Germany at the Paralympics
Germany participated in the inaugural Paralympic Games in 1960 in Rome, where it sent a delegation of nine athletes. The country, since 1949 officially the Federal Republic of Germany, was until 1990 also called West Germany while the separate East German Democratic Republic existed, which was recognized by the IOC only after 1964. East German athletes, however, participated in the Paralympics for the first and last time in 1984. Following the reunification of Germany in 1990, athletes from all of Germany compete simply as Germany again.
Germany has participated in every edition of the Summer Paralympics, and has also taken part in every edition of the Winter Paralympics, from the first in 1976. Germany was the host country of the 1972 Summer Paralympics, in Heidelberg.
Germany has won a total of 1587 Paralympic medals, of which 554 gold, 535 silver and 500 bronze. This is more than any country other than the United States. The International Paralympic Committee, however, maintains separate records for "Germany" and "West Germany", giving West Germany a total of 873 medals, and Germany a total of 714. This places the "two countries" sixth and seventh, respectively, on the all-time Paralympic Games medal table - behind the United States, Great Britain, Canada, France and Australia.
Germany has consistently been one of the world's strongest nations at the Paralympics. Prior to 2008, at the Summer Games, it had always been among the top fifteen on the medal tables, and was within the top three on six occasions. In 2008,they finished in the 11th place. At the Winter Games, Germany has always been among the top three, except in 1980, 1984 and 2018. It topped the medal table at the 1972 Summer Paralympics, and the 1976, 2002 and 2010 Winter Games.
Among Germany's most successful Paralympians are
- Reinhild Möller, winner of 19 medals in alpine skiing, and 4 medals in athletics
- Claudia Hengst: 25 medals in swimming
- Gerd Schönfelder: 17 medals in alpine skiing
- Frank Höfle: 17 medals in cross-country skiing.
Medal tallies
Summer Paralympics
Winter Paralympics
Records
These records include West Germany at the Paralympics.Summer Paralympics
Active athletes are in bold.;Multi medalists
German athletes who have won more than three golds or more than five medals.
| No. | Athlete | Sport | Years | Games | Gender | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
| 1 | Claudia Hengst | 1988-2004 | 5 | F | 13 | 4 | 8 | 25 | |
| 2 | Marianne Buggenhagen | 1992-2016 | 7 | F | 9 | 2 | 3 | 14 | |
| 3 | Jochen Wollmert | 1992-2012 | 6 | M | 5 | 2 | 3 | 10 | |
| 4 | Robert Figl | 1988-2004 | 5 | M | 5 | 1 | 6 | 12 | |
| 5 | Wojtek Czyz | 2004-2012 | 3 | M | 4 | 1 | 2 | 7 | |
| 5 | Heinrich Köberle | 1984-2000 | 5 | M | 4 | 1 | 0 | 5 | |
| 6 | Peter Haber | 1992-2000 | 3 | M | 3 | 5 | 0 | 8 | |
| 7 | Martina Willing | 1992-2016 | 7 | F | 3 | 4 | 5 | 12 | |
| 8 | Daniela Schulte | 1996-2012 | 5 | F | 3 | 4 | 1 | 8 | |
| 9 | Britta Jänicke | 1988-2000 | 4 | F | 3 | 1 | 2 | 6 | |
| 10 | Jessica Sachse | 1988-2004 | 5 | F | 2 | 3 | 3 | 8 | |
| 11 | Ramona Brussig | 2004-2016 | 4 | F | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 | |
| 12 | Horst Beyer | 1992-2000 | 3 | M | 2 | 1 | 2 | 5 | |
| 13 | Jörg Frischmann | 1992-2000 | 3 | M | 1 | 2 | 2 | 5 |
;Multi medalists at single Games
German athletes who have won more than two golds at a single Games. Categorised by medals earned, sports then year.
| No. | Athlete | Sport | Year | Gender | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
| 1 | Claudia Hengst | 1988 | F | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 | |
| 2 | Marianne Buggenhagen | 1992 | F | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | |
| 3 | Jessica Sachse | 1992 