On This Day
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Angela Merkel becomes the first female Chancellor of Germany

Angela Dorothea Merkel is a German retired politician who served as Chancellor of Germany from 2005 to 2021. She is the only woman to have held the office and the only from former East Germany.

Angela Dorothea Merkel is a German retired politician who served as Chancellor of Germany from 2005 to 2021. She is the only woman to have held the office and the only from former East Germany. She was Leader of the Opposition from 2002 to 2005 and Leader of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) from 2000 to 2018.

Merkel was born in Hamburg in West Germany. Her family moved to East Germany when she was an infant. A member of the communist East German Free German Youth (FDJ), Merkel obtained a doctorate in quantum chemistry in 1986 and worked as a research scientist until 1989. She then entered politics in the wake of the Revolutions of 1989, briefly serving as deputy spokeswoman for the first democratically elected government of East Germany, led by Lothar de Maizière.

Historical Significance

Angela Dorothea Merkel is a German retired politician who served as Chancellor of Germany from 2005 to 2021.

Key People

Angela Merkel

– present

Events Before

  1. After hosting the show for over 30 years, Casey Kasem steps down as host of "American Top 40" and is succeeded by Ryan S

    After hosting the show for over 30 years, Casey Kasem steps down as host of "American Top 40" and is succeeded by Ryan Seacrest

  2. Britney Spears has her surprise marriage annulled less than 55 hours after tying the knot with childhood friend Jason Al

    Britney Spears has her surprise marriage annulled less than 55 hours after tying the knot with childhood friend Jason Alexander at the Little White Wedding Chapel in Las Vegas

  3. Mark Zuckerberg launches Facebook from his Harvard dormitory room

    Mark Zuckerberg launches Facebook from his Harvard dormitory room

  4. American singer-songwriter Solange Knowles (17) weds Texas Southern University football player Daniel Smith (19) at Old

    American singer-songwriter Solange Knowles (17) weds Texas Southern University football player Daniel Smith (19) at Old Bahama Bay Resort in Grand Bahama Island; divorce in 2007

  5. Luciano Pavarotti performs in his final opera, "Tosca," at New York's Metropolitan Opera

    Luciano Pavarotti (12 October 1935 – 6 September 2007) was an Italian operatic tenor who during the late part of his career crossed over into popular music, eventually becoming one of the most...

Events After

  1. Sydney, Australia, swelters through its hottest New Year's Day on record, with the temperature peaking at 45.8 degrees C

    Sydney, Australia, swelters through its hottest New Year's Day on record, with the temperature peaking at 45.8 degrees Celsius, sparking bushfires and power outages

  2. American actor Eddie Murphy (44) divorces Nicole Mitchell after 13 years of marriage

    Edward Regan Murphy is an American comedian, actor, and singer. He had his breakthrough as a stand-up comic before gaining stardom for his film roles; he is widely recognized as one of the greatest…

  3. Actor-writer Charlie Shanian (39) divorces former Beverly Hills, 90210 actress Tori Spelling (32) only 15 months after t

    Actor-writer Charlie Shanian (39) divorces former Beverly Hills, 90210 actress Tori Spelling (32) only 15 months after their lavish $1-million wedding

  4. Nepalese security forces open fire on pro-democracy protesters demonstrating against King Gyanendra, injuring hundreds.

    Nepalese security forces open fire on pro-democracy protesters demonstrating against King Gyanendra, injuring hundreds. The protesters secure the restoration of parliament and a federal state

  5. "Dallas" actress Victoria Principal (56) divorces plastic surgeon Harry Glassman (63) due to irreconcilable differences

    "Dallas" actress Victoria Principal (56) divorces plastic surgeon Harry Glassman (63) due to irreconcilable differences after nearly 21 years of marriage

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Shirley Chisholm dies

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Gisborne, New Zealand, with a population of approximately 32,754, is the first city in the world to welcome the new Mill

Gisborne, New Zealand, with a population of approximately 32,754, is the first city in the world to welcome the new Millennium

Euro banknotes and coins become legal tender in twelve of the European Union's member states

There are eight denominations of euro coins, ranging from one cent to two euro (the euro is divided into a hundred cents). The coins first came into use in 2002.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happened on November 22, 2005?
Angela Dorothea Merkel is a German retired politician who served as Chancellor of Germany from 2005 to 2021. She is the only woman to have held the office and the only from former East Germany. She was Leader of the Opposition from 2002 to 2005 and Leader of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) from 2000 to 2018.
Why is Angela Merkel becomes the first female Chancellor of Germany significant?
Angela Dorothea Merkel is a German retired politician who served as Chancellor of Germany from 2005 to 2021.
Who was involved in Angela Merkel becomes the first female Chancellor of Germany?
Key figures include Angela Merkel.

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November 22 in HistoryYear 2005