Famous German Women

Traditionally women in Germany were not expected—and allowed—to do anything outside of their domestic responsibilities. A German woman was expected to be a wife and mother who could cook and take care of her family. But when a few brave ladies ventured to break free of these shackles did Germany realize how much intelligence and talents these women possessed! Browse on to discover many more fascinating details about the famous women of Germany.

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 1 
Angela Merkel
(First Female Chancellor of Germany (2005 - 2021))
Angela Merkel
124
Birthdate: July 17, 1954
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Hamburg, Germany

The current chancellor of Germany, Angela Merkel is widely described as the world's most powerful woman. Also considered the de facto leader of the European Union (EU), Angela Merkel has played an important role in strengthening international trade agreements. In 2020, she was named in Time magazine's list of 100 Most Influential People.

 2 
Heidi Klum
(The First German Model to Become a Victoria's Secret Angel)
Heidi Klum
76
Birthdate: June 1, 1973
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Bergisch Gladbach, Germany

German-American model and TV host, Heidi Klum has been featured on the cover of French, Portuguese, German, and Spanish Vogue magazines. She was the first German model to become a Victoria's Secret Angel. After a successful modeling career, she became a TV host in the 2000s. She is actively involved in philanthropic endeavors. 

 3 
Steffi Graf
(One of the Greatest Tennis Players of All Time)
Steffi Graf
45
Birthdate: June 14, 1969
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Mannheim, Germany
Known for her footwork and forehand drive, former world number one tennis star Steffi Graf has won 22 Grand Slam titles, the third all-time record. She became the first player to win four Grand Slams and the Olympic gold in a year. She is married to fellow player Andre Agassi.
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 4 
Marlene Dietrich
(Actress and Singer)
Marlene Dietrich
44
Birthdate: December 27, 1901
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Schöneberg, Berlin, Germany
Died: May 6, 1992
Marlene Dietrich initially performed on stage in Berlin and then shot to fame with The Blue Angel. She continued to rule Hollywood with films such as Morocco, Desire, and Shanghai Express. She helped German and French exiles during World War II. Openly bisexual, she was famous for her androgynous image.
 5 
Angelique Kerber
(German Professional Tennis Player and Olympic Silver Medalist)
Angelique Kerber
21
Birthdate: January 18, 1988
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Bremen, Germany

Winning her first Grand Slam at 28, Angelique Kerber is an example of a talented later bloomer in tennis. The former World No. 1 German player is known for her defensive tactics, speed, and footwork. She blamed a 2-week COVID-related quarantine for her loss at the 2021 Australian Open.

 6 
Claudia Schiffer
(German Supermodel and Actress)
Claudia Schiffer
27
Birthdate: August 25, 1970
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Rheinberg, Germany
In 2020, Claudia Schiffer stunned fans with an Instagram picture in a lacy blue gown on her 50th birthday, looking not any less desirable than a 20-something. The German model had earlier soared to fame as the face of Chanel and has graced the cover of American Vogue 16 times.
 7 
Hannah Arendt
(One of the Most Influential Political Theorists of the 20th Century)
Hannah Arendt
6
Birthdate: October 14, 1906
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Linden - Mitte, Hanover, Germany
Died: December 4, 1975

Hannah Arendt was a political theorist. Widely regarded as one of the 20th century's most prominent political thinkers, Hannah Arendt's articles and books have had a significant influence on philosophy and political theory. Her life and work inspired the 2012 biographical drama film, Hannah Arendt. Her work has also inspired several biographies written by popular authors.

 8 
Hildegard of Bingen
(German Writer, Composer, Philosopher and Mystic Considered to be One of the Best-Known Composers of Sacred Monophony)
Hildegard of Bingen
6
Birthdate: 1098 AD
Birthplace: Bermersheim vor der Höhe, Germany
Died: September 17, 1179

Hildegard of Bingen was a German writer, composer, Christian mystic, visionary, philosopher, polymath, and Benedictine abbess of the High Middle Ages. Apart from being the most-recorded composers of sacred monophony in modern history, Hildegard of Bingen is also widely regarded as the founder of scientific natural history.

