Protestant, married to Prof. Joachim Sauer

1954 – 1973
Early years in Quitzow near Perleberg, childhood spent in Templin

1973
Abitur (higher education entrance qualification) followed by studies (1973 – 1978) at the University of Leipzig

1978
Physics degree

1978 – 1990
Academic staff member at the Central Institute of Physical Chemistry at the Academy of Sciences (East Berlin) working in the field of quantum chemistry

1986
Doctorate

1989
Member of “Demokratischer Aufbruch” (Democratic Awakening – DA)

1990
DA spokesperson

1990
Deputy Government Spokesperson of the de Maizière Government

1990
Member of the Christian Democratic Union of Germany (CDU)

1990
Member of the German Bundestag after winning the constituency seat Stralsund-Western Pomerania (North)-Rügen

1991 – 1994
Federal Minister for Women and Youth

1991 – 1998
Vice-Chairwoman of the national CDU

1994 – 1998
Federal Minister for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety

1993 – 2000
Chairwoman of the CDU in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania

1998 – 2000
General Secretary of the national CDU

2000 - 2018
Chairwoman of the national CDU

2002 – 2005
Chairwoman of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group in the German Bundestag

Since November 2005
Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany

14 March 2018
Re-elected Chancellor for the third time