1946 in Germany

Events in the year 1946 in Germany.

January

 * January:
 * German steel production limited to 25% of prewar level by the Allied Control Council.
 * British occupation zone denazification responsibilities turned over to the Germans.
 * Soviet 2nd Shock Army returned to the Soviet Union.
 * 8 January: Braunschweiger Zeitung founded.

February

 * 1 February: Southwest German Radio Symphony Orchestra founded.
 * 5 February: Soviet 47th Army disbanded.
 * 20 February: The worst explosion in German history kills more than 300 coal miners in Bergkamen.
 * 21 February: Die Zeit founded two days later.

March

 * March:
 * Law for Liberation from National Socialism and Militarism turns denazification responsibility over to the Germans.
 * Seventh United States Army inactivated.
 * Bamberg Symphony founded.
 * 2 March: Rheinische Post founded.

April

 * April: Badisches Volksecho founded.
 * 2 April: Die Welt founded.
 * 3 April: Lübecker Nachrichten founded.
 * 8 April: Sozialistische Einheit ceased publication.
 * 13 April: Sächsische Zeitung founded.
 * 21 April:
 * Merger of the KPD and SPD into the Socialist Unity Party of Germany.
 * Deutsche Volkszeitung ceased publication.
 * 23 April:
 * Neues Deutschland founded.
 * Das Volk ceased publication.

May

 * 16 May: Handelsblatt founded.
 * 17 May: DEFA film studio founded.
 * 20 May: Lausitzer Rundschau founded.

June

 * June: Gehlen Organization established.
 * 29 June: Provisional German administration under Soviet supervision established in the state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.
 * 30 June: June 1946 Bavarian state election.

July

 * July: Europa-Archiv founded.
 * 1 July: ABC-Zeitung founded.

August

 * 20 August: Dissolution of the Wehrmacht.

September

 * 6 September: Restatement of Policy on Germany.
 * 16 September: BRIXMIS established.

October

 * 1 October: Nuremberg trials conclude.
 * 20 October:
 * 1946 Berlin state election.
 * 1946 Soviet occupation zone state elections.
 * Rhine Province disestablished.

November

 * 13 November: Münchner Merkur founded.

December

 * 1 December: December 1946 Bavarian state election.
 * 5 December: Hamburg Ravensbrück trials begin.
 * 11 December: Hörzu founded.
 * 21 December: Middle Rhine Football Association founded.
 * Christmas: First edition of Auto motor und sport appears.

Undated

 * Average intake per day of 1,080 kilocalories.
 * German Association for Housing, Urban and Spatial Development founded.
 * Hansawelle founded.
 * Südwest Presse founded.
 * West German Athletics Championships established.
 * Westphalian Football and Athletics Association founded.

Births

 * 23 February — Bodo Hauser, German journalist and writer (died 2004)
 * 25 February — Franz Xaver Kroetz, German dramatist
 * 17 March — Georges J. F. Köhler, German biologist and Nobel laureate (d. 1995)
 * 27 March — Olaf Malolepski, German musician (Die Flippers)
 * 16 April – Mordechai Geldman, Israeli poet and writer (died 2021)
 * 17 April — Georges J. F. Köhler, German biologist (died 1995)
 * 9 May — Drafi Deutscher, German singer (died 2006)
 * 14 May — Elmar Brok, German politician
 * 15 May – Klaus-Peter Siegloch, German journalist
 * 17 May — Udo Lindenberg, German singer
 * 26 June — Maria von Welser, German journalist
 * 1 July:
 * Stefan Aust, German journalist
 * Rosalie Abella, German jurist
 * 20 August
 * Henryk M. Broder, German journalist
 * Ralf Hütter, German techno musician
 * 2 September — Angelika Volquartz, German politician
 * 15 September — Gerd Uecker, German artistic director (died 2024)
 * 6 October — Renate Holub, German philosopher
 * 14 December — Ruth Fuchs, German athlete
 * 30 December — Berti Vogts, German football player and manager

Deaths

 * February 8 - Felix Hoffmann, German chemist (born 1868)
 * February 10 - Eduard Fresenius, German entrepreneur (born 1874)
 * May 16 - Bruno Tesch, German chemist and entrepreneur (born 1890)
 * June 6 - Gerhart Hauptmann, German dramatist (born 1862)
 * September 6 - Alfred Körte, German philologist (born 1866)
 * 15 October — Hermann Göring, World War I fighter ace and Reichsmarshall of Nazi Germany (born 1893)
 * 16 October — Alfred Rosenberg, Nazi ideologue (born 1893)
 * Date unknown — Albert Hinrich Hussmann, artist and sculptor