List of Bremen mayors

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Monument to Johann Smidt in the Bremen town hall

This list of Bremen mayors shows a large number of the mayors of the city of Bremen over the past centuries. The mayors of the Hanseatic city are appointed by the Senate after the Senate has been constituted after a state election. Under the NSDAP regime, the post of mayor was not filled by election.

† = leaving office through death

The mayors

Until 1799

This partial list, which is supposed to list all of Bremen's mayors up to the year 1799, is still incomplete. In the Bremen council of the Imperial Freyen Imperial and Hanseatic City and since 1822 in the Senate of the Free Hanseatic City of Bremen , four mayors ruled simultaneously from 1398 to 1426 and again from 1433 to 1852/53 - in between there were two mayors. When a mayor resigned, a new mayor was subsequently elected. It was therefore divided into four lines up to 1852/53 : The four lines resulted from the fact that the four parishes - Liebfrauen , Ansgarii , Martini and Stephani  - each had a mayor.

Term of office Surname Life dates comment
around 1344 Heinrich Doneldey * around 1300 Councilor, cathedral builder, founder
around 1358 Bernhard von Dettenhusen † after 1378 from 1330 councilor
from March 22, 1365,
possibly until 1377		 Albert Doneldey * before 1310; † after 1377 from 1331 councilor
1367 to 1391 Nikolaus Hemeling before 1361 to 1391 Cousin of Johann Hemeling
1390 to 1403 Johann Brand the Elder * around 1340 to 1405 1364 to 1403 councilor, coat of arms on the town hall
1394 to 1410 Reynwerd Dene † after 1410 Councilor, Hanse representative
1394 to? Bernhard Schorhar
also Bernd Merck		 † 1409/10 1371 to 1409 councilor
1395 to 1410? Friedrich von Walle † after 1410 from 1371 councilor
1405 to 1410 Johann Hemeling 1358 to March 27, 1428 from 1382 councilor
1410 to 1417 Friedrich Wigger † 1417 from approx. 1396 councilor
1414 to 1420/21 Gerd von Dettenhusen † around 1432/33 1395 to 1420 councilor
son of Bernhard von Dettenhusen
1419 to 1424 Herbort Duckel around 1365 to before 1433 1407/08 to 1424 councilor
left Bremen in 1425, suing the city, Hanseatic League and emperor
1417 to 1423 Detward von der Hude around 1345 to 1430 from 1375 councilor
around 1420? Hinrich von der Hude before 1390 to 1459 1410 to 1459 councilor,
son of Detward von der Hude
1422 to June 20, 1430 Johann Vasmer 1365 to 1430 beheaded for treason, later rehabilitated
from 1428 Johann Frese † February 14, 1464 1420 to 1463 councilor
around 1464 Hermann Groepeling around 1400 to after 1464 Councilor
around 1464 Jacob Olden
around 1464 Carsten Steding
around 1475 Bernd Balleer (also Bernd Baller)
1486 to 1508 Heinrich Stenouw † 1508
1500 to 1538 Daniel von Büren the Elder † 1541
1508 to 1544 Meimar von Borken † 1546
1512 to 1531 Johann von der Trupe † April 26, 1533 from 1509 councilor
around 1530 Heinrich Stenouen Mayor Erich Hoyer's father-in-law
from 1531 Diedrich Hoyer the Elder † July 22, 1548 Coat of arms on the town hall
from 1538 Diedrich Vasmer * 1501;
† January 18, 1549		 from 1536 councilor,
brother of Hermann Vasmer
from 1539 Arnold Esich * 1501;
† August 8, 1547		 1533 councilor
1544 to 1591 Daniel von Büren the Younger 1512 to 1593 from 1538 councilor
