1. Richard Wagner (1813)

German Composer Conductor And Es

Theatre director, polemicist, and conductor known for his operas and music dramas. His "Tristan und Isolde" presaged modern music.

2. Clara Schumann (1819)

German Musician Pianist Composer

Greatly admired pianist of the Romantic era who had an influential 61-year concert career that revolutionized the piano recital.

3. Julius Röntgen (1855)

Dutch Musician

Classical musician who produced 25 symphonies and a plethora of concertos and chamber music. He finished Grieg's String Quartet No. 2.

4. Paul Klengel (1854)

German Musician

Multi-instrumentalist who mastered the violin and the piano and who was also a composer and respected conductor, editor, and arranger.

5. Walter Ulbricht (1893)

East German Politician

Famous for leading the Communist Party of Germany during the Weimar era, this twentieth-century politician later led both the Socialist Unity Party and the government of East Germany.

6. Hanns Eisler (1898)

German Composer

Author of the German Democratic Republic's national anthem. He and Bertolt Brecht were close friends and frequent collaborators. He lived, performed, and taught in East Berlin during the Cold War.

7. Mitja Nikisch (1899)

German Musician

Respected interpreter of classical composers who was known for leading Berlin's popular jazz band the Mitja Nikisch Tanz Orchester to great acclaim.

8. Tom Kaulitz (1989)

Actor

German guitarist for the rock band Tokio Hotel. He played on the band's 2009 full-length album Humanoid.

9. Jutta Hipp (1925)

Jazz Pianist

Bebop and cool-jazz artist who was also a skilled painter, often depicting fellow jazz musicians in her portraits.

10. Bill Kaulitz (1989)

German Singer

Lead singer of the band Tokio Hotel whose first single, "Monsoon," reached #1 in Germany within a month. In 2016, he began performing under the stage name Billy, releasing his debut EP...

11. Lillian Vernon (1927)

Entrepreneur

Businesswoman best known as the founder, chairman, and CEO of the household and fashion retail company the Lillian Vernon Corporation.

12. Hannelore Bey (1941)

German Ballet Dancer

Dancer most recognized for her performances as a prima ballerina with the Komische Oper Berlin.

13. Joachim Kühn (1944)

German Musician

Jazz artist who collaborated with such musicians as Don Cherry, Phil Woods, Ray Lema, Barre Phillips, Hellmut Hattler, and Jean-Luc Ponty.

14. Paul Kalkbrenner (1977)

German Electronic Musician

German electronic music producer known for his live acts, during which he takes disassembled tracks and puts them back together. His single "Song of Sand" went platinum. He also played...

15. Kristin Otto (1966)

Swimmer

German swimmer who became the first woman to win six gold medals at a single Olympic Games in 1988 in Seoul.

16. Andreas Gursky (1955)

German Photographer

Visual artist best known for his architectural and landscape photographs. He was also known for his preference in using a high point of view.

17. René Adler (1985)

German Footballer

German goalkeeper best known for his thirteen-year career with Bayer Leverkusen. As part of the German national team, he was the runner-up at the 2008 UEFA European Championship.

18. Till Lindemann (1963)

German Rock Musician

Lead vocalist for the German metal band Rammstein, the group known for songs like "Engel" and "Links 2-3-4."

19. August Reinhardt (1998)

Photographer

Photographer and younger brother of professional model and Instagram sensation Brighton Reinhardt. He has been a photographer for several artists and traveled on tour internationally for bands such as Why Don't...

20. Falk Hentschel (1985)

Actor

Actor from Germany best known for his movie roles as Bernhard in 2009's Knight and Day and Motts in 2013's White House Down. He later landed a recurring role as...

21. Neo Rauch (1960)

German Artist

German painter whose work encompassed both the personal and the political. He received the Vincent Award in 2002.

22. Katrin Dörre-Heinig (1961)

Athletics (sport) Competitor

Marathon runner who won a bronze medal at the 1988 Summer Olympics.

23. Heike Hennig (1966)

German Choreographer And Dancer

Dancer, choreographer, and director of the Opera ensemble Heike Hennig & Co.

24. Tobias Künzel (1964)

German Singer

Pop singer, drummer, and songwriter who became famous as a lead singer of the German group, Die Prinzen. His music has been featured on the German children's TV quiz show,...

25. Erik Domaschke (1985)

Footballer

Erik Domaschke is a German professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for RB Leipzig.

26. Sabine Herbst (1974)

Swimmer

Sabine Herbst-Klenz is a retired female butterfly and medley swimmer from Germany. She twice competed for her native country at the Summer Olympics: 1996 and 2000. Herbst is the daughter...