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 9 
Anne Frank
(Diarist)
Anne Frank
97
Birthdate: June 12, 1929
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Frankfurt, Germany
Died: March 12, 1945

One of the numerous Jewish victims of the Holocaust, Anne Frank gained recognition posthumously after her diary Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl was published. The diary, which has been widely read and translated into numerous other languages, details the lives of Anne Frank and her family when they went into hiding for two years, after Germany occupied Netherlands.

 10 
Diane Kruger
(German and American Actress)
Diane Kruger
20
Birthdate: July 15, 1976
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Algermissen, Germany

An aspiring ballerina, Diane Kruger, turned towards modelling after an injury and eventually made her way into the world of acting. The German-American actress bagged limelight with the movie Troy and later cemented her position with an acclaimed film performance in Inglourious Basterds. Her other notable works include drama series The Bridge and movies National Treasure and In the Fade.

 11 
Nicole Brown Simpson
(Murdered Wife of American Footballer O. J. Simpson)
Nicole Brown Simpson
36
Birthdate: May 19, 1959
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Frankfurt, Germany
Died: June 12, 1994

Nicole Brown Simpson was the ex-wife of O. J. Simpson. Her murder led to one of the most famous criminal trials of all time, the O. J. Simpson murder case. After her murder, The Nicole Brown Charitable Foundation was established in her memory. Her story inspired several movies, such as the 1995 TV movie The O. J. Simpson Story.

 12 
Zazie Beetz
(Actress Best Known for Her Comedy Series ‘Atlanta’ and Anthology Series ‘Easy’)
Zazie Beetz
42
Birthdate: May 25, 1991
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Mitte, Berlin, Germany

German-American actress, Zazie Beetz, is best known for her role in the FX comedy-drama series Atlanta. She became interested in acting while in high school and appeared in many community theater productions. She began her career with small roles in short films and established herself as a popular TV actress in a few years.

 13 
Katarina Witt
(German Former Figure Skater)
Katarina Witt
13
Birthdate: December 3, 1965
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Staaken, Berlin, Germany
Height: 5'5" (165 cm)
 14 
Juliane Koepcke
(Lone Survivor of 1971 LANSA Plane Crash)
Juliane Koepcke
26
Birthdate: October 10, 1954
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Lima, Peru
Juliane Koepcke is a German Peruvian mammalogist. She is well-known for being the only survivor of the Líneas Aéreas Nacionales S.A. Flight 508 plane crash; she survived ten days in the Amazon rainforest after surviving a fall of 9843 feet while strapped to her airplane seat. Her story inspired films like Miracles Still Happen (1974) and Wings of Hope (1998).
 15 
Ursula von der Leyen
(President of the European Commission )
Ursula von der Leyen
17
Birthdate: October 8, 1958
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Ixelles, Belgium
Ursula Gertrud von der Leyen is currently serving as the first president of the European Commission. Named to Time 100 in 2020, she has previously been the first female defense minister of Germany, and has held positions such as the deputy leader of the CDU and the minister of labor.
 16 
Victoria, Princess Royal
(German Empress and Queen of Prussia (1888))
Victoria, Princess Royal
8
Birthdate: November 21, 1840
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: London, England
Died: August 5, 1901

Victoria, Princess Royal was the Queen of Prussia and German Empress from 9 March 1888 to 15 June 1888. Victoria, Princess Royal had an opportunity to influence the German Empire's policy, but the death of her husband German Emperor Frederick III, just 99 days after his accession, ruined her opportunity. Victoria has been portrayed in several movies and TV series.