son of Daniel von Büren d. Ä.
1548 to 1554 Elert Esich * 1508;
† December 20, 1554		 1547 councilor
1554 to 1562 Detmar Kenckel 1513-1584 from 1549 councilor
opponent of Daniel von Büren
1560 to 1562 Johann Esich 1518-1578 from 1555 councilor
opponent of Daniel von Büren
from 1562 Hermann Vasmer † September 30, 1567 from January 27, 1549 councilor,
brother of Diedrich Vasmer
from 1562 Erich Hoyer , Dr. jur. † 2.4.1597 from 1562 councilor,
son of Diedrich Hoyer the elder
father of Diedrich Hoyer the younger
from April 19, 1574 Carsten Christian Steding 1562–1574 councilor
from April 23, 1584 Hermann Schomaker † June 9, 1600 from October 21, 1566 councilor
from 1597 Heinrich Zobel before 1558 – after 1600 (1615?) from 1583 councilor's
coat of arms on / in the town hall, Martinikirche and church in Blumenthal
December 1, 1591 to 1605 Johann Esich the Younger * 1521;
† August 27, 1605		 1562 Councilor
1600 Praeses,
coat of arms stone on the old church in Blumenthal
from May 23, 1597 Daniel von Büren III. † March 6, 1608 from April 9, 1597 councilor,
son of Daniel von Büren d. J.,
Wappenstein at the old church in Blumenthal
from June 17, 1600 Heinrich Houcken (also Henrich Houken) † February 1, 1609 from March 8, 1586 councilor,
later judge,
coat of arms stone at the old church in Blumenthal
August 30, 1605 to
August 1, 1611		 Heinrich Krefting 1562-1611 from 1591 councilor
from March 10, 1608 Diedrich Hoyer the Younger * July 6, 1568;
† October 29, 1623		 1616: Alliance with States General, coat of arms on the town hall
from 1609 Johann Clamp * Oct. 21, 1549
† Jun. 19, 1611		 from 1595 councilor
1611 to 1617 † Arnold Gröning (also Arendt Gröning) * around 1550;
† August 22, 1617		 Coat of arms on the town hall
June 23, 1611 Johann Brand the Younger 1563-1615 Councilor, coat of arms on the town hall
1615 to 1632 Johann Heerde the Elder † July 25, 1632 from 1609 councilor, from 1611 mason, coat of arms stone in the Süsterstrasse
1615 to 1638 Johann Schlichting † 1638 from 1608 councilor, from 1611 mason, coat of arms stone in the Süsterstraße
June 27, 1627 Eberhard Dozen * July 17, 1574;
† November 17, 1654		 1628 trial in Uhtlede
Nov 1625 to June 1627 Johann Zobel 1578-1631 1625 councilor; Son of Heinrich Zobel
from 1632 Hermann security guard 1579-1658 from 1622 councilor
brother of Johann Wachmann the elder
around 1635 Havemann 1635 Lease of Gut Walle to knight Rasch (en)
1649 to
December 5, 1654		 Statius Speckhan 1599-1679 Resignation due to proximity to Sweden,
later Swedish councilor
from January 8, 1649 Liborius von Line the Elder * February 28, 1595;
† March 5, 1664
from June 29, 1654 Johann Heerde * December 19, 1607;
† May 14, 1655		 from 1634 councilor,
son of mayor Heerde the elder
from 1654 Heinrich Meier 1609-1676 from 1638 councilor
from March 10, 1664 Joachim Brand * April 24, 1609;
† February 5, 1673
from 1667 Simon Anton Erp von Brockhausen * May 14, 1611;
† November 18, 1682
from 1673 Heinrich Alers * 1612; † 1675
from 1682 Nikolaus von Zobel * October 29, 1622;
† July 15, 1693
2nd line:
from May 24, 1687		 Johann Heerde * August 13, 1638;
† April 11, 1689		 from 1669 councilor,
son of mayor Heerde (1607–1655)
2nd line:
April 17, 1689 to 1712		 Melchior Schweling * October 23, 1629;
† July 1, 1712		 from April 27, 1678 councilor, 1682 judge, coat of arms on St. Michaelis Church
