The Foreign Office was established within the North German Confederation in 1870 and its head, first appointed in 1871, had the rank of secretary of state.

As governments were now formed by parties entering coalitions with each other, individual ministers also gained independence towards from the chancellor.

His long term gave stability to Germany's foreign policy and improved the minister's position towards the relatively weak and short-lived chancellors.

Stresemann was awarded the 1926 Nobel Peace Prize for his work for reconciliation between Germany and France.

In 1990, the GDR ceased to exist as a separate state and its territory was reunited with West Germany.