Joachim Gauck

Gauck was born into a family of sailors in Rostock, the son of Olga (née Warremann; born 1910) and Joachim Gauck Sr. (born 1907). His father was an experienced ship's captain and distinguished naval officer (Kapitän zur See – captain at sea), who after World War II worked as an inspector at the Neptun Werft shipbuilding company. Both parents were members of the Nazi Party (NSDAP).{{cite magazine|url=http://www.focus.de/politik/deutschland/deutschland-das-geheimnis-um-den-onkel_aid_524185.html|title=Das Geheimnis um den Onkel|magazine=Focus Online|date=28 June 2010}} Following the Soviet occupation of Germany at the end of World War II, the Socialist Unity Party of Germany (SED) was installed into power in what became the German Democratic Republic (East Germany). When Gauck was eleven years old in 1951, his father was arrested by Soviet occupation forces; he was not to return until 1955.{{cite web|url=http://aspekte.zdf.de/ZDFde/inhalt/12/0,1872,7913004,00.html|title=Der Herr der Akten erzählt sein Leben|work=ZDF|date=16 October 2009|access-date=30 June 2010|language=de}} He was convicted by a Russian military tribunal of espionage for receiving a letter from the West and also of anti-Soviet demagogy for being in the possession of a western journal on naval affairs, and deported to a Gulag in Siberia,{{cite web|url=http://www.thelocal.de/politics/20120220-40853.html |title=Profile: Joachim Gauck, Germany's 'President of Hearts' – The Local |publisher=Thelocal.de |date= 20 February 2012|access-date=20 March 2012}} where he was mistreated to the extent that he was considered physically disabled after one year, according to his son.Gauck 2009, p. 37 For nearly three years, the family knew nothing about what had happened to him and whether he was still alive. He was freed in 1955, following the state visit of Konrad Adenauer to Moscow. Adenauer negotiated the release of thousands of German prisoners of war and civilians who had been deported.{{cite web|url=http://www.randomhouse.de/webarticle/webarticle.jsp?aid=19360|title=Joachim Gauck – Oppositionskandidat für das Amt des Bundespräsidenten|first=Jan|last=Witt|work=randomhouse.de|access-date=30 June 2010|language=de|archive-date=24 July 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100724153354/http://www.randomhouse.de/webarticle/webarticle.jsp?aid=19360|url-status=dead}}

Gauck graduated with an Abitur from Innerstädtisches Gymnasium in Rostock. According to Gauck, his political activities were inspired by the ordeal of his father,„Wir Deutsche können Freiheit", Interview, Ostseezeitung Rostock, 23/24 January 2010 and he stated that he grew up with a "well-founded anti-communism".Eckhard Jesse, Eine Revolution und ihre Folgen: 14 Bürgerrechtler ziehen Bilanz, 2000 Already in school in East Germany, he made no secret of his anti-communist position, and he steadfastly refused to join the SED's youth movement, the Free German Youth. He wanted to study German and become a journalist but because he was not a member of the ruling Communist party, he was not allowed to do so. Instead, he chose to study theology and become a pastor in the Protestant church in Mecklenburg. He has stated that his primary intention was not to become a pastor but that the theology studies offered an opportunity to study philosophy and the church was one of the few institutions in East Germany where Marxist–Leninist ideology was not dominant.{{cite web |url=http://www.otz.de/startseite/detail/-/specific/Joachim-Gauck-Vom-Buergerrechtler-zum-Staatsoberhaupt-1722468051 |title=Joachim Gauck: Vom Bürgerrechtler zum Staatsoberhaupt |publisher=otz.de |date=21 February 2012 |access-date=20 March 2012 |archive-date=31 October 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171031065900/http://www.otz.de/startseite/detail/-/specific/Joachim-Gauck-Vom-Buergerrechtler-zum-Staatsoberhaupt-1722468051 |url-status=dead }} Nevertheless, he eventually became a pastor. His work as a pastor in East Germany was very difficult due to the hostility of the Communist regime towards the church, and for many years he was under constant observation and was harassed by the Stasi (the secret police).{{cite news|url=https://www.welt.de/die-welt/kultur/literatur/article5125631/Unbelehrbarer-Antikommunist.html|title=Unbelehrbarer Antikommunist|first=Arnulf|last=Baring|newspaper=Die Welt|date=8 November 2009|access-date=30 June 2010|language=de}}{{cite news|url=http://www.zeit.de/2010/04/L-P-Gauck|title=Joachim Gauck: Eine Freiheitslehre|first=Alexander|last=Cammann|work=Die Zeit|date=24 January 2010|access-date=30 June 2010|language=de}} The Stasi described Gauck in their file on him as an "incorrigible anti-communist" (unverbesserlicher Antikommunist).{{cite web|author=Nachrichten |url=http://news.de.msn.com/politik/politik.aspx?cp-documentid=153650764 |title=Joachim Gauck – eine patriotische Ich-AG |work=News.de.msn.com |access-date=30 June 2010 }}{{dead link|date=May 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} He has said that "at the age of nine, I knew socialism was an unjust system."

In his memoirs, Gauck writes that "the fate of our father was like an educational cudgel. It led to a sense of unconditional loyalty towards the family which excluded any sort of idea of fraternisation with the system."Kate Connolly, [https://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/jun/20/joachim-gauck-angela-merkel-president Joachim Gauck: the dissident hero who holds the destiny of Germany in his hands], The Guardian, 20 June 2010

File:Bundesarchiv Bild 183-1990-0622-326, Joachim Gauck.jpg

During the Peaceful Revolution of 1989, he became a member of the New Forum, a democratic opposition movement, and was elected as its spokesman. He also took part in major demonstrations against the Communist regime of GDR. In the free 1990 East German general election, he was elected to the People's Chamber of the GDR, representing the Alliance 90 (that consisted of the New Forum, Democracy Now, and the Initiative for Peace and Human Rights), where he served until the dissolution of the GDR in October 1990.

