Unsere Besten ("Our Best") is a television series shown on German public television (
ZDF) in November 2003, similar to the BBC series
100 Greatest Britons
[1] and
that program's spin-offs.
In subsequent years, a dozen similar rankings were compiled, mostly titled the "favourite (topic) of the Germans", with topics including books, places, songs, actors, comedians, sports persons (extra list for football players), inventions, and TV broadcasts (extra list for Olympic games).
Greatest Germans
The intention initially was to find out "Who are the greatest Germans?" (Wer sind die größten Deutschen?), with more rankings to follow later. The German public was allowed to vote (via postcard, SMS or Internet) for the most important Germans—historical or contemporary—from a list of more than 300 people, plus additional suggestions.
This pre-determined list of candidates was created for two reasons:
- to exclude controversial figures from certain eras of German history, like
Adolf Hitler and
Erich Honecker;
- to decide beforehand who was to be considered as "German" in the first place, due to the complications of
German history and its changing frontiers, which could have excluded such people as
Mozart and
Romy Schneider (Austria) or
Albert Schweitzer (France).
However, the inclusion of
Nikolaus Kopernikus,
[2] who spoke and wrote German, in the list of scientists
[3] caused controversy in
Poland where he is revered as a national hero – the Polish Senate declared
[4] him an "exceptional Pole" on 12 June 2003. Similarly the inclusion of Mozart and
Freud was criticized in Austria.
For the final Top Ten, an additional round was held, in which each candidate was promoted by an "ambassador" (most of them journalists) that would explain the work and importance of his or her favourite.
There was controversy over the televoting because of the high call charges associated with the programme.
[5]
The final list appeared as shown below (in descending order). Several rather unknown figures ranked relatively high, no doubt because of temporary popularity and organized votes from fan groups (#15), or in case of #125, just an entry by organized Internet forum members to honour one of their members.[
citation needed]
Top 10
Rank
|
Personality
|
Notability
|
Nomination defended by
|
1
|
|
Konrad Adenauer
|
Chancellor, admired for making post-war West Germany a democratic nation again and a political and economical power.
|
Guido Knopp, journalist and author
|
2
|
|
Martin Luther
|
Priest, theologian and
Protestant
Reformer.
|
Margot Käßmann, theologian
|
3
|
|
Karl Marx
|
Writer, economist and philosopher. Founder of
scientific socialism.
|
Gregor Gysi, politician
|
4
|
|
Sophie Scholl and
Hans Scholl
|
Activists, members of the
White Rose movement, an anti-Nazi resistance group during World War Two.
|
Alice Schwarzer, journalist
|
5
|
|
Willy Brandt
|
Chancellor, implemented the
Ostpolitik and admired for his
pacifist policies and official public apologies for Germany's war past. Received the
Nobel Peace Prize in 1971.
|
Friedrich Nowottny, journalist
|
6
|
|
Johann Sebastian Bach
|
Composer. Creator of
Mass in B Minor,
Toccata and Fugue in D minor, BWV 565,
Matthaus Passion,
Johannes Passion and many other musical works which are still regarded as some of the greatest of all time.
|
Götz Alsmann, TV presenter and singer
|
7
|
|
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
|
Poet, novelist and playwright, author of
The Sorrows of Young Werther and
Faust; widely admired as the most important and influential German-language author of all time.
|
Peter Sodann, actor, director and politician
|
8
|
|
Johannes Gutenberg
|
Printer. Inventor of
movable type printing in Europe.
|
Wolf von Lojewski, journalist
|
9
|
|
Otto von Bismarck
|
General and chancellor, admired for the
unification of the German state.
|
Helmut Markwort, journalist.
|
10
|
|
Albert Einstein
|
Theoretical physicist, discovered the
general theory of relativity and the law of the
photoelectric effect. Hailed for his
pacifist stance. Received the
Nobel Prize in Physics in 1921.
|
Nina Ruge, journalist, TV presenter and novelist.
|
11–200
-
Adolph Kolping, (1813–1865), priest and humanitarian activist. Provided social support for young workers. Beatified in 1991.
-
Ludwig van Beethoven, (1770–1827) composer (
5th Symphony,
9th Symphony)
-
Helmut Kohl, (1930–2017) Chancellor (1982–1998). Played an important role in
Germany's reunification in 1990.
