centre
Prince Maximilian von Baden
(1867–1929)
3 October 19189 November 191837Non-partisan
PortraitName
(Birth–Death)
Term of officePolitical party
Took officeLeft officeDays
Minister-presidents of the Free State of Prussia in the Weimar Republic
Paul Hirsch
(1868–1940)
12 November 191827 March 1920501Social Democratic Party of Germany
Heinrich Ströbel
(1869–1944)
Co-prime minister
12 November 19189 January 191929Independent Social Democratic Party of Germany
Otto Braun
(1872–1955)
First term
27 March 192021 April 1921390Social Democratic Party of Germany
Adam Stegerwald
(1874–1945)
21 April 19215 November 1921198Centre Party
Otto Braun
(1872–1955)
Second term
5 November 192118 February 19251201Social Democratic Party of Germany
Wilhelm Marx
(1863–1946)
18 February 19256 April 192547Centre Party
Otto Braun
(1872–1955)
Third term
6 April 192520 July 19322662Social Democratic Party of Germany
Franz von Papen
(1879–1969)
Reichskommissar136Non-partisan
20 July 19323 December 1932
Kurt von Schleicher
(1882–1934)
Reichskommissar56Non-partisan
3 December 193228 January 1933
Franz von Papen
(1879–1969)
Reichskommissar70Non-partisan
30 January 193310 April 1933
Adolf Hitler
(1889–1945)
Reichsstatthalter730Nazi Party
30 January 193330 January 1935
Minister-president of the Free State of Prussia in Nazi Germany
Hermann Göring
(1893–1946)
Ministerpräsident4396Nazi Party
10 April 193323 April 1945
Reichsstatthalter3736
30 January 193523 April 1945

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This article is a child-friendly adaptation of the Wikipedia article on Minister President of Prussia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

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