Angela Merkel, Germany’s first female chancellor, has unveiled her autobiography, Freedom: Memoirs 1954-2021.
Spanning 720 pages, the book chronicles what Merkel describes as her “two lives”—the first under dictatorship in East Germany until 1990, and the second in democracy after reunification.
Born in Hamburg in 1954, Merkel’s life took a pivotal turn when her father, a leftist Lutheran pastor, moved the family to East Germany. Despite the omnipresent surveillance of the Stasi secret police, Merkel recalls a happy childhood. Known for her sharp intellect, she initially pursued a career as a scientist. However, the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 led her into politics, joining the newly formed Democratic Awakening party.
The memoir devotes considerable attention to her ascent in politics and her 16 years as chancellor of Germany. Among the defining moments she recounts is her controversial decision in 2015 to open Germany’s borders to hundreds of thousands of asylum seekers, a move she identifies as a defining moment of her tenure. While acknowledging the societal and economic strain this decision placed on Germany—and the rise of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party as a consequence—Merkel maintains it was the right choice in the face of a humanitarian crisis.
Merkel also confronts criticism of her energy policies. She reflects on the accelerated phase-out of nuclear energy following the Fukushima disaster in 2011 and defends Germany’s increasing dependence on Russian gas during her leadership, which she describes as unavoidable at the time.
The memoir provides rare glimpses into her interactions with global leaders. Among the anecdotes, Merkel recounts how Russian President Vladimir Putin, aware of her fear of dogs, attempted to intimidate her by bringing his black Labrador to a 2007 meeting. A year earlier, he had jokingly gifted her a stuffed toy dog, remarking it was harmless.
Her reflections on U.S. presidents range from critical to fond. She admits underestimating Donald Trump when they first met in 2016, writing that she initially mistook him for “someone normal.” In contrast, she fondly remembers her visit to George W. Bush’s ranch, calling the experience “rustic, relaxing, and simply beautiful.” Merkel also shares her admiration for the late Queen Elizabeth II, with whom she spoke in English, noting the monarch’s enduring grace.
Co-authored with her long-time advisor Beate Baumann, Freedom offers an unfiltered look at Merkel’s pivotal decisions, challenges, and moments of vulnerability. It is a testament to a career that shaped modern Germany and influenced global politics.