 17 
Nastassja Kinski
(German Actress and Former Model Known for Her Films: 'Stay as You Are' and 'Tess')
Nastassja Kinski
17
Birthdate: January 24, 1961
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Berlin, Germany

Nastassja Kinski is a German actress who played a major role in the success of several European and American films throughout the 1980s and 1990s. One of the most popular German sex symbols of her generation, Kinski appeared in erotic films like Cat People. She is also renowned for her much-publicized personal life, which includes her relationship with Roman Polanski.

 18 
Nico
(Singer Know for Her Song 'The Velvet Underground's' debut album 'The Velvet Underground & Nico')
Nico
23
Birthdate: October 16, 1938
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Cologne, Germany
Died: July 18, 1988

Nico was a German musician, singer, and songwriter. Her work continues to serve as an inspiration to several musicians like Björk, Morrissey, and the English rock band The Cure. In 2017, Susanna Nicchiarelli directed Nico's biographical film titled Nico, 1988. Also an actress, Nico appeared in many films, including Andy Warhol's experimental underground film Chelsea Girls.

 19 
Rosa Luxemburg
(Revolutionary Socialist, Marxist Philosopher & Anti-War Activist)
Rosa Luxemburg
17
Birthdate: March 5, 1871
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Zamosc, Poland
Died: January 15, 1919
Polish Marxist and socialist revolutionary Rosa Luxemburg was a member of parties such as the SPD, the USPD, and the KPD. Luxemburg was an anti-war activist and taught economics and Marxism at SPD's Berlin training center. She was assassinated by the Freikorps troops during the German Revolution
 20 
Emmy Noether
(German Mathematician Who Made Many Important Contributions to Abstract Algebra)
Emmy Noether
4
Birthdate: March 23, 1882
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Erlangen, Bavaria, Germany
Died: April 14, 1935

Emmy Noether was a German mathematician best remembered for her contributions to abstract algebra. She is credited with discovering Noether's theorem, which is regarded as a fundamental theorem in mathematical physics. One of the most important mathematicians of her generation and the most important woman in mathematics history, Emmy Noether developed theories of algebras, fields, and rings.

 21 
Sophie Scholl
(German Student and Anti-Nazi Political Activist)
Sophie Scholl
21
Birthdate: May 9, 1921
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Forchtenberg, Germany
Died: February 22, 1943

Sophie Scholl was a German anti-Nazi political activist who was involved with a non-violent resistance group called White Rose. Scholl was executed by guillotine at the age of 21 for distributing anti-war leaflets. Since her death, Sophie Scholl has been viewed as an iconic figure. Her life and work have inspired several films, including Sophie Scholl – The Final Days.

 22 
Franka Potente
(German Actress Best Known for Her Starring Role in the 1998 Film 'Run Lola Run')
Franka Potente
8
Birthdate: July 22, 1974
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Münster, Germany

Franka Potente is a German actress who took the entertainment world by storm with her performance in her debut film, After Five in the Forest Primeval, for which she won a Bavarian Film Award for Best Young Actress. After establishing herself in her native country, she moved on to Hollywood, appearing in multiple popular films. 

 23 
Princess Victoria of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld
(German Princess and the Mother of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom)
Princess Victoria of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld
7
Birthdate: August 17, 1786
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Coburg, Germany
Died: March 16, 1861

Princess Victoria of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld, mother of Queen Victoria of the U.K., was a German princess who became the Duchess of Kent and Strathearn by virtue of her marriage to Prince Edward. She was initially married to Charles, Prince of Leiningen. The Royal Chapel of All Saints was dedicated to her.

 24 
Elisabeth Rohm
(Best Known for Her Roles in TV Series: ‘Angel’ and ‘Law & Order’)
Elisabeth Rohm
14
Birthdate: April 28, 1973
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Düsseldorf, Germany
Elisabeth Röhm is best known as Kate Lockley from Angel and as Serena Southerlyn from Law & Order. Fans also loved in movies such as American Hustle. She was named to Maxim’s Hot 100 in 2002 and was also a skilled horseback rider earlier but quit it after an accident.
 25 
Empress Matilda
(Former Holy Roman Empress (1114 - 1125))
Empress Matilda
10
Birthdate: February 7, 1102
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Sutton Courtenay, England
Died: September 10, 1167

Empress Matilda was the daughter of King Henry I of England and one of the claimants to the throne of England during the 'Anarchy'. Her participation in the civil war and tales of bravery have been the subject of historical fiction. She has also been depicted in films, stage shows, and TV series.