-
Robert Bosch, (1861–1942) inventor, industrialist. Founded
Robert Bosch GmbH.
-
Daniel Küblböck, (1985–2018) pop singer.
-
Konrad Zuse, (1910–1995) computer inventor. Invented the
Z4, the first commercial computer.
-
Joseph Kentenich, (1885–1968) priest and theologian, founder of the
Schoenstatt Movement.
-
Albert Schweitzer, (1875–1965) physician and philanthropist. Nourished the sick in Africa. Received the
Nobel Peace Prize in 1952.
-
Karlheinz Böhm, (1928–2014) actor and charity activist.
-
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, (1756–1791) composer (
Eine kleine Nachtmusik,
The Magic Flute). Born in
Salzburg, then
Archbishopric of Salzburg,
Holy Roman Empire. Today, Salzburg is located in
Austria.
-
Helmut Schmidt, (1918–2015) Chancellor (1974–1982).
-
Regine Hildebrandt, (1941–2001) politician.
-
Alice Schwarzer, (1942–) feminist journalist. Founder of the journal
EMMA.
-
Thomas Gottschalk, (1950–) radio and TV presenter (
Wetten, dass..?)
-
Herbert Grönemeyer, (1956–) rock singer, actor and humanitarian activist.
-
Michael Schumacher, (1969–) racing driver.
-
Ludwig Erhard, (1897–1977) Chancellor (1963–1966). Led Germany's postwar economic reforms and thus mostly responsible for the
Wirtschaftswunder.
-
Wilhelm Röntgen, (1845–1923) physicist. Discovered
X-rays. Received the
Nobel Prize in Physics in 1901.
-
Günther Jauch, (1956–) TV presenter and journalist.
-
Dieter Bohlen, (1954–) pop singer (
Modern Talking), TV presenter and music producer
-
Jan Ullrich, (1973–) cyclist.
-
Steffi Graf, (1969–) tennis player.
-
Samuel Hahnemann, (1755–1843) physician. Developed
homeopathy.
-
Dietrich Bonhoeffer, (1906–1945) theologian and Lutheran pastor. Co-founder of the
Confessing Church. Resisted against Nazism, for which he was eventually executed.
-
Boris Becker, (1967–) tennis player.
-
Franz Beckenbauer, (1945–2024) football player, coach and organiser.
-
Oskar Schindler, (1908–1974) industrialist, saviour of 1200 Jews, subject of the novel
Schindler's Ark and the film
Schindler's List
-
Nena, (1960–) pop singer (
99 Luftballons).
-
Hans-Dietrich Genscher, (1927–2016) politician. Vice Chancellor (1974–1982) (1982–1992). Foreign Minister (1974–1982) (1982–1992). Minister of Interior (1969–1974).
-
Heinz Rühmann, (1902–1994) film actor (
Die Feuerzangenbowle).
-
Harald Schmidt, (1957–) comedian, actor and TV presenter (
Die Harald Schmidt Show,
Harald Schmidt)
- Frederick II of Prussia ("
Frederick the Great") (1712–1786) king.
-
Immanuel Kant, (1724–1804) philosopher (
Critique of Pure Reason)
-
Patrick Lindner, (1960–) singer and TV presenter.
-
Hartmut Engler, (1960–) singer (
Pur)
-
Hildegard von Bingen, (1098–1174) nun, writer, poet, philosopher and composer (
Ordo Virtutum,
Scivias,
Liber Divinorum Operum)
-
Heino, (1938–) pop singer.
-
Richard von Weizsäcker, (1920–2015) Federal President (1984–1994).
-
Claus Graf Schenk von Stauffenberg, (1907–1944) military officer and Anti-Hitler activist
-
Marlene Dietrich, (1901–1992) film actress and singer (
Der Blaue Engel).
-
Robert Koch, (1843–1910) physician. Developed
Koch's postulates of
germ theory and isolated
anthrax,
tuberculosis and
cholera. Received the
Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1905.
-
Joschka Fischer, (1948–) Foreign Minister (1998–2005) and Vice Chancellor (1998–2005).
-
Karl May, (1842–1912) novelist (
Winnetou).
-
Vicco von Bülow, (1923–2011) comedian, cartoonist, film director, actor and writer (
Ödipussi,
Pappa Ante Portas,
Loriot)
-
Albertus Magnus, (c.1200–1280) philosopher and theologian. Beatified in 1622. Canonized in 1931.