File:Bundesarchiv Bild 183-1990-0928-019, Berlin, 37. Volkskammertagung, Diestel, Gauck.jpg in 1990]]

On 2 October 1990, the day before the dissolution of the GDR, the People's Chamber elected him Special Representative for the Stasi Records. After the dissolution of the GDR the following day, he was appointed Special Representative of the Federal Government for the Stasi Records by President Richard von Weizsäcker and Chancellor Helmut Kohl. As such, he was in charge of the archives of the Stasi and tasked with investigating Communist crimes. In 1992, his office became known as the Federal Commissioner for the Stasi Records. He served in this position until 2000, when he was succeeded by Marianne Birthler.

Gauck served as a member of the Bundestag, the Parliament of Germany, from 3 to 4 October 1990. The 1990 People's Chamber was granted the right to nominate a certain number of MPs as part of the reunification process and he was one of the 144 Volkskammer co-opted to the Bundestag. He stepped down following his appointment as Special Representative of the Federal Government. As such, he was the shortest serving member of the Bundestag in history. He was succeeded by fellow civil rights activist Vera Lengsfeld.

Gauck refused the position of president of the Federal Agency for Civic Education as well as offers to be nominated as a candidate for parliament by the SPD. Voices inside the CSU proposed him as a possible conservative presidential candidate (against SPD career politician Johannes Rau) in 1999,{{cite news|url=http://www.taz.de/1/politik/deutschland/artikel/1/ich-kann-zaehlen/|title=Bundespräsidenten-Kandidat Gauck: "Ich kann zählen"|work=taz|date=5 June 2010|access-date=30 June 2010|last1=Lohre|first1=M.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110426152235/http://taz.de/1/politik/deutschland/artikel/1/ich-kann-zaehlen/|archive-date=26 April 2011|url-status=dead}} and his name was also mentioned as a possible candidate for CDU/CSU and Free Democratic Party in subsequent years. For instance the Saxon FDP state party proposed him as a liberal-conservative candidate in 2004, before the leaders of the parties agreed on Horst Köhler.{{cite web|url=http://www.sueddeutsche.de/politik/fdp-politiker-zastrow-joachim-gauck-ist-ein-liberaler-wie-wir-1.955188|title=FDP-Politiker Zastrow – "Gauck ist ein Liberaler wie wir"|first=Oliver|last=Das Gupta|work=Süddeutsche Zeitung|date=8 June 2010|access-date=30 June 2010|language=de}} Since 2003, Gauck has been chairman of the association Gegen Vergessen – Für Demokratie ("Against Forgetting – For Democracy"), and he served on the Management Board of the European Monitoring Centre on Racism and Xenophobia 2001–2004.[http://www.rpo.gov.pl/pliki/12785936230.pdf Commemoration of the 20th Anniversary of the Commissioner for Civil Rights Protection in Poland], Government of Poland, 2008

File:Joachim Gauck IGFM 01.jpg, where he lectured about the Stasi campaign to discredit the Society]]

Gauck has written on Soviet-era concentration camps, such as the NKVD Special Camp No. 1, the crimes of Communism, and political repression in East Germany, and contributed to the German edition of The Black Book of Communism. In 2007, Gauck was invited to deliver the main speech during a commemoration ceremony at the Landtag of Saxony in memory of the reunification of Germany and the fall of the Communist government.{{cite web|url=http://www.landtag.sachsen.de/de/aktuelles/pressemitteilungen/1378_3646.aspx |title=Sächsischer Landtag feiert Tag der Deutschen Einheit – Festredner Joachim Gauck: "Freiheit wagen – Verantwortung leben" |work=Landtag of Saxony |date=3 October 2007 |access-date=30 June 2010 |language=de |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120303151803/http://www.landtag.sachsen.de/de/aktuelles/pressemitteilungen/1378_3646.aspx |archive-date= 3 March 2012 }} All parties participated, except The Left (the successor of SED), whose members walked out in protest against Gauck's delivering the speech.{{cite web|url=http://www.bild.de/BILD/politik/2010/06/05/wulff-und-gauck-im-interview/kandidat-joachim-gauck/linke/warum-die-linke-gauck-nicht-waehlt.html|title=Kandidaten für das Amt des Bundespräsidenten: Warum "Die Linke" Joachim Gauck nicht wählt|work=Bild|date=4 June 2010|access-date=30 June 2010|language=de|archive-date=20 August 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100820222448/http://www.bild.de/BILD/politik/2010/06/05/wulff-und-gauck-im-interview/kandidat-joachim-gauck/linke/warum-die-linke-gauck-nicht-waehlt.html|url-status=dead}} Gauck supports the observation of The Left by the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution and the corresponding state authorities.{{cite web|url=http://www.morgenpost.de/politik/article1909357/Warum-die-Linke-Joachim-Gauck-ablehnt.html |title=Bundespräsident – Warum die Linke Joachim Gauck ablehnt – Politik – Berliner Morgenpost – Berlin |publisher=Morgenpost.de |date= 20 February 2012|access-date=21 February 2012}} Gauck has lauded the SPD for distancing itself from The Left.{{cite web|url=http://www.n-tv.de/politik/Gauck-begruesst-Haltung-der-SPD-article1034921.html|title=Distanzierung von Linkspartei: Gauck begrüßt Haltung der SPD|first=n-tv|last=Nachrichtenfernsehen|access-date=10 January 2017}}

Gauck is a founding signatory of both the Prague Declaration on European Conscience and Communism (2008),{{cite web|url=http://www.praguedeclaration.org/|title=Prague Declaration – Declaration Text|date=3 June 2008|work=praguedeclaration.org|access-date=28 January 2010|archive-date=20 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200420013547/https://praguedeclaration.org/|url-status=usurped}} with Václav Havel, and the Declaration on Crimes of Communism (2010),{{cite web|url=http://www.crimesofcommunism.eu/programme.html|title=Declaration on Crimes of Communism|date=25 February 2010|work=crimesofcommunism.eu|access-date=3 June 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100521174519/http://www.crimesofcommunism.eu/programme.html|archive-date=21 May 2010|url-status=dead}} both calling for the condemnation of communism, education about Communist crimes, and punishment of Communist criminals. The Prague Declaration proposed the establishment of the European Day of Remembrance for Victims of Stalinism and Nazism, that was subsequently designated by the European Parliament. In 2010, Gauck criticized the political left of ignoring Communist crimes.{{cite web|url=http://www.radio.cz/de/artikel/104724|title=Gauck in Prag: Auch Linke im Westen brauchen Nachhilfeunterricht – Radio Prag|first=Martina|last=Schneibergová|work=Radio Prague|date=3 June 2008|access-date=30 June 2010|language=de}} Gauck is also a supporter of the idea to establish a Centre Against Expulsions in Berlin.{{cite web|url=http://www.z-g-v.de/aktuelles/?id=41|title=Zentrum gegen Vertreibungen|work=z-g-v.de|access-date=30 June 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607064452/http://www.z-g-v.de/aktuelles/?id=41|archive-date=7 June 2011}}