27. Tony Schmidt (1980)

German Racing Driver

baller see Tony Schmidt Tony Schmidt is a German racing driver.

28. Nicky Adler (1985)

German Footballer

Nicky Adler is a German footballer who currently plays for SV Sandhausen.

29. Hertha Thiele (1908)

German Actor

Hertha Thiele was a German actress. She is noted for her starring roles in controversial stage plays and films produced during Germany's Weimar Republic and the early years of the...

30. Daniel Kraus (1984)

German Footballer And Manager

Daniel Kraus is a German former footballer and current head and goalkeeper coach of FF USV Jena.

31. Subaru Kimura (1990)

Voice Actor

Subaru Kimura is a Japanese voice actor.

32. Hans-Peter Koppe (1958)

Rower

Hans-Peter Koppe is a German rower who competed for East Germany in the 1980 Summer Olympics. He was born in Leipzig. In 1980 he won the gold medal as crew...

33. Harry Suhl (1922)

American Physicist

Harry Suhl is a German-American physicist. He was born in Leipzig Germany on October 18 1922. He received a B. Sc. degree from the University of Wales in 1943 and...

34. Matthias Liebers (1958)

German Footballer

Matthias Liebers is a former German professional footballer. He began his youth career with Lokomotive Leipzig in 1965 and was promoted to the senior squad in 1968 where he played...

35. Sammi Fajarowicz (1908)

German Chess Player

Sammi Fajarowicz was a German chess master. Born into a Jewish family with Ukrainian roots. He played several times in Leipzig championships; took 3rd in 1928 took 2nd in 1929...

36. Gerhard Pfeiffer (1923)

German Chess Player

Gerhard Pfeiffer was a German chess master and chess problemist. He tied for 5-7th at Bad Oeynhausen 1941 ; shared 1st with Lothar Schmid at Wiessenfels 1947 ; shared 10th...

37. Max Blümich (1886)

German Chess Player

Reinhold Max Blümich was a German chess master and editor. At the beginning of his chess career he played in Leipzig where tied for 4-6th in 1909 took 8th...

38. Rudolf Swiderski (1878)

German Chess Master

Rudolf Swiderski was a German chess master. He took 6th at Eisenach 1896 took 2nd at Annaberg 1897 tied for 7-8th at Berlin 1897 and tied for 3-6th in Amsterdam....

39. Jacques Mieses (1865)

German-british Chess Player

Jacques Mieses was a German-born chess Grandmaster and writer. He became a naturalized British citizen after World War II. p258

40. Johannes Minckwitz (1843)

German Chess Player

Johannes Minckwitz was a German chess player and author. His best achievement was 2nd place behind Adolf Anderssen at Barmen 1869. He tied for 3rd-5th at Hamburg 1869 ; tied...

41. Heinrich Schomburgk (1885)

German Tennis Player

Heinrich Georg Schomburgk was a male tennis player and footballer from Germany. At the Stockholm Olympics in 1912 he won a gold medal in the mixed doubles event with Dorothea...

42. Ruth Pfau (1929)

German Nun And Missionary

Dr. Ruth Katherina Martha Pfau NQA HPk HI is a German nun and a member of the Society of Daughters of the Heart of Mary who has devoted the last...

43. Saschko Gawriloff (1929)

German Musician

Saschko Gawriloff is a German violinist and violin teacher from Bulgarian descent. Gawriloff was born in Leipzig and received his first violin lessons from his father Yordan Gavriloff who was...

44. Ernst H. Albrecht (1906)

Art

45. Richard H. Riedel (1904)

Art Director

Richard H. Riedel was an American art director. He was nominated for an Academy Award in the category Best Art Direction for the film Pillow Talk.

46. Kerstin Gerschau (1958)

Olympic Gymnast

Kerstin Gerschau is a retired German gymnast. She competed at the 1976 Summer Olympics in all artistic gymnastics events and won a bronze medal in the team competition. Her best...

47. Benjamin Bellot (1990)

German Association Football Play

Benjamin Bellot is a German footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for RB Leipzig in the 3. Liga.

48. Robert Hering (1990)

German Sprinter

Robert Hering is a German sprinter who specialises in the 200 metres. His personal best time is 20. 41 seconds achieved at the 2009 German Athletics Championships in Ulm where...

49. Barbara Scherler (1933)

German Mezzo-soprano And Contral

Barbara Scherler is a German classical mezzo-soprano and contralto singer in opera and concert. She was a member of the Deutsche Oper Berlin and active in performances and recordings of...

50. Gerhart Eisler (1897)

German Politician

Gerhart Eisler was a German politician. Along with his sister Ruth Fischer he was a very early member of the Austrian German Communist Party and then a prominent member of...