1st line:
1690 to 1721		 Friedrich Casimir Tilemann * February 24, 1638;
† April 19, 1721		 gen. Schenk ;
Professor at high school illustrious ;
from March 1, 1638 councilor, coat of arms on St. Michaelis Church
3rd line:
1693 to 1711		 Heinrich von Aschen * November 13, 1638;
† August 6, 1711		 from 1680 councilor, coat of arms on St. Michaelis Church
4th line:
1696 to 1718		 Hermann Doverhagen * March 26, 1650;
† December 1, 1718		 from 1681 councilor, coat of arms on St. Michaelis Church
3rd line:
1711 to 1716		 Wilhelm von Bentheim
2nd line:
July 6, 1712 to 1737 †		 Werner Koehne * December 24, 1656;
† October 7, 1737
3rd line:
1716 to 1742		 Johann Holler
4th line:
1718 to 1720		 Konrad von Berchem
4th line:
1720 to 1747		 Heinrich Meier II. * April 18, 1678;
† March 4, 1747		 from 1708 councilor
1st line:
1721 to 1725		 Johann von Rheden
1st line:
September 1725 to 1728 †		 Liborius von Line the Younger * September 7, 1668;
† September 1, 1728		 Grandson of Liborius von Line d. Ä.
1st line:
1728 to 1731		 Hieronymus Alers
1st line:
June 16, 1731 to 1736 †		 Heinrich Smidt * 1655; † 1736 from 1706 councilor
1st line:
1736 to 1749		 Daniel von Büren IV. * November 18, 1693; † October 24, 1749 from April 26, 1721 councilor
2nd line:
October 14, 1737
to 1741 †		 Jacob Hüneken * October 21, 1666;
† April 19, 1741
2nd line:
1741 to 1745		 Kaspar von Rheden
3rd line:
1742 to 1751		 Dietrich Meier I. January 5, 1687;
† June 7, 1751		 from 1712 councilor
2nd line:
December 13, 1745 to 1756 †		 Heinrich lamp I. * November 29, 1680;
† March 21, 1756		 from 1732 councilor
4th line:
1747 to 1757		 Christian Schönel
1st line:
1749 to 1781		 Volkhard Mindemann * April 26, 1705; † May 15, 1781 from 1736 councilor
3rd line:
1751 to 1766		 Heinrich Gerhard Schumacher * August 31, 1695;
† February 1766		 from 1727 councilor
2nd line:
March 27, 1756 to
March 13, 1767		 Heinrich Koehne the Elder * September 19, 1692;
† March 27, 1768		 Son of Werner Köhne; from 1740 councilor
4th line:
March 20, 1757 to
April 29, 1773 †		 Hieronymus Klugkist * 1711;
† April 29, 1773		 Father of Daniel Klugkist
3rd line:
1766 to 1775		 Isaak von Meinertzhagen
2nd line:
1767 to 1787 †		 Diederich Smidt * 1711; † 1787 Son of Heinrich Smidt
4th line:
May 5, 1773
to 1776		 Hermann from Line * February 9, 17…;
† January 10, 1786
3rd line:
1775 to 1787		 Johann Pundsack
4th line:
1776 to 1794		 Daniel Tindemann
1st line:
1781		 Albrecht Groening
1st line:
1781 to 1782		 Martin Eelking
1st line:
December 24, 1782 to 1798		 Gerhard von dem Busch (Mayor) * February 22, 1725;
† February 14, 1799		 from 1764 councilor
2nd line:
January 19, 1787 to
November 13, 1792 †		 Heinrich Koehne the Younger * July 18, 1721;
† November 13, 1792		 Son of Heinrich Koehne the Elder Ä.
3rd line:
November 28, 1787
to May 26, 1802		 Justin Friedrich Wilhelm Iken * April 14, 1726;
† November 3, 1805
2nd line:
November 20, 1792
to 1810		 Christian Abraham Heineken * December 10, 1752;
† July 20, 1818		 First term
4th line:
December 19, 1794 to
December 2, 1802 †		 Diederich Meier II. * February 18, 1748;
† December 2, 1802		 Father of Diederich Meier (1787–1857)
1st line:
April 11, 1798 to
August 21, 1803 †		 Jacob Breuls * September 7, 1749;
† August 21, 1803