File:Joachim Gauck 2.jpg

On the occasion of his 70th birthday in 2010, Gauck was praised by Angela Merkel as a "true teacher of democracy" and a "tireless advocate of freedom, democracy and justice".{{cite news|url=http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,699175,00.html|title=Presidential Vote 'Could Turn into a Disaster for Merkel'|work=Der Spiegel|date=7 June 2010|access-date=30 June 2010}} The Independent has described Gauck as "Germany's answer to Nelson Mandela".{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/anticommunist-pastor-who-could-turn-out-to-be-merkels-nemesis-2014041.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220609/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/anticommunist-pastor-who-could-turn-out-to-be-merkels-nemesis-2014041.html |archive-date=9 June 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Anti-communist pastor who could turn out to be Merkel's nemesis|first=Tony|last=Paterson|work=The Independent|date=30 June 2010|access-date=30 June 2010}} The Wall Street Journal has described him as "the last of a breed: the leaders of protest movements behind the Iron Curtain who went on to lead their countries after 1989", comparing him to Lech Wałęsa and Václav Havel. Corriere della Sera has referred to him as the "German Havel".{{cite web|url=http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/2012/febbraio/20/Merkel_sceglie_Gauck_pastore_luterano_co_9_120220026.shtml |title=Merkel sceglie Gauck Un pastore luterano a prova di scandali |publisher=Archiviostorico.corriere.it |date=24 December 2009 |access-date=20 March 2012}}

Gauck supported the economic reforms initiated by the red-green government of Gerhard Schröder. He also supported the 1999 NATO bombing of Yugoslavia to end Yugoslav atrocities in Kosovo, and supports the German military presence in Afghanistan. Gauck is a proponent of market economy, and is sceptical towards the Occupy movement. In 2010, he said that SPD politician Thilo Sarrazin had "demonstrated courage" in opening a debate on immigration.{{cite news|url=http://www.tagesspiegel.de/politik/leserdebatte-als-gauck-sarrazin-mut-attestierte/6226656.html |title=Leserdebatte: Als Gauck Sarrazin "Mut" attestierte – Politik – Tagesspiegel |newspaper=Der Tagesspiegel Online |language=de |publisher=Tagesspiegel.de |access-date=21 February 2012}} He criticized several of Sarrazin's views.{{cite news|url=https://www.welt.de/politik/deutschland/article13879697/Das-Internet-Maerchen-vom-boesen-Joachim-Gauck.html |title=Designierter Bundespräsident: Das Internet-Märchen vom bösen Joachim Gauck – Nachrichten Politik – Deutschland – WELT ONLINE |language=de |publisher=Welt.de |date= 21 February 2012|access-date=21 February 2012|newspaper=Die Welt |last1=Malzahn |first1=Claus Christian }}

In an interview with Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty in 2007, Gauck said that "we have to delegitimatize [the Communist era] not only because of the many victims and criminal acts, but [also because] modern politics in the entire Soviet empire was basically taken backward." According to The Wall Street Journal, he "has dedicated his life to showing that the Soviet system's evils were no less than the Third Reich's". In his 2012 book Freedom. A Plea, he outlines his thoughts on freedom, democracy, human rights, and tolerance. In 2012, Gauck said that "Muslims who are living here are a part of Germany"; he refused to say whether Islam was a part of Germany, as asserted by previous president Christian Wulff. The Central Council of Muslims in Germany welcomed the remarks.{{cite news|title=German president sparks debate with Islam comments|url=http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,15992029,00.html|date=1 June 2012}} In May 2015, Gauck urged Germans to openly acknowledge that "millions of soldiers of the Red Army lost their lives during Nazi internment."{{cite web|url=http://www.dw.com/en/nazis-merciless-toward-wartime-soviets-says-gauck/a-18431590 |title=Nazis 'merciless' toward wartime Soviets, says Gauck |work=Deutsche Welle|date=6 May 2015}}

In 2022, Gauck criticized Germany's policies towards Russia in the period after the Cold War, and said that "we should have listened to the voices of our eastern neighbours – Poles and the Baltic states as well as our Atlantic friends" when they warned about Russian aggression.{{cite news |title=We should have listened to the Poles: former German President |url=https://tvpworld.com/65293370/we-should-have-listened-to-the-poles-former-german-president |access-date=2 August 2023}}

{{Main|2010 German presidential election}}

File:"Bürger für Gauck".jpg in 2010]]

File:Oliver Mark - Joachim Gauck, Berlin 2010.jpg, Berlin 2010]]

