‘She is an eyewitness’- how Merkel’s ‘office manager’ played key role in memoir

Little-known Beate Baumann’s partnership with the former German chancellor goes back to 1992

In the opening of her autobiography, Freedom, Angela Merkel is clear: she couldn’t have written it without one key person. Neither her sister, Irene Kasner, warmly acknowledged at the close of her book for having helped bring “memories of my childhood and youth back to life”, nor her husband, Joachim Sauer, who she thanks for his constant support.

The individual without whom one of the most highly anticipated political memoirs in years might not have happened is Beate Baumann. The 61-year-old has worked at Merkel’s side for over 30 years, having first been recruited by her as an office manager. When Merkel retired in 2021, Baumann, it was understood, would continue by her side, but from now on under the revised title of “political adviser of the out-of-service German chancellor”.