Several deceased German individuals have made notable contributions to culture or played an important roles in society. They improved lives, shaped Europe and made important inventions.

Johannes Gutenberg, Nicolaus Copernicus, Martin Luther, Johann Sebastian Bach, Johann Wolfgang Goethe, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Otto von Bismarck, Karl Friedrich Benz, Paul Gottlieb Nipkow, Albert Schweitzer, Konrad Adenauer, Albert Einstein, Konrad Zuse, Karl Lagerfeld are all a the long list of names of famous dead Germans.