On 3 June 2010, Gauck was nominated for President of Germany in the 2010 election by the SPD and the Greens.{{cite web|url=https://www.tagesschau.de/inland/koehlernachfolge118.html|title=Koalition präsentiert Wulff als ihren Kandidaten|work=tagesschau|date=7 June 2010|access-date=30 June 2010|language=de}} Gauck is not a member of either the SPD or the Greens (although his former party in East Germany eventually merged with the Greens after reunification),{{cite web|url=http://www.sz-online.de/nachrichten/artikel.asp?id=2479211|title=Rot-Grün setzt auf Joachim Gauck|first=Sven|last=Siebert|work=Sächsische Zeitung|date=4 June 2010|access-date=30 June 2010|language=de}} and has stated that he would also have accepted a nomination by the CDU.{{cite web|url=http://www.bild.de/BILD/politik/2010/06/05/wulff-und-gauck-im-interview/kandidat-joachim-gauck/fuer-die-cdu-wuerde-ich-auch-antreten.html|title=Kandidat Joachim Gauck: Für die CDU würde ich auch antreten!|first=Rolf|last=Kleine|work=Bild|date=4 June 2010|access-date=30 June 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100724060234/http://www.bild.de/BILD/politik/2010/06/05/wulff-und-gauck-im-interview/kandidat-joachim-gauck/fuer-die-cdu-wuerde-ich-auch-antreten.html|archive-date=24 July 2010|url-status=dead}} Gauck once described himself as a "leftist, liberal conservative", After his nomination, he stated: "I'm neither red nor green, I'm Joachim Gauck."{{cite news|url=https://www.welt.de/politik/deutschland/article7910610/Ich-bin-weder-rot-noch-gruen-sondern-Joachim-Gauck.html|title=Auftritt des Kandidaten: "Ich bin weder rot noch grün, sondern Joachim Gauck"|newspaper=Die Welt|date=4 June 2010|access-date=30 June 2010|language=de|last1=Sturm|first1=Daniel Friedrich}} The Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung described him as a liberal conservative.{{cite web|url=https://www.faz.net/s/Rub9F8AFB0E023642BAAB29EA1AEF2A9296/Doc~ECD06307FADEC440C9F5D82782EBC0E38~ATpl~Ecommon~Scontent.html|title=Die FDP hatte keine Wahl|first=Peter|last=Carstens|work=Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung|date=5 June 2010|access-date=30 June 2010|language=de}}

Gauck is widely respected across the political spectrum,{{cite web|url=http://www.thelocal.de/politics/20100603-27635.html|title=Merkel nominates Wulff for president|work=Thelocal.de|date=3 June 2010|access-date=30 June 2010}} and is very popular also among CDU/CSU and FDP politicians due to his record as an upstanding, moral person during the Communist dictatorship, as well as his record as a "Stasi hunter" in the 1990s.{{cite web|url=http://www.bild.de/BILD/politik/2010/06/04/praesidenten-duell-wackelt-wulffs-mehrheit/kopf-an-kopf-rennen-der-kandidaten.html|title=Kandidaten-Poker um das Präsidenten-Amt: Wackelt Wulffs Mehrheit?|first=Franz|last=Solms-Laubach|work=Bild|date=4 June 2010|access-date=30 June 2010|archive-date=1 July 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100701091446/http://www.bild.de/BILD/politik/2010/06/04/praesidenten-duell-wackelt-wulffs-mehrheit/kopf-an-kopf-rennen-der-kandidaten.html|url-status=dead}} His main contender, Christian Wulff, and politicians of all the government parties, stated that they greatly respected Gauck and his life and work.{{cite web|url=http://www.bild.de/BILD/politik/2010/06/05/wulff-und-gauck-im-interview/ministerpraesident-christian-wulff/im-bild-interview-kandidat-bundespraesident.html|title=Kandidatfür das Amt des Bundespräsidenten Christian Wulff: Ich will Mut und Optimismus verbreiten!|first1=Alfred|last1=Draxler|first2=Angi|last2=Baldauf|work=Bild|date=4 June 2010|access-date=30 June 2010|language=de|archive-date=10 July 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100710042550/http://www.bild.de/BILD/politik/2010/06/05/wulff-und-gauck-im-interview/ministerpraesident-christian-wulff/im-bild-interview-kandidat-bundespraesident.html|url-status=dead}} Jörg Schönbohm, former chairman of the CDU of Brandenburg, also supported Gauck.

The only party that in principle rejected Gauck as a possible president was the legal successor of the East German Communist party, Die Linke, which interpreted the nomination of the SPD and Greens as a refusal to cooperate with Die Linke.{{cite news|url=https://www.welt.de/die-welt/politik/article7916331/Die-Linke-sieht-ein-Signal-gegen-Rot-Rot-Gruen.html|title=Die Linke sieht ein Signal gegen Rot-Rot-Grün|newspaper=Die Welt|date=5 June 2010|access-date=30 June 2010|language=de|last1=Vitzthum|first1=Thomas}} CSU politician Philipp Freiherr von Brandenstein argued that the election of Gauck would prevent any cooperation between SPD/Greens and Die Linke for years to come, saying that "Gauck has likely made it perfectly clear to [Sigmar] Gabriel that he will never appoint any of the apologists of the Communist tyranny as government members."{{cite news|url=https://www.welt.de/die-welt/politik/article7924484/Der-Krimi-um-die-Praesidentenwahl.html |title=Der Krimi um die Präsidentenwahl|newspaper=Die Welt|date=6 June 2010|access-date=30 June 2010|language=de|last1=Kamann|first1=Matthias}} Die Linke nominated their own candidate, former journalist Luc Jochimsen,{{cite web|url=http://www.n-tv.de/politik/Jochimsen-definiert-Unrecht-article926333.html |title="DDR war kein Unrechtsstaat": Jochimsen definiert Unrecht |language=de |publisher=n-tv.de |access-date=20 February 2012}} and chose to abstain in the third ballot.[http://www.manager-magazin.de/politik/artikel/0,2828,703784,00.html Linke verhindert Gauck, Wulff wird Präsident], Manager Magazin.{{cite news|url=http://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/0,1518,703912,00.html|title=Bundespräsidentenwahl: Linke Jochimsen zieht Kandidatur zurück|work=Der Spiegel|date=30 June 2010|access-date=30 June 2010|language=de}} Die Linke's refusal to support Gauck drew strong criticism from the SPD and Greens.[https://www.welt.de/debatte/kommentare/article8262030/Causa-Gauck-entlarvt-Rot-Rot-Gruen-als-Illusion.html Causa Gauck entlarvt Rot-Rot-Grün als Illusion], Die Welt. Gabriel, the SPD chairman, described Die Linke's position as "bizarre and embarrassing", stating that he was "shocked" that the party would declare Gauck their main enemy due to his investigation of Communist injustice.{{cite web |url=http://www.focus.de/politik/deutschland/bundespraesident-gabriel-lafontaine-kritik-an-gauck-peinlich_aid_520195.html |title=Bundespräsident: Gabriel: Lafontaine-Kritik an Gauck peinlich – Deutschland – FOCUS Online – Nachrichten |publisher=Focus.de |date=17 June 2010 |access-date=20 February 2012 |archive-date=23 May 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130523145228/http://www.focus.de/politik/deutschland/bundespraesident-gabriel-lafontaine-kritik-an-gauck-peinlich_aid_520195.html |url-status=dead }} According to Gabriel, Die Linke had manifested itself once again as the successor of the East German Communist party.[http://www.n24.de/news/newsitem_6168071.html Gauck-Boykott vertieft die Gräben], n24.de. A politician of Die Linke compared the choice between Gauck and Wulff to the choice between Adolf Hitler and Joseph Stalin, drawing strong condemnation from the SPD and Greens.[http://www.n-tv.de/politik/Opposition-streitet-ueber-Gauck-article968686.html Opposition streitet über Gauck], n-tv.de.