-
Rudi Völler, (1960–) association football player.
-
Heinz Erhardt, (1909–1979) comedian.
-
Roy Black, (1943–1991) singer and actor.
-
Heinz-Harald Frentzen, (1967–) racing driver.
-
Wolfgang Apel [
de], (1951–2017) animal rights activist.
-
Alexander von Humboldt, (1769–1859) botanist and explorer.
-
Peter Kraus, (1939–) singer.
-
Wernher von Braun, (1912–1977) rocket scientist. Inventor of the
V-2 rocket and
Saturn V rockets.
-
Dirk Nowitzki, (1978–) basketball player
-
Campino, (1962–) singer (
Die Toten Hosen)
-
Franz Josef Strauß, (1915–1988) politician. Federal Minister of Defence (1956–1962). Federal Minister of Finance (1966–1969). Federal Minister for Atomic Affairs (1955–1956).
-
Sebastian Kneipp, (1821–1883) physician. Developed the Kneipp method.
-
Friedrich Schiller, (1759–1805) novelist, poet, philosopher and playwright (
William Tell,
Wallenstein)
-
Richard Wagner, (1813–1883) composer (
Der Ring des Nibelungen)
-
Katarina Witt, (1965–) figure skater.
-
Fritz Walter, (1920–2002) footballer, captain of 1954 world championship winners
-
Nicole, (1960–) pop singer (
Ein bißchen Frieden)
-
Friedrich von Bodelschwingh, (1877–1962) theologian. Founder of the
Bethel Institution.
-
Otto Lilienthal, (1848–1896) aviator and inventor. Invented the
glider.
-
Marion Gräfin Dönhoff, (1909–2002) journalist.
-
Thomas Mann, (1875–1955) novelist (
Buddenbrooks,
Death in Venice). Received the
Nobel Prize in Literature in 1929.
-
Hermann Hesse, (1877–1962) novelist (
Steppenwolf,
Siddhartha). Received the
Nobel Prize in Literature in 1946.
-
Romy Schneider, (1938–1982) film actress (
Sissi). Born in
Vienna, Austria, Schneider had a German-French dual citizenship.
-
Sven Hannawald, (1974–) ski jumper.
-
Empress Elisabeth of Austria, (1837–1898) better known as "Sissi". Despite being Austrian-Hungarian empress, she was born in
Munich, Germany.
-
Willy Millowitsch, (1909–1999) actor and comedian.
-
Gerhard Schröder, (1944–) Chancellor (1998–2005).
-
Joseph Beuys, (1921–1986) artist (
How to Explain Pictures to a Dead Hare)
-
Friedrich Nietzsche, (1844–1900) philosopher (
Also sprach Zarathustra)
-
Rudi Dutschke, (1940–1979) student leader and activist.
-
Karl Lehmann, (1936–2018) priest.
-
Beate Uhse, (1919–2001) erotica entrepreneur.
-
Trümmerfrauen ("rubble women"), nickname for women who rebuild bombed buildings after World War II.
-
Carl Friedrich Gauss, (1777–1855) mathematician and physicist (
Disquisitiones Arithmeticae)
-
Helmut Rahn, (1929–2003) athlete (football), scorer of winning goal in 1954.
-
Albrecht Dürer, (1471–1528) painter and engraver (
Apocalypse,
Knight, Death and the Devil,
Melencolia I).
-
Max Schmeling, (1905–2005) boxer.
-
Karl Benz, (1844–1929) business man and inventor. Invented the
Benz Patent-Motorwagen, which was the first petroleum-based automobile.
-
Frederick II, (1194–1250) emperor (1220–1250).
-
Reinhard Mey, (1942–) pop singer.
-
Heinrich Heine, (1797–1856) poet, journalist and novelist (
Germany. A Winter's Tale).
-
Georg Elser, (1903–1945) worker who tried to assassinate Hitler in 1939, but failed.
-
Konrad Duden, (1829–1911) linguist. Developed the German dictionary
Duden.
-
James Last, (1929–2015) composer and band leader.
-
Uwe Seeler, (1936–) association football player.
-
Jenny de la Torre Castro [
de], (1954–) physician and humanitarian activist for the homeless. Born in
Nazca, Peru, de la Torre Castro had a Peruvian-German dual citizenship.