From 1800 to 1882

This partial list, which is supposed to list all of Bremen's mayors up to the year 1882, is still incomplete. The mayors' reigns overlap. Four mayors ruled simultaneously until 1852/53; after that there were two mayors. When a mayor resigned, a new mayor was always elected. It was therefore divided into four lines until 1852 .

Most of the mayors were lawyers. The fields of the few non-lawyers are marked in gray.

mayor President of the Senate Surname Life dates Remarks
3rd line:
May 28, 1802 to
December 31, 1810		 Daniel Klugkist * March 8, 1748;
† September 20, 1814		 First term
son of Hieronymus Klugkist
4th line:
December 10, 1802 -
September 16, 1808		 Liborius Diederich Post * June 11, 1737;
† October 7, 1822		 from 1763 archivist, from 1776 councilor
1st line:
August 26, 1803 -
December 31, 1810		 Heinrich lamp * January 23, 1746
† December 18, 1817		 First term
school reformer
4th line:
September 17, 1808 -
December 10, 1810		 Franz Tidemann * December 23, 1752
† April 9, 1836		 First term, Senator (1794–1808)
1811-1813 Wilhelm Ernst Wichelhausen * 1769; † 1823 Maire in the French period in Bremen
1st line:
November 6, 1813 -
December 15, 1817 †		 Heinrich lamp * January 23, 1746
† December 18, 1817		 Second term
2nd line:
November 6, 1813
to July 20, 1818 †		 Christian Abraham Heineken * December 10, 1752;
† July 20, 1818		 Second term
3rd line:
November 6, 1813 to
June 17, 1814		 Daniel Klugkist * March 8, 1748;
† September 20, 1814		 Second term
4th line:
November 6, 1813 -
December 23, 1824		 Franz Tidemann * December 23, 1752
† April 9, 1836		 Second term
3rd line:
1814-1821		 Georg Groening * August 23, 1745
† August 1, 1825		 Son-in-law of Heinrich Köhne jun.
1st line:
1817–1822 †		 Christian Hermann Schöne * February 10, 1763
† February 18, 1822
2nd line:
July 25, 1818 -
April 14, 1821 †		 Arnold Dietrich Tidemann * October 26, 1756
† April 14, 1821		 Senator (1792-1818)
2nd line:
1821 -
May 7, 1857 †		 1850.53,
55.57		 Johann Smidt * November 5, 1773
† May 7, 1857
3rd line:
1821–1839 †		 Heinrich Groening * October 4, 1774
† March 29, 1839
1st line:
1822 to January 23, 1847 †		 1838 Simon Hermann nuns * February 4, 1777
† January 23, 1847
4th line:
1824 to
September 14, 1845 †		 Johann Michael Duntze * February 28, 1779
† September 14, 1845
3rd line:
1839–1852 †		 1849.52 Johann Daniel Noltenius * May 2, 1799
† March 8, 1852
4th line:
1845-1847		 1854.56 Dietrich Meier III * June 23, 1787
† April 24, 1857
1st line:
1847 to
August 3, 1853 †		 1851 Isak Hermann Albrecht Schumacher * July 27, 1780
† August 3, 1853		 Grave site 249–252 Riensberg cemetery
1857-1863
1866-1869		 1858.60,
62.67.69		 Arnold Duckwitz * January 27, 1802
† March 19, 1881
1857-1861
1864-1867
1870-1873		 1857,59,61,
64,66,71,73 (?)		 Carl Friedrich Gottfried Mohr * April 9, 1803
† December 13, 1888		 Grave site Riensberger Friedhof R 253
1862–1865
1868–1871 †		 1863.65,
68.70		 Johann Daniel Meier * May 5, 1804
† October 3, 1871
October 3, 1871–
December 31, 1871		 1871 Carl Friedrich Gottfried Mohr see 1857 Second term
1871 -
December 31, 1875		 Otto Gildemeister * March 13, 1823
† August 26, 1902		 First term
January 1, 1876 -
April 12, 1879 †		 Friedrich Pfeiffer * 1815; † 1879
April 12, 1879–
December 31, 1879		 1879 Otto Gildemeister see 1875 Second term
from 1879 (or 1874?) to 1882 Friedrich Ludolf Grave * November 15, 1815
† January 22, 1885		 Grave site Riensberger Friedhof U 35/36

1882 to 1918

Between 1882 and 1918, two mayors were elected from the Senate for four years each. The Senate appointed one of them President of the Senate for a calendar year. The following table only lists the names of the mayors who were also Presidents of the Senate.