 26 
Leni Riefenstahl
(Film Director, Photographer and Actress Known for Her Seminal Role in Producing Nazi Propaganda)
Leni Riefenstahl
15
Birthdate: August 22, 1902
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Berlin, Germany
Died: September 8, 2003

Leni Riefenstahl was a German film director and actress best remembered for her role in producing Nazi propaganda. She made her directorial debut in 1932, becoming one of the few women to direct a movie during the Weimar Period. Riefenstahl is credited with directing two of the most technically innovative propaganda films of all time, Olympia and Triumph des Willens.

 27 
Eva Braun
(Mistress and Later Wife of Adolf Hitler)
Eva Braun
89
Birthdate: February 6, 1912
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Munich, Germany
Died: April 30, 1945
Eva Braun was a long-time companion of Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler. She was previously Nazi photographer Heinrich Hoffman’s assistant. Hitler and Eva got married just 40 hours before committing suicide together. Eva apparently ingested cyanide, while Hitler shot himself, at the Führerbunker, as the Red Army marched into Berlin.
 28 
Ruth Westheimer
(German-American Sex Therapist, Media Personality and Holocaust Survivor)
Ruth Westheimer
19
Birthdate: June 4, 1928
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Frankfurt am Main, Germany
German-American sex therapist Ruth Westheimer, also known as Dr. Ruth, soared to fame with the radio show Sexually Speaking and later hosted many sexuality-related shows and wrote many books, too. She is also an ethnographer and a Holocaust survivor. Her life inspired the documentary Ask Dr. Ruth.
 29 
Sibel Kekilli
(German Actress Known for Her Role as 'Shae' on the TV Series 'Game of Thrones')
Sibel Kekilli
4
Birthdate: June 16, 1980
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Heilbronn, Germany

Two-time Lola Award-winning German actor Sibel Kekilli is best known to international audiences as Shae from the iconic HBO series Game of Thrones. The Turkish-origin actor took up many odd jobs, working as a porn actor and a waitress, before stepping into mainstream movies and tasting success with Head-On.

 30 
Heike Makatsch
(Actress)
Heike Makatsch
3
Birthdate: August 13, 1971
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Düsseldorf, Germany

The daughter of former German ice-hockey player Rainer Makatsch, Heike Makatsch initially apprenticed as a dressmaker. She began her entertainment career hosting shows such as Interaktiv. She later appeared in movies such as Love Actually and Am I Beautiful? She also earned an Emmy nomination for Margarete Steiff.

 31 
Sabine Schmitz
(Racecar driver)
Sabine Schmitz
14
Birthdate: May 14, 1969
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Adenau, Germany
Height: 5'8" (173 cm)
 32 
Brittney Powell
(German-American Actress)
Brittney Powell
14
Birthdate: March 4, 1972
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Würzburg, Germany
Best known for her relationship with the late pint-sized actor Verne Troyer of Austin Powers fame, Brittney Powell gained popularity with Celebrity Wife-Swap. She has also appeared in single-episode or cameo roles in a number of series, such as Friends and Titans. She has a son from a previous marriage.
 33 
Nena
(German Singer-Songwriter Best Known as the Lead Singer of the Band 'Nena')
Nena
5
Birthdate: March 24, 1960
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Hagen, Germany

German singer/songwriter Gabriele Susanne Kerner, better known as Nena, soared to international fame with the hit 99 Luftballons. Known for her energetic performances, Nena is also a mother of four and has co-founded the Neue Schule Hamburg school, based on the American Sudbury model of education.