-
Erich Gutenberg, (1897–1984) economist
-
Emanuel Lasker, (1868–1941) chess champion.
-
Rudolf Steiner, (1861–1925) philosopher and social reformer (
The Philosophy of Freedom). Born in Murakirály, Austria (nowadays located in Croatia) and thus technically born as an Austrian.
-
Edith Stein, (1891–1942) theologian. Executed in Auschwitz for being of Jewish descent. Beatified in 1987 and canonized in 1998.
-
Farin Urlaub, (1963–) musician (
Die Ärzte)
-
Xavier Naidoo, (1971–) singer.
-
Nicolaus Copernicus, (1473–1543) astronomer and mathematician. Developed
heliocentrism. Born in
Toruń, which is located in
Poland today.
-
Adam Ries, (1492–1559) mathematician.
-
Gottlieb Daimler, (1834–1900) business man and inventor. Invented the high-speed liquid petroleum fueled engine, which lead to the creation of the automobile.
-
Erich Kästner, (1899–1974) writer (
Emil and the Detectives).
-
Rosa Luxemburg, (1871–1919) politician and activist.
-
Bertolt Brecht, (1898–1956) writer and playwright (
The Threepenny Opera,
Mother Courage and Her Children)
-
Theodor Heuss, (1884–1963) politician. President of the Federal Republic (1949–1959).
-
Otto I the Great, (912–973) king (936–973) and emperor of the
Holy Roman Empire (962–973).
-
Sigmund Freud, (1856–1939) psychoanalyst (
Die Traumdeutung). Founder of modern
psycho-analysis. Born in
Freiberg in Mähren, which was part of
Austria at the time. Nowadays the town is located in the
Czech Republic.
-
Christine Licci [
de], businesswoman. Chief of
Citibank.
-
Wilhelm Busch, (1832–1908) writer, illustrator and comics artist, (
Max und Moritz).
-
Hildegard Hamm-Brücher, (1921–2016) politician.
-
Udo Lindenberg, (1946–) rock musician.
-
Eugen Drewermann, (1940–) theologian
-
Ferdinand Sauerbruch, (1875–1951) physician. Inventor of the
Sauerbruch chamber.
-
Peter Maffay, (1949–) pop singer (
Du). Born in
Brașov,
Romania.
-
Josef Frings, (1887–1978) cardinal and humanitarian activist.
- Silke Fritzen, entry pushed by a group of internet users.
-
Max Planck, (1858–1947) physicist. Developed the
quantum theory. Received the
Nobel Prize in Physics in 1918.
-
Johannes Rau, (1931–2006) politician, Federal President 1999–2004
-
Jacob and
Wilhelm Grimm, aka the
Brothers Grimm , linguists and collectors of fairy tales.
-
Hieronymus Karl Friedrich, Freiherr von Münchhausen, nobleman whose tall tales inspired
Rudolf Erich Raspe's novel The Adventures of Baron von Münchhausen.
-
Wilhelm II, German emperor 1888–1918 (1859–1941).
-
Rudolf Augstein, (1923–2002) journalist and publisher. Founder of
Der Spiegel.
-
Heinrich Böll, (1917–1985) novelist (
The Train Was on Time,
The Lost Honour of Katharina Blum)
-
Ralf Schumacher, (1975–) racing driver.
-
Anne Frank, (1929–1945) writer of
The Diary of Anne Frank. Moved to the Netherlands when she was young.
-
Frederick I, Holy Roman Emperor ("Barbarossa"), (1122–1190) emperor of the Holy Roman Empire (1155–1190).
-
Sigmund Jähn, (1937–) cosmonaut. First German in space.
-
Franziska van Almsick, (1978–) swimmer.
-
Clemens August Graf von Galen, (1878–1946) theologian and resistance fighter against the Nazis.
-
Ludwig II, (1845–1886) "the Fairy tale King", king of Bavaria (1864–1886).
-
Carl Friedrich Zeiss, physicist and businessman (
Carl Zeiss AG)
-
Hildegard Knef, (1925–2002) film and theatre actress and singer.
-
Levi Strauss, (1829–1902) entrepreneur and inventor. Invented
jeans.
-
Sepp Herberger, (1897–1977) football coach of the 1954 world cup winning team.
-
Klaus Kinski, (1926–1991) theatre and film actor.