Reign Surname Life dates comment
1882 Otto Gildemeister * March 13, 1823; † August 26, 1902 Second term
1883 Carl Friedrich Christian Buff * 1820; † 1891, Father of Clemens Buff
Waller Friedhof Grablage X82
1884 Otto Gildemeister see at 1882 Third term
1885 Carl Friedrich Christian Buff see at 1883 Second term
1886 Otto Gildemeister see at 1882 Fourth term
1887 August Lürman * 1820; † 1902
1888 Carl Friedrich Christian Buff see at 1883 Third term
1889 August Lürman see at 1887 Second term
1890 Carl Friedrich Christian Buff see at 1883 Fourth term
1891 Alfred Dominicus Pauli * August 7, 1827
† November 20, 1915
1892 August Lürman see at 1887 Third term
1893 vacancy -
1894 August Lürman see at 1887 Fourth term
1895 Albert Groening * January 26, 1839
† June 23, 1903		 Grandson of Mayor Georg Gröning
1896 Alfred Dominicus Pauli see at 1891 Second term
1897 Albert Groening see at 1895 Second term
1898 Alfred Dominicus Pauli see at 1891 Third term
1899 Friedrich August Schultz First term
1900 Albert Groening see at 1895 Third term
1901 Friedrich August Schultz see at 1899 Second term
1902 Albert Groening see at 1895 Fourth term
1903 Alfred Dominicus Pauli see at 1891 Fourth term
1904 Carl Georg Barkhausen * February 14, 1848
† November 5, 1917
1905 Alfred Dominicus Pauli see at 1891 Fifth term
1906 Carl Georg Barkhausen see at 1904 Second term
1907 Victor Wilhelm Marcus * July 9, 1849
† November 17, 1911
1908 Alfred Dominicus Pauli see at 1891 Sixth term
1909 Victor Wilhelm Marcus see at 1907 Second term
1910 Alfred Dominicus Pauli see at 1891 Seventh term
1911 Carl Georg Barkhausen see at 1904 Third term
1912
1913 Carl Georg Barkhausen see at 1904 Fourth term
1914 Karl FH Stadtländer * December 4, 1844; † November 3, 1916
1915 Clemens Carl Buff * November 20, 1853; † February 23, 1940 Son of Carl Buff
1916 Carl Georg Barkhausen see at 1904 Fifth term
1917 Clemens Carl Buff see at 1914 Second term
1918 Hermann Hildebrand * September 27, 1849
† October 6, 1939		 see also 1919

From 1918 to 1945

After the crackdown on the Bremen Soviet Republic in January 1919, citizenship elections were held again. Since then, the President of the Senate has been mayor and thus also head of state of the Free Hanseatic City of Bremen and mayor of the municipality of Bremen . For traditional reasons, in contrast to most major German cities, Bremen only has the title of mayor and not mayor. The Vice President of the Senate and Mayor also has the title of Mayor and Senator.

Reign Surname Life dates Political party comment
April 10, 1919 to May 18, 1920 Hermann Hildebrand * September 27, 1849; † October 6, 1939 DDP
May 18, 1920 to March 18, 1933 Martin Donandt * January 18, 1852; † January 23, 1937 DNVP , independent from 1929
March 18, 1933 to October 1, 1933 Richard Markert * November 7, 1891; † April 13, 1957 NSDAP temporarily deployed
October 1, 1933 to October 23, 1934 Richard Markert see above NSDAP deposed after party battles
October 29, 1934 to April 16, 1937 Karl Hermann Otto Heider * May 26, 1896; † May 13, 1960 NSDAP Dismissed after a foundation money affair
April 16, 1937 to June 16, 1944 Johann Heinrich Bohmcker * July 22, 1896; † June 16, 1944 NSDAP died in office under unclear circumstances
July 1, 1944 to April 27, 1945 Richard Duckwitz * June 28, 1886; † November 30, 1972 NSDAP temporarily deployed