In the election on 30 June 2010, Gauck was defeated by Wulff in the third ballot, with a margin of 624 to 490.{{cite news|title=Merkel candidate Wulff wins presidency on third attempt|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/world/europe/10470309.stm|work=BBC News|date=30 June 2010|access-date=30 June 2010}} Gauck was originally proposed as a presidential candidate for the Greens by Andreas Schulze, then communications adviser to the Greens in the Bundestag. Schulze was appointed as Gauck's spokesman in 2010, and again in 2012.[http://www.bild.de/politik/inland/gauck-joachim/andreas-schulze-ist-der-gauck-macher-22798168.bild.html Der Gauck-Macher], Bild.

{{Main|2012 German presidential election}}

File:2012-06-05 Bundespraesident Joachim Gauck Berlin.jpg

Following the resignation of Wulff on 17 February 2012, Gauck was nominated on 19 February as the joint candidate for President of Germany by the government parties CDU, CSU, and FDP, and the opposition SPD and the Greens. This happened after the FDP, the SPD, and the Greens had strongly supported Gauck and urged the conservatives to support him.{{cite news|url=http://www.newsday.com/news/german-government-opposition-agree-on-joachim-gauck-as-candidate-for-the-country-s-presidency-1.3542051 |title=German government, opposition agree on Joachim Gauck as candidate for the country's presidency |newspaper=Newsday.com |access-date=20 February 2012}} Gabriel said Gauck was his party's preferred candidate already on 17 February, citing Gauck's "great confidence among the citizens".[http://www.dernewsticker.de/news.php?title=Gauck+Favorit+der+SPD+f%FCr+Wulff-Nachfolge&id=231474&i=iipfoi Gauck Favorit der SPD für Wulff-Nachfolge] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150323054815/http://www.blayney.nsw.gov.au/ArticleDocuments/329/3h%20-%20Hobbys%20Yards%20Heritage%20Items.pdf.aspx |date=23 March 2015 }}, DTS, 18 February 2012 Reportedly, Merkel gave in to FDP chairman Philipp Rösler's staunch support for Gauck; the agreement was announced after the FDP presidium had unanimously voted for Gauck earlier on 19 February.{{cite web | last=Denkler | first=Thorsten | title=FDP beharrt auf Gauck: Rösler feiert gefährlichen Sieg | website=Süddeutsche.de | date=20 February 2012 | url=https://www.sueddeutsche.de/politik/schwarz-gelb-nach-der-entscheidung-fuer-gauck-roesler-feiert-einen-gefaehrlichen-sieg-1.1288748 | language=de | access-date=16 April 2022}}{{cite news|url=https://www.welt.de/politik/deutschland/article13876733/Union-wirft-FDP-gewaltigen-Vertrauensbruch-vor.html |title=Gauck-Nominierung: Union wirft FDP "gewaltigen Vertrauensbruch" vor – Nachrichten Politik – Deutschland – WELT ONLINE |language=de |publisher=Welt.de |date= 20 February 2012|access-date=20 February 2012|newspaper=Die Welt }} He was thus supported by all major parties represented in the Federal Convention, except Die Linke.

According to a poll conducted for Stern, the nomination of Gauck was met with high approval. The majority of the voters of all political parties represented in the Bundestag approved of his nomination, with the Green voters being most enthusiastic (84% approval) and Die Linke's voters least (55% approval); overall, 69% supported him, while 15% opposed him.[http://www.stern.de/politik/deutschland/stern-umfrage-applaus-fuer-joachim-gauck-1789755.html Applaus für Joachim Gauck], stern.de His nomination was "broadly welcomed" by the German media,{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-17098834|title=German press hails Joachim Gauck presidency nomination|date=20 February 2012|access-date=10 January 2017|work=BBC News}} which were described as "jubilant".{{cite web |url=http://www.expatica.com/de/news/german-news/germany-s-president-of-hearts--seeks-to-restore-the-faith_209519.html |title=Germany's 'president of hearts' seeks to restore the faith |publisher=Expatica.com |access-date=21 February 2012 |archive-date=24 May 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130524163727/http://www.expatica.com/de/news/german-news/germany-s-president-of-hearts--seeks-to-restore-the-faith_209519.html |url-status=dead }} His candidacy was criticized by Die Linke, and met with some other individual criticism; he was criticized by individual CSU members for not being married to the woman he lives with,[http://www.news.at/articles/1208/12/319787/deutschland-gauck-kritik Gauck in der Kritik], news.at{{cite web|url=http://www.morgenpost.de/politik/inland/article1910268/Joachim-Gaucks-wilde-Ehe-irritiert-die-CSU.html |title= Joachim Gaucks "wilde Ehe" irritiert die CSU |publisher=Morgenpost.de |date= 21 February 2012|access-date=21 February 2012}} and by individual politicians of the Greens, notably for his earlier statements on Sarrazin and the Occupy movement. Gabriel stated that the reason that Die Linke was the only party that did not support Gauck was its "sympathy for the German Democratic Republic".[http://www.focus.de/politik/deutschland/bundespraesident/gabriel-greift-linke-an-viele-linke-finden-stasi-aufklaerung-unanstaendig-_aid_718073.html Gabriel greift Linke an: Betonköpfe, die Stasi-Aufklärung unanständig finden], Focus, 26 February 2012[http://www.n24.de/news/newsitem_7703457.html Gabriel: Linke lehnt Gauck wegen Sympathie für DDR ab], Agence France-Presse, 26 February 2012

