Famous People From Germany (10 Examples!)

Germany has played a huge role in European and global history, and there are many things that we owe the Germans.

From the printing press to the enigma machine, Germany has produced both objects and people that are known the world over.

Both in the past and in the modern day, Germany has been one of the most influential countries in the world, so today we are going to look at some of the most famous people from Germany.

Let’s get started.

In This Article

Johannes Gutenberg

Though you are perhaps less likely to know his name, famous as he is, Gutenberg may be the person on this list who has had the single greatest influence on modern society.

Gutenberg was the first person to introduce a printing press to Europe in the 15th Century, which allowed for the widespread proliferation of books where previously they would have had to be laboriously copied by hand.

Though such things already existed in the East, he was the first to bring the printing press into the west.

He died in 1468, around the age of 60 or 70.

Johann Sebastian Bach

One area which clearly Germany has excelled in at a certain point in its history is its composers.

Bach is considered to be one of the greatest composers of all time, a musician of the Baroque period known particularly for his Brandenburg Concertos and his Cello Suites.

His work beyond this was prolific in a great many styles, genres, and instruments, and he has left an indelible mark on modern music.

He died in 1750, at the age of 65.

Ludwig van Beethoven

While individual opinions may differ, Beethoven is widely considered to be the greatest composer of the “classical” period–a more broad term in popular usage than it is in musical and academic terms.

He is without doubt one of the most revered and admired composers in western music, and his work today remains the most performed of all classical music.

He transitioned from the classical to the Romantic era during his lifetime.

He died in 1827, at the age of 56.

Karl Marx

Another figure who, in his field, is perhaps among the most influential of all thinkers, Karl Marx is one of the most studied and significant political thinkers of his time and still today.

Born in 1818, his career spanned many different disciplines including philosophy, sociology, economics, history,and of course political theory.

He was a socialist revolutionary and more or less invented the concept of communism, in his 1848 pamphlet The Communist Manifesto.

He died in 1883, at the age of 64.

Albert Einstein

Einstein is such a famous figure that his name has become internationally synonymous with extreme intelligence.

He was born in 1879, and spent his life as a theoretical physicist. His theory of relativity was a breakthrough in modern physics that is still being unraveled today and is impossible to overstate.

Our modern understanding of physics is due in large part to his work and equations.

He died in 1955, at the age of 76.

Werner Herzog

Moving into the modern day, Werner Herzog was born in Bavaria in 1942, and his body of work is some of the most influential of German cinema, particularly the so-called New German Cinema.

He has worked as a director, actor, screenwriter, producer, and even opera director.

His cinema includes such iconic works as Lessons of Darkness, Heart of Glass and documentaries such as Cave of Forgotten Dreams.

He continues to influence global cinema today.

Angela Merkel

Germany is one of the largest economies in Europe, and so naturally their global and European political influence has been huge.

Angela Merkel, Germany’s Chancellor from 2005 to 2021, is in many ways the architect of modern Germany.

She was often thought of as the nominal leader of the European Union during her time as Chancellor, and was the first woman to hold the position.

Her influence on geopolitics today is difficult to overstate.

Heidi Klum

Known for working a variety of mediums, Heidi Klum is German American and was born near Cologne in 1973.

She has worked most notably as a model and actress, and following her successful modeling career she has been a judge on shows such as Germany’s Next Top Model and Project Runway.

She is among the world’s top-earning models and has had a hugely successful career out of commercial partnerships as well as TV appearances.

Michael Schumacher

If asked to think of a famous racing driver, even today many people’s first thought will likely be of Schumacher.

Born in western Germany in 1969, he went on to win seven World Drivers’ Championships and compete in Formula One for many iconic car manufacturers, such as Jordan, Ferrari and Mercedes.

He started his career kart racing, and first appeared at the Formula One Grand Prix in 1991.

He is joint-record holder for the most wins in a Formula One competition.

Franz Beckenbauer

Beckenbauer is perhaps Germany’s most famous football player and today works as a manager as many former players do.

He is widely regarded as one of the greatest players in football history, and was twice named European Footballer of the Year.

He is one of only three people to have won the FIFA World Cup as both a player and a manager.

From all across disciplines, then, some of the greatest artists and innovators have come out of Germany, then.

From the genius of composers like Bach and Beethoven to the political titans like Marx, scientists like Einstein and modern filmmakers like Werner Herzog, the country has produced some of the most important people the modern world has ever seen.

More in Famous People

Founder - @PollyWebster

Polly Webster is the founder of Foreign Lingo and a seasoned traveler with a decade of exploration under her belt.

Over the past 10 years, she has journeyed to numerous countries around the globe, immersing herself in diverse cultures, traditions, and languages.

Drawing from her rich experiences, Polly now writes insightful articles about travel, languages, traditions, and cultures, sharing her unique perspectives and invaluable tips with her readers.

Was this article helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!