 34 
Lena Meyer-Landrut
(German Singer Best Known as the Winner of the 'Eurovision Song Contest 2010' for Her Song 'Satellite')
Lena Meyer-Landrut
20
Birthdate: May 3, 1991
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Hanover, Germany

Lena Meyer-Landrut is a German singer-songwriter who rose to fame after participating in the Eurovision Song Contest 2010. Her debut album peaked at No.1 in Germany and was accredited Platinum. She has since released many hit albums and singles. Besides singing, she has also served as a coach on five seasons of the reality TV series The Voice Kids.  

 35 
Margot Frank
(Second World War victim)
Margot Frank
5
Birthdate: February 16, 1926
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Frankfurt am Main, Hesse, Germany
Died: March 9, 1945
 36 
Edda Göring
(Only Child of German Politician Hermann Göring and Actress Emmy Sonnemann)
Edda Göring
15
Birthdate: June 2, 1938
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Berlin, Germany
Died: December 21, 2018
Edda Göring was the only child of Nazi Party member Hermann Göring and actor Emmy Sonnemann. She grew up amidst luxury and received expensive art as gifts as a child, one of which, a painting of Madonna and Child by Lucas Cranach the Elder, dragged her into legal disputes.
 37 
Elke Sommer
(Actress)
Elke Sommer
3
Birthdate: November 5, 1940
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Berlin, Germany
Height: 5'7" (170 cm)
 38 
Tatjana Patitz
(Model)
Tatjana Patitz
6
Birthdate: March 25, 1966
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Hamburg, Germany
Height: 5'11" (180 cm)
 39 
Luise Rainer
(The First Actress to Win Consecutive Academy Awards for Best Actress)
Luise Rainer
2
Birthdate: January 12, 1910
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Düsseldorf, Germany
Died: December 30, 2014

Luise Rainer, the first actor to win consecutive Academy Awards, had decided to make a career as an actor after watching a circus performance at age 6. A prominent stage actor in Germany, she secured an MGM movie deal and move to the U.S. during the Nazi regime.

 40 
Q'orianka Kilcher
(Actress Known for Her Role as Pocahontas in the 2005 Film the New World)
Q'orianka Kilcher
12
Birthdate: February 11, 1990
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Schweigmatt, Schopfheim, Germany

Q'orianka Kilcher is an American actress, activist, and singer. She is best known for playing important characters in films like The New World and Princess Kaiulani. As an activist, Kilcher has been visiting universities and colleges and delivering speeches at organizations like Amnesty International. 

 41 
Helene Fischer
(Pop Singer Famous for Her 2013 Multi-Platinum Album ‘Farbenspiel')
Helene Fischer
2
Birthdate: August 5, 1984
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Krasnoyarsk, Russia

Helene Fischer is a German singer, dancer, actress, and TV presenter. She attended the Frankfurt Stage & Musical School to study singing and acting. She made her debut in 2005 and found immediate success. Eventually, she started singing in English as well. She is the recipient of numerous awards, including 17 Echo awards and four "Krone der Volksmusik" prizes. 

 42 
Sophia of Hanover
(Former Electress Consort of Hanover (1692 - 1698))
Sophia of Hanover
1
Birthdate: October 14, 1630
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: The Hague, Netherlands
Died: June 8, 1714
Sophia of Hanover was the Electress of Hanover, through her marriage to Ernest Augustus. After a long conflict regarding the succession of the throne of England, she died just 2 months before she could become the queen. An art connoisseur, she played a crucial role in creating the Herrenhausen Gardens
 43 
Monika Dannemann
(German Figure Skater and Painter)
Monika Dannemann
11
Birthdate: June 24, 1945
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Düsseldorf, Germany
Died: April 5, 1996

Monika Dannemann was a German painter and figure skater whose professional achievements were overshadowed by her relationship with legendary guitar player Jimi Hendrix; she is often referred to as the last girlfriend of Jimi Hendrix. A year before her death, Monika Dannemann published a book titled The Inner World of Jimi Hendrix.   