David Gill was appointed head of Gauck's transition team,[https://www.welt.de/politik/deutschland/article13887895/David-Gill-Gaucks-Vertrauter-fuers-Schloss-Bellevue.html David Gill – Gaucks Vertrauter fürs Schloss Bellevue], Die Welt vom 25. Februar 2012 and later became head of the Bundespräsidialamt.{{cite news|url=https://www.faz.net/aktuell/politik/inland/david-gill-gaucks-zielstrebiger-vertrauter-11689769.html|title=David Gill: Gaucks zielstrebiger Vertrauter|first=Reinhard|last=Bingener|date=19 March 2012|access-date=10 January 2017|newspaper=FAZ.NET}} On 18 March 2012, Gauck was elected President of Germany with 991 of 1.228 votes in the Federal Convention.[http://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/0,1518,822029,00.html Entscheidung in Berlin], Der Spiegel, 18 March 2012 Upon accepting his election, he assumed the presidency immediately.{{cite web|url=http://diepresse.com/home/politik/aussenpolitik/741268/Gauck-ist-neuer-deutscher-Bundespraesident |title=Gauck ist neuer deutscher Bundespräsident « |date=18 March 2012 |publisher=Diepresse.com |access-date=20 March 2012}} The new president took the oath of office required by article 56 of Germany's Constitution on 23 March 2012 in the presence of the assembled members of the Bundestag and the Bundesrat.{{cite web|url=http://www.bundespraesident.de/DE/Home/home_node.html|title=www.bundespraesident.de: Der Bundespräsident / Startseite|access-date=10 January 2017}}{{cite web|url=http://www.bundespraesident.de/SharedDocs/Termine/DE/JoachimGauck/2012/03/120323-Vereidigung.html|title=www.bundespraesident.de: Der Bundespräsident / Terminkalender / Vereidigung von Bundespräsident Joachim Gauck|access-date=10 January 2017}}[http://www.bundestag.de/bundestag/aufgaben/weitereaufgaben/bundesversammlung/index.jsp Article on the Bundestag's website with information on the election and on the swearing-in scheduled for 23 March 2012. Retrieved on 19 March 2012.] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120309192122/http://www.bundestag.de/bundestag/aufgaben/weitereaufgaben/bundesversammlung/index.jsp |date=9 March 2012 }} On 6 June 2016, Gauck announced he would not stand for re-election in 2017, citing his age as the reason.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jun/06/german-president-joachim-gauck-merkel-east-german-civil-rights |author=Kate Connolly |title=Headache for Angela Merkel as German president Joachim Gauck steps down |newspaper=The Guardian |date=6 June 2016 |access-date=7 June 2016}}

{{main|List of presidential trips made by Joachim Gauck}}

Gauck has visited a significant number of countries as president. In 2014, he boycotted the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, in order to make a statement against violations of human rights in Russia.{{cite news|url=http://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/bundespraesident-gauck-boykottiert-olympia-in-sotschi-a-937791.html|title=Kritik an Russland: Gauck boykottiert Olympische Spiele in Sotschi – SPIEGEL ONLINE – Politik|access-date=10 January 2017|newspaper=Spiegel Online|date=8 December 2013}}{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/dec/08/german-president-boycotts-sochi-winter-olympics|title=German president boycotts Sochi Winter Olympics|first=Philip|last=Oltermann|date=8 December 2013|access-date=10 January 2017|newspaper=The Guardian}} On 3 August 2014, Gauck joined François Hollande to mark the outbreak of the war between Germany and France in 1914 during World War I by laying the first stone of a memorial in Hartmannswillerkopf, for French and German soldiers killed in the war.{{cite news|title=French, German Presidents Mark World War I Anniversary|url=http://www.francenews.net/index.php/sid/224398825/scat/e597bd109c960ae3/ht/French-German-Presidents-Mark-World-War-I-Anniversary|access-date=3 August 2014|publisher=France News.Net|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141010181836/http://www.francenews.net/index.php/sid/224398825/scat/e597bd109c960ae3/ht/French-German-Presidents-Mark-World-War-I-Anniversary|archive-date=10 October 2014|url-status=dead}}

File:25.Jun.2015 Queen Elizabeth II. and Prince Philip's visit to Frankfurt (18964921388).jpg at Römer, Frankfurt, during the 2015 royal visit to Germany]] Gauck regularly welcomed state officials in different parts of Germany, especially for remarkable events in history. On 18 September 2014, Gauck welcomed the heads of states of partly German-speaking countries, such as Austria, Switzerland, Belgium, Luxembourg, and Liechtenstein, to his home region of Mecklenburg. It was the first time Belgium and Luxembourg participated in the annual event. They met in Bad Doberan, Warnemünde, and Rostock to address the challenges of demographic change in Europe, such as the ageing of Europe, and to commemorate the Peaceful Revolution of 1989.{{cite web|title=Joachim Gauck welcomes presidents to Mecklenburg to address demographic change and commemorate the Wende|url=http://www.bundespraesident.de/SharedDocs/Pressemitteilungen/DE/2014/09/140908-fuenf-Staatsoberhaeupter.html|website=Official Presidential Website|access-date=18 September 2014}}

• Member of the Atlantik-Brücke{{cite web | title=Joachim Gauck – Ein Präsident für die Eliten | website=Cicero Online | date=22 February 2012 | url=https://www.cicero.de/innenpolitik/ein-praesident-fuer-die-eliten/48408 | language=de | access-date=16 April 2022}}
• Member of the Senate of the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities[http://www.bbaw.de/die-akademie/praesidium-und-gremien/senat Senate] Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities.