-
Werner von Siemens, (1816–1892) physicist and businessman (
Siemens AG). Invented the electric elevator.
-
Ferdinand Porsche, (1875–1951) businessman (
Porsche).
-
Peter Scholl-Latour, (1924–2014) journalist.
-
August Heinrich Hoffmann von Fallersleben, (1798–1874) poet. Wrote the lyrics of the German national anthem.
-
Siegfried & Roy, illusionists and tiger tamers.
-
Christoph Langen, (1962–) bobsledder.
-
Michelle, (1972–) singer.
-
Manfred von Ardenne, (1907–1997) physicist. Invented the
scanning electron microscope.
-
Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz, (1646–1716) philosopher and mathematician. Proved
Fermat's little theorem.
-
Arthur Schopenhauer, (1788–1860) philosopher (
The World as Will and Representation).
-
Kurt Tucholsky, (1890–1935) novelist and journalist.
-
Karl and
Theo Albrecht, businesspeople (
Aldi).
- Joseph Ratzinger, cardinal (became
Pope Benedict XVI in 2005).
-
Werner Heisenberg, (1901–1976) physicist. Developed the
Uncertainty principle. Received the
Nobel Prize in Physics in 1932.
-
Harald Juhnke, (1929–2005) actor.
-
Till Eulenspiegel, folkloric figure. The only fictional character on the list.
-
Götz George, (1938–2016) TV, film and theatre actor and comedian.
-
Rudolf Diesel, (1858–1913) engineer and inventor. Invented the
diesel engine.
-
Stefan Raab, (1966–) TV presenter and musician.
-
Hans Albers, (1891–1960) singer and actor.
-
Nina Hagen, (1955–) punk singer.
-
Johannes Kepler, (1571–1630) astronomer and mathematician. Developed the
laws of planetary motion, improved the
refracting telescope.
-
Hans Rosenthal, (1925–1987) radio and TV presenter.
-
Rupert Neudeck, (1939–2016) physician, journalist and humanitarian activist (
Cap Anamur)
-
Dieter Hildebrandt, (1927–2013) comedian.
-
Marie Theres Kroetz-Relin [
de], (1927–2013) actress.
-
Kilian Saum [
de], priest and humanitarian activist.
-
Hans Söllner, (1955–) reggae singer.
-
Gregor Gysi, (1948–) (East) German politician.
-
Arminius, der Cherusker, Germanic leader who defeated a Roman army.
-
Günter Grass, (1927-2015) novelist (
The Tin Drum). Received the
Nobel Prize in Literature in 1999.
-
Inge Meysel, (1910–2004) film, theatre and TV actress.
-
Hans Hartz, (1943–2002) pop singer.
-
Karl Lagerfeld, (1933–2019) fashion designer.
-
Oliver Kahn, (1969–) association football player.
-
Gerd Müller, (1945–) association football player.
-
Ferdinand von Zeppelin, (1838–1917) inventor of the
zeppelin.
-
Nicolaus Otto, (1832–1891) engineer and inventor. Invented the
internal combustion engine.
-
Grete Schickedanz [
de], business woman
Quelle mail-order entrepreneur.
-
Clara Zetkin, (1857–1933) women's rights activist.
-
Hannah Arendt, (1906-1975) journalist and philosopher.
-
Roman Herzog, (1934–2017) Federal President (1994–1999).
-
Hermann Oberth, (1894–1989) rocket physicist.
-
Karl Valentin, (1882–1948) comedian and actor.
-
Frank Schöbel, (1942–) East German pop singer.
-
Jakob Fugger, (1459–1525) businessman.
-
Henry Maske, (1964–) boxer.
-
Helmut Zacharias, (1920–2002) violinist.
-
Michael Ballack, (1976–) association football player.
-
Bernhard Grzimek, animal scientist and film director (
Serengeti Shall Not Die).
-
Richard Strauss, (1864–1949) (composer (
Also Sprach Zarathustra,
Four Last Songs)
-
Edmund Stoiber, (1941–) politician.
-
Klaus Störtebeker, (1360–1401) pirate.
-
Peter Frankenfeld, (1913–1979) radio and TV presenter and comedian.
-
Mildred Scheel, physician and humanitarian activist. Founded the
German Cancer Aid.
-
Claudia Schiffer, (1970–) photo model.
References
External links