 44 
Caroline Herschel
(Astronomer)
Caroline Herschel
7
Birthdate: March 16, 1750
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Hanover, Germany
Died: January 9, 1848

Caroline Herschel was a German astronomer who is credited with the discovery of many comets, such as 35P/Herschel-Rigollet, which is named in her honor. In 1828, Herschel became the first woman to be honored with a Gold Medal of the Royal Astronomical Society. She was also the first female scientist to receive a salary.

 45 
Meryem Uzerli
(Turkish Actress Known for Her Role as 'Hürrem Sultan’ in the TV Series 'Muhteşem Yüzyl’)
Meryem Uzerli
9
Birthdate: August 12, 1983
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Kassel, Germany

Turkish-German actor and model Meryem Uzerli soared to fame playing Hürrem Sultan in the Turkish series Muhteşem Yüzyıl, a role that earned her a Golden Butterfly Award. She has also appeared in German series such as Notruf Hafenkante and films such as Journey of No Return.

 46 
Clara Wieck Schumann
(Musician & Composer)
Clara Wieck Schumann
11
Birthdate: September 13, 1819
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Leipzig
Died: May 20, 1896

Clara Wieck Schumann was a German pianist, teacher, and composer. One of the most famous pianists of the Romantic era, Schumann changed the way concerts were conducted during her time and made a long-lasting impression as a pianist. She also influenced other pianists through her teaching; among her students were famous English pianist, Mathilde Verne.

 47 
Corinna Schumacher
(Michael Schumacher's Wife)
Corinna Schumacher
7
Birthdate: March 2, 1969
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Halver
Wife of F-1 legend Michael Schumacher, Corinna Schumacher has only rarely been seen at public events, the latest being in 2020, when she received an award on behalf of Michael, who remains hospitalized after a 2013 skiing accident. She is an avid horseback rider and an animal rights activist.
 48 
Elsa Einstein
(Albert Einstein's Wife)
Elsa Einstein
7
Birthdate: January 18, 1876
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Hechingen, Germany
Died: December 20, 1936

Elsa Einstein was the second wife of Albert Einstein. She is best remembered for her relationship with Albert Einstein as the latter started a relationship with Elsa, who also happens to be his cousin, while he was still married to Mileva Marić. Elsa Einstein was instrumental in the Einsteins building their summer house in 1929.

 49 
Toni Garrn
(German Fashion Model and Actress)
Toni Garrn
8
Birthdate: July 7, 1992
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Hamburg, Germany
German model/actor Toni Garrn gained recognition after signing with Calvin Klein and then modeled for Victoria's Secret. She played Reeva Steenkamp in Oscar Pistorius: Blade Runner Killer and also appeared in Spider-Man: Far from Home. An avid philanthropist, she is associated with the Because I Am a Girl campaign.
 50 
Emilie Schindler
(Oskar Schindler's Wife)
Emilie Schindler
3
Birthdate: October 22, 1907
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Moravia, Czechia
Died: October 5, 2001

Emilie Schindler is best remembered as the wife of Oskar Schindler, the German industrialist who saved over a thousand Jews from the Nazis by employing them at his factory and later inspired the iconic Steven Spielberg movie Schindler's List. She later fled to Argentina with Oskar but was abandoned by him.

Hildegard of Bingen, a remarkable woman broke free of traditions way back in the 12th century when she became a writer and theologian—at a time when few women even knew how to read! Taking forward the legacy of her ancient counterpart, Mathilde Franziska Anneke, a 19th century woman writer founded the world’s first feminist newspaper. In the 20th century the status of women in Germany improved considerably after women won the right to vote. Elisabeth Schwarzhaupt became the first woman to hold a ministerial position in Germany when she took over the post of Federal Minister of Health in the German Cabinet in 1961. Today’s German woman is famous for her beauty, poise, confidence and intelligence that have made her successful in several hitherto male dominated spheres of life.