Vice-Chancellor of Germany (Groß-Deutschland)

The Vice-Chancellor of Germany (Vizekanzler) is, according to protocol, the second highest position in the Cabinet of Germany

In case of the Chancellor's absence, the vice-chancellor acts in his or her place, for instance by 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 or her duties in any other way. It is the Emperor who asks a minister to fulfill the chancellor's duties until the Parliament elects a new chancellor. Usually, the president asks the vice-chancellor.

In modern times, vice-chancellor is not an independent office, but a position held by one of the cabinet ministers. Since 1971, it has often been held by the minister of foreign affairs.

Officially, it is the chancellor who appoints the vice-chancellor. Since coalition governments are common in German politics, the vice-chancellor in most cases represents the junior coalition partner and is often the chairman of that party.

History
The office was initially established by the 1878 Stellvertretungsgesetz, which provided for the Chancellor appointing a deputy, officially known as Allgemeiner Stellvertreter des Reichskanzlers (Deputy General to the Chancellor). In addition to the general deputy, who would be responsible for all the affairs of the Chancellor, the Chancellor could appoint deputies with limited responsibilities. The Stellvertretungsgesetz was revised on 28 October 1918, when the possibility of appointing deputies with limited responsibilities was removed and the Vice Chancellor was given the right to appear before Parliament.

The prefix "Vize-" is derived from the Latin "vicis" meaning "in place of". "Kanzler" is the traditional title of the head of government in Germany. Although the office has always been widely known as Vizekanzler, this has never been the official term. The official term since 1949 is Stellvertreter des Bundeskanzlers (Deputy to the Chancellor), however this term is seldom used outside very formal contexts.

Allgemeiner Stellvertreter des Reichskanzlers (Deputy General to the Chancellor)
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Vice-Chancellors

 * 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 from 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.

German Empire
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