List of mayors of Hamburg (Erster Bürgermeister) — office, history and organization

Office, functions and selection

The First Mayor presides over the Senate, chairs its meetings and represents Hamburg externally. The position is supported by a deputy called the Second Mayor. The constitution of Hamburg and subsequent laws define the powers and responsibilities: forming and dismissing Senators, directing government policy, and executing laws adopted by the Bürgerschaft (the state parliament). Selection procedures have changed over time: historically the Senate chose its president, while in the modern parliamentary arrangement the Bürgerschaft elects the First Mayor and confirms the government.

Historical development

Lists of Hamburg's mayors reflect long political continuity and institutional change. As a Hanseatic city, Hamburg had municipal leaders in medieval and early modern times whose titles and selection methods varied. The 19th century codification of municipal government, notably the 1860 constitution, formalized a ten‑member Senate led by the First Mayor. After major 20th‑century upheavals, including the Nazi era and World War II, democratic structures were reestablished. A notable reform late in the 20th century changed how the First Mayor is chosen: until 1997 the Senate elected its president internally; since then the Bürgerschaft directly elects the First Mayor, strengthening parliamentary accountability.

How lists are organized

Chronological lists of Hamburg's mayors are often divided into distinct periods to reflect constitutional or political change. Typical subdivisions include:

• Medieval and Hanseatic municipal leaders (pre‑19th century)
• 19th‑century regulated Senate presidency after the 1860 constitution
• 20th‑century periods: Weimar, Nazi era, post‑1945 reconstruction
• Contemporary period with parliamentary election by the Bürgerschaft (post‑1997)

Notable holders and significance

Several First Mayors have had national prominence or later careers at the federal level; for example, politicians who led Hamburg have at times become influential figures in national politics. Lists of mayors therefore serve not only as local administrative records but also as sources for political and social history, showing party trends, coalition patterns and responses to crises such as war, reconstruction and urban development.

Using and interpreting lists

A careful list will indicate the officeholder's official title, term dates, party affiliation where applicable, and any acting or interim status. Researchers should consult primary municipal records and authoritative compilations when precise dates or changes in constitutional practice are needed. For general reference the office name Erster Bürgermeister, the city's identity as Hamburg, and its federal context in Germany are helpful anchors when locating verified lists in archival guides or official municipal publications.