Since 1945

Reign Surname Life dates Political party comment
April 27, 1945 to April 30, 1945 Johannes Schroers * January 7, 1885; † June 18, 1960 NSDAP temporarily deployed
May 2, 1945 to July 31, 1945 Erich Vagts * February 9, 1896; † February 20, 1980 ex DNVP deployed and deposed by the Allies
July 31, 1945 to July 20, 1965 Wilhelm Kaisen * May 22, 1887; † December 19, 1979 SPD first democratically elected mayor since 1933
July 20, 1965 to November 28, 1967 Willy Dehnkamp * July 22, 1903; † November 12, 1985 SPD Coalition with the FDP
November 28, 1967 to September 18, 1985 Hans Koschnick * April 2, 1929; † April 21, 2016 SPD Coalition with the FDP (until 1971), then sole government
September 18, 1985 to July 4, 1995 Klaus Wedemeier * January 12, 1944 SPD Sole government (until 1991); Coalition with Bündnis 90 / Die Grünen and FDP ( traffic light coalition )
July 4, 1995 to November 8, 2005 Henning Scherf * October 31, 1938 SPD Coalition with the CDU
November 8, 2005 to July 15, 2015 Jens Boehrnsen * June 12, 1949 SPD Coalition with the CDU (until 2007); Coalition with Bündnis 90 / Die Grünen
July 15, 2015 to August 15, 2019 Carsten Sieling * January 13, 1959 SPD Coalition with Bündnis 90 / Die Grünen
Since August 15, 2019 Andreas Bovenschulte * August 11, 1965 SPD Coalition with Bündnis 90 / Die Grünen and Die Linke
Maike Schaefer Karoline Linnert Thomas Röwekamp Peter Gloystein Hartmut Perschau Ulrich Nölle Ralf Fücks Claus Jäger Henning Scherf Moritz Thape Walter Franke (Politiker, 1926) Annemarie Mevissen Hans Koschnick Willy Dehnkamp Adolf Ehlers Jules Eberhard Noltenius Theodor Spitta Andreas Bovenschulte Carsten Sieling Jens Böhrnsen Henning Scherf Klaus Wedemeier Hans Koschnick Willy Dehnkamp Wilhelm Kaisen Erich Vagts

  • Wilhelm Kaisen

  • Willy Dehnkamp

  • Hans Koschnick

  • Klaus Wedemeier

  • Henning Scherf

  • Jens Boehrnsen

  • Carsten Sieling

Mayor as Deputy President

Since 1945 there have been the following mayors who were deputies to the President of the Senate:

Reign Surname Life dates Political party Senate Department
1945–1955 Theodor Spitta January 5, 1873 - January 24, 1969 BDV or FDP Judiciary
1955-1959 Jules Eberhard Noltenius June 16, 1908 - August 7, 1976 CDU Ports, Shipping and Transport
1959-1963 Adolf Ehlers February 21, 1898 - May 20, 1978 SPD Interior
1963-1965 Willy Dehnkamp July 22, 1903 - November 12, 1985 SPD Education
1965-1967 Hans Koschnick April 2, 1929 - April 21, 2016 SPD Interior
1967-1975 Annemarie Mevissen October 24, 1914 - July 13, 2006 SPD Welfare and youth (until 1971); Social affairs, youth and sport (from 1971)
1975-1979 Walter Franke November 20, 1926 - November 1, 2015 SPD Social, youth and sport; Work (from 1975)
1979-1985 Moritz Thape February 19, 1920 - November 8, 2019 SPD Finances
1985-1991 Henning Scherf * October 31, 1938 SPD Youth and social affairs (until 1990); Health (1987/1988); Education, Science and Art (from 1990)
1991-1993 Claus Hunter * October 17, 1943 FDP Economy, middle class and technology
1993-1995 Ralf Fücks * August 3, 1951 B'90 / Greens Environmental protection and urban development
1995-1997 Ulrich Nölle * August 8, 1940 CDU Finances
1997-2004 Hartmut Perschau * March 28, 1942 CDU Finance (until 2003); Culture / Economy and Ports (from 2003)
2004-2005 Peter Gloystein * November 25, 1945 CDU Culture / economy and ports
2005-2007 Thomas Röwekamp * September 18, 1966 CDU Heart and sport
2007-2019 Karoline Linnert * August 30, 1958 B'90 / Greens Finances
Since 2019 Maike Schaefer * June 2, 1971 B'90 / Greens Climate protection, the environment, mobility, urban development and housing construction

See also

literature