Gauck married Gerhild "Hansi" Gauck (née Radtke), his childhood sweetheart whom he met at age ten;{{cite web |url=http://www.bild.de/politik/inland/gauck-joachim/hansi-gauck-versteht-trauschein-debatte-nicht-22775342.bild.html |title=Hansi Gauck versteht Trauschein-Debatte nicht – Politik Inland |language=de |publisher=Bild.de |date=22 February 2012 |access-date=20 March 2012 |archive-date=25 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181225084235/https://www.bild.de/politik/inland/joachim-gauck/hansi-gauck-versteht-trauschein-debatte-nicht-22775342.bild.html |url-status=dead }} the couple has been separated since 1991.{{Citation |url=https://www.welt.de/politik/deutschland/article13880981/Hansi-Gauck-will-von-Scheidung-nichts-wissen.html/ |title=Hansi Gauck will von Scheidung nichts wissen |newspaper=Die Welt |date=22 February 2012 |access-date=16 November 2015}} They were married in 1959, at 19, despite his father's opposition, and have four children: sons Christian (born 1960) and Martin (born 1962), and daughters Gesine (born 1966) and Katharina (born 1979). Christian, Martin and Gesine were able to leave East Germany and emigrate to West Germany in the late 1980s, while Katharina, still a child, remained with her parents. His children were discriminated against and denied the right to education by the communist regime because their father was a pastor.{{cite web|url=http://www.abendblatt.de/politik/deutschland/article1798778/Bruchstellen-Christian-Gauck-ueber-seinen-Vater.html |title=Vater-Sohn-Verhältnis – Bruchstellen – Christian Gauck über seinen Vater – Deutschland – Politik – Hamburger Abendblatt |publisher=Abendblatt.de |date=28 February 2011 |access-date=20 February 2012}} His son Christian, who along with his brother decided to leave the GDR in early 1984 and was able to do so in 1987, studied medicine in West Germany and became a physician.{{cite news|url=https://www.welt.de/politik/deutschland/article13887709/Wenn-Vater-sagt-Gesine-steh-doch-mal-auf.html |title=Joachim Gauck: Wenn Vater sagt "Gesine, steh doch mal auf!" – Nachrichten Politik – Deutschland – WELT ONLINE |language=de |publisher=Welt.de |date=25 February 2012 |access-date=20 March 2012|newspaper=Die Welt |last1=Malzahn |first1=Claus Christian }}

Since 2000, his domestic partner has been Daniela Schadt, a journalist.{{cite web|url=http://www.nn-online.de/artikel.asp?art=1238009&kat=3|title=Joachim Gauck: Sein Liebespfad nach Nürnberg|work=Nürnberger Nachrichten|date=7 June 2010|access-date=30 June 2010|language=de}}{{Dead link|date=November 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}{{cite web | last=Przybilla | first=Olaf | title=Besuch von Joachim Gauck und Daniela Schadt in Nürnberg | website=Süddeutsche.de | date=15 January 2013 | url=https://www.sueddeutsche.de/bayern/joachim-gauck-und-daniela-schadt-in-nuernberg-ein-gefuehl-von-naehe-1.1573944 | language=de | access-date=16 April 2022}}{{cite web |first=Sharon |last=Chaffin | title=Deutschlands neue First Lady kommt aus Nürnberg | website=Nordbayern | date=21 February 2012 | url=https://www.nordbayern.de/politik/deutschlands-neue-first-lady-kommt-aus-nurnberg-1.1866470?type=article&article=1.1866470 | language=de | access-date=16 April 2022}} Gauck is a member of the Protestant Church in Germany, and served as a pastor for the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Mecklenburg—a member church of that federation.{{Citation |url=http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,15751782,00.html |first=Michael |last=Gessat |title=Gauck's civic engagement wins him wide support |publisher=DW |date=19 February 2012 |access-date=28 February 2012}}

• 1991: Die Stasi-Akten. Das unheimliche Erbe der DDR. (= rororo 13016) Rowohlt, Reinbek bei Hamburg 1991 {{ISBN|3-499-13016-5}}
• 1992: Von der Würde der Unterdrückten (contributor){{cite web | title=LeMO Biografie: Joachim Gauck | website=hdg.de | url=https://www.hdg.de/lemo/biografie/joachim-gauck.html | language=de | access-date=29 December 2023}}
• 1993: Verlust und Übermut. Ein Kapitel über den Untertan als Bewohner der Moderne (contributor){{cite web | title=Gauck, Joachim | website=Bundesstiftung zur Aufarbeitung der SED-Diktatur | url=https://www.bundesstiftung-aufarbeitung.de/de/recherche/kataloge-datenbanken/biographische-datenbanken/joachim-gauck | language=de | access-date=29 December 2023}}
• 1998: Das Schwarzbuch des Kommunismus – Unterdrückung, Verbrechen und Terror (contributor of the chapter "Vom schwierigen Umgang mit der Wahrnehmung", on political oppression in East Germany), Piper Verlag, Munich 2004, {{ISBN|3-492-04053-5}}
• 2007: Reite Schritt, Schnitter Tod! Leben und Sterben im Speziallager Nr. 1 des NKWD Mühlberg/Elbe (contributor), Elisabeth Schuster (ed.), German War Graves Commission, {{ISBN|978-3-936592-02-3}} (on the NKVD Special Camp No. 1, a Soviet NKVD concentration camp)
• 2007: Diktaturerfahrungen der Deutschen im 20. Jahrhundert und was wir daraus lernen können. (Schriftenreihe zu Grundlagen, Zielen und Ergebnissen der parlamentarischen Arbeit der CDU-Fraktion des Sächsischen Landtages; Band 42), Dresden 2007{{cite web | title=Diktaturerfahrungen der Deutschen im 20. Jahrhundert und was wir daraus lernen können | website=Katalog, Sächsische Landesbibliothek - Staats- und Universitätsbibliothek Dresden | url=https://katalog.slub-dresden.de/id/0-1332867235 | language=de | access-date=29 December 2023}}
• 2009: Die Flucht der Insassen: Freiheit als Risiko. (Weichenstellungen in die Zukunft. Eine Veröffentlichung der Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung e.V.). Sankt Augustin-Berlin 2009. {{ISBN|978-3-941904-20-0}}
• 2009: Winter im Sommer, Frühling im Herbst. Erinnerungen. [Winter in Summer, Spring in Autumn. Memoirs]. München: Siedler 2009 {{ISBN|978-3-88680-935-6}}
• 2012: Freiheit. Ein Plädoyer [Freedom. A Plea]. Kösel, München 2012, {{ISBN|978-3-466-37032-0}}.

