Germany and the United States have had diplomatic relations since German unification in 1871. Prior to that, the only German states holding diplomatic relations with the U.S. were the Kingdom of Prussia, since 1835, and the three Hanseatic cities of Bremen, Hamburg and Lübeck, since 1853.
Relations were broken twice (1917 to 1921, 1941 to 1955) while Germany and the United States were at war.
1817–1823: Friedrich von Greuhm
1825–1830: Ludwig Niederstetter; Chargé d'Affaires
1834–1844: Friedrich Ludwig von Rönne
1844–1848: Friedrich von Gerolt
1848–1849: Friedrich Ludwig von Rönne (October 1848 - December 1849; (January 26 - December 21, 1849) simultaneously "Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary for the Central Government of Germany" i.e., the Frankfurt Parliament)
1849–1868: Friedrich von Gerolt (January 24, 1868–1871 as Minister of the North German Confederation)
1827–1828: Vincent Rumpff
1862–1864: Rudolf Schleiden
1864–1868: Johannes Rösing
Ministers and Ambassadors of the German Empire to the U.S.
1871–1882: Kurd von Schlözer, Minister Plenipotentiary
1882–1884: Carl von Eisendecher, Minister Plenipotentiary
1884–1888: Friedrich Johann Graf von Alvensleben, Minister Plenipotentiary
1888–1891: Ludwig, Graf von Arco-Valley, Minister Plenipotentiary
1891–1893: Theodor von Holleben, Minister Plenipotentiary
1893–1895: Anton Saurma von der Jeltsch
1895–1897: Max von Thielmann
1897–1903: Theodor von Holleben
1903–1908: Hermann Freiherr Speck von Sternburg
1908–1917: Johann Heinrich von Bernstorff (diplomatic relations severed due to World War I, February 3, 1917- April 25, 1921).
1921–1922: Dr. Karl Lang, Chargé d'Affaires
1922–1925: Otto Wiefeldt
1925–1927: Adolf Georg von Maltzan
1928-1933: Friedrich Wilhelm von Prittwitz und Gaffron (resigned April 14, 1933 in opposition to Hitler).
1933–1937: Hans Luther
1937-1938: Hans-Heinrich Dieckhoff, recalled November 18, 1938 in response to worsening relations with the U.S. due to Kristallnacht (November 9), and the U.S. recall of its Ambassador (November 15).
1938-1941: Hans Thomsen, Chargé d'Affaires
diplomatic relations broken off due to World War II, December 11, 1941- September 22, 1949
1951–1958: Heinrich Krekeler (20 July 1906 - 5 August 2003), (June 1950 - June 1951: Consul General, June 1951 - May 1955: Chargé d'Affaires, May 1955 - January 1958: Ambassador)
1958–1962: Wilhelm Grewe (16 October 1911 - 11 January 2000) (February 1958 - May 1962)
1962–1968: Karl Heinrich Knappstein (15 April 1906 - 6 May 1989) (June 1962 - December 1968)
1968–1973: Rolf Friedemann Pauls (born 26 August 1915) (December 1968 - February 1973)
1973–1979: Berndt von Staden (born 24 June 1919) (February 1973 - November 1979)
1979–1984: Peter Hermes (born 8 August 1922) (November 1979 - July 1984)
1984–1987: Günther van Well (15 October 1922 - 14 August 1993) (July 1984 - October 1987)
1987–1992: Jürgen Ruhfus (*4 August 1930) (November 1987 - August 1992)
1992–1995: Immo Stabreit (*24 January 1933) (August 1992 - January 1995)
1995–2001: Jürgen Chrobog (*28 February 1940) (January 1995 - Juni 2001)
2001–2006: Wolfgang Ischinger (*6 April 1946) (Juni 2001 - March 2006)
2006–2011: Klaus Scharioth (*8 October 1946) (March 2006 - 2011)
2011–2014: Peter Ammon (*23 February 1952) (August 2011 - April 2014)
since 2014: Peter Wittig (*11 August 1954) (April 2014)
