German Chess Championship
The German Chess Championship has been played since 1861, and determines the national champion. Prior to 1880, three different federations organized chess activities in Germany: the Westdeutscher Schachbund, the Norddeutscher Schachbund and the Mitteldeutscher Schachbund. Each one organized its own championship. In 1880, the nationwide Deutscher Schachbund was founded, so afterwards only one German championship was played.
Starting from 1933, the Nazi Party took control of all social activities and until 1943 all chess championships were organized by the Großdeutscher Schachbund. After the end of World War II, separate championships were played in the occupied zones. Afterwards, from 1950 to 1989, two national championships were held in the Federal Republic of Germany and the German Democratic Republic. After the reunification of Germany in 1989, a single tournament has been played.
Championships, 1861–1932
[Image:Maxlange.jpg|left|thumb|140px|Max Lange][Image:Anderssen, Adolf "-5" - DPLA - 9ca464339f18b3d8be87fccc68c3ee73 (cropped).jpg|center|thumb|150px|Adolf Anderssen]
[Image:LouisPaulsen.jpg|right|thumb|140px|Louis Paulsen]
German Congresses, 1879–1932
[Image:Schlechter, Carl 1896 - DPLA - 832da5245429c37f5e2ffcdf1fa3b902 (cropped).jpg|thumb|160px|Carl Schlechter][Image:Bogoljubow 1925.jpg|right|thumb|170px|Efim Bogoljubow]
West and East Germany championships
[image:Robert Hübner.jpg|center|150px|thumb|Robert Hübner][Image:WolfgangUhlmannPolanicaZdroj19670809 31.jpg|right|135px|thumb|Wolfgang Uhlmann]
German championships since 1991
[Image:Luther thomas 20061119 berlin bundesliga.jpg|180px|thumb|Thomas Luther][Image:Arthur Jussupow.jpg|180px|thumb|Artur Yusupov]