• 55px Grand Cross Special Class of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany (18 March 2012)

• {{flag|Belgium}}: Grand Cordon of the Order of Leopold (8 March 2016)
• {{flag|Chile}}: Collar of the Order of Merit (2016){{cite web |last1=Jarufe Bader |first1=Juan Pablo |title="Orden al Mérito Bernardo O'Higgins". Normativa y galardonados |url=https://obtienearchivo.bcn.cl/obtienearchivo?id=repositorio/10221/34962/1/___Orden_al_Merito_Bernardo_O_Higgins___._Normativa_y_galardonados.pdf |publisher=Library of the National Congress of Chile |access-date=7 February 2024|language=es}}
• {{flag|Czech Republic}}: Collar of the Order of the White Lion (5 May 2014)
• {{flag|Estonia}}: Collar of the Order of the Cross of Terra Mariana (3 July 2013)
• {{flag|France}}: Grand Cross of the National Order of the Legion of Honour (3 September 2013)
• {{flag|Iceland}}: Grand cross with Collar of the Order of the Falcon (25 June 2013)
• {{flag|Italy}}: Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (20 February 2013)
• {{flag|Latvia}}: Commander Grand Cross with Chain of the Order of the Three Stars (3 July 2013){{Cite web|url=https://www.vestnesis.lv/op/2013/129.21/|title = Par Triju Zvaigžņu ordeņa piešķiršanu – Latvijas Vēstnesis}}
• {{flag|Lithuania}}: Grand Cross with Golden Chain of the Order of Vytautas the Great (11 July 2013)
• {{flag|Luxembourg}}: Knight of the Order of the Gold Lion of the House of Nassau (23 April 2012)
• {{flag|Malta}}: Honorary Companion of Honour of the National Order of Merit (29 April 2015)
• {{flag|Monaco}}: Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Saint-Charles (9 July 2012) Nomination by [http://www.legimonaco.mc/Dataweb/jourmon.nsf/56ae81d1d4180496c12568ce002f290a/57087b4193babd03c1257a3a00237791!OpenDocument Sovereign Ordonnance] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131110072814/http://www.legimonaco.mc/Dataweb/jourmon.nsf/56ae81d1d4180496c12568ce002f290a/57087b4193babd03c1257a3a00237791!OpenDocument |date=10 November 2013 }} n° 3839 of 9 July 2012

(French)

• {{flag|Netherlands}}: Knight Grand Cross in the Order of the Netherlands Lion (7 February 2017){{cite web|url=http://nos.nl/artikel/2157029-nederland-eert-duitse-president-gauck-met-grootkruis-en-eredoctoraat.html|title=Nederland eert Duitse president Gauck met Grootkruis en eredoctoraat|date=7 February 2017 }}
• {{flag|Norway}}: Grand Cross of the Order of St. Olav (11 June 2014)
• {{flag|Romania}}: Collar of the Order of the Star of Romania (22 June 2016){{cite news|url=http://www.mediafax.ro/politic/iohannis-i-a-decorat-pe-presedintele-germaniei-si-pe-partenera-sa-15503105|title=Iohannis i-a decorat pe preşedintele Germaniei şi pe partenera sa|date=22 June 2016|access-date=22 June 2016|publisher=Mediafax|language=ro}}
• {{flag|United Kingdom}}: Honorary Knight Grand Cross of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath (25 June 2015)
• {{flag|Slovakia}}: First Class of the Order of the White Double Cross (25 March 2018){{cite web|url=https://www.teraz.sk/slovensko/a-kiska-udelil-byvalemu-nemeckemu/315976-clanok.html|title=A. Kiska udelil bývalému nemeckému prezidentovi štátne vyznamenanie|lang=sk|date=26 March 2018|website=teraz.sk}}
• {{flag|Slovenia}}: Member of the Order for Exceptional Merits (2015)
• {{flag|Sweden}}: Knight of the Order of the Seraphim (5 October 2016)

• 1991: Theodor Heuss Medal
• 1995: Federal Cross of Merit
• 1996: Hermann Ehlers Prize
• 1997: Hannah Arendt Prize
• 1999: Honorary doctorate of the University of Rostock
• 1999: Imre Nagy Prize of Hungary
• 2000: Dolf Sternberger Prize
• 2001: Erich Kästner Prize
• 2002: "Goldenes Lot" des Verbandes Deutscher Vermessungsingenieure
• 2003: Courage Preis
• 2005: Honorary doctorate of the University of Augsburg
• 2008: Thomas Dehler Prize
• 2009: Das Glas der Vernunft
• 2010: Geschwister-Scholl-Preis
• {{flag|Ireland}}: Honorary Degree from NUI Galway (15 July 2015)
• {{Flag|Netherlands}}: Honorary doctorate of the Maastricht University, 2017.
• 2014: Leo Baeck Medal[https://www.bundespraesident.de/SharedDocs/Downloads/DE/Reden/2014/05/140514-Leo-Baeck-Medaille-Englisch.pdf?__blob=publicationFile Federal President Joachim Gauck receiving the Leo Baeck Medal in Berlin on 14 May 2014]
• 2021: Franz Werfel Human Rights Award{{cite web | title=Ex-Bundespräsident Gauck mit Menschenrechtspreis ausgezeichnet | website=NDR.de | date=4 July 2021 | url=https://www.ndr.de/nachrichten/mecklenburg-vorpommern/Ex-Bundespraesident-Joachim-Gauck-erhaelt-Menschrrechtspreis,gauck856.html | language=de | access-date=13 November 2021}}

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{{s-ttl|title=Federal Commissioner for the Stasi Records|years=1990–2000}}

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{{s-bef|before=Christian Wulff}}

{{s-ttl|title=President of Germany|years=2012–2017}}

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{{Fall of Communism}}

{{President of Germany}}

{{German presidents}}

{{Federal Commissioners for the Stasi Records}}

{{Members of the 11th Bundestag}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gauck, Joachim}}

Category:1940 births

Category:Living people

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Category:People from Mecklenburg

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Category:Independent politicians in Germany

Category:Presidents of Germany

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Category:Grand Crosses Special Class of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany

Category:Honorary Knights Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath

Category:Knights Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic

Category:Recipients of the Collar of the Order of the Cross of Terra Mariana

Category:First Class of the Order of the Star of Romania

Category:Recipients of the Order of the Cross of Terra Mariana, 4th Class

Category:21st-century German Lutheran clergy

Category:Grand Crosses of the Order of Saint-Charles

Category:Recipients of the Order of Liberty (Ukraine)

Category:21st-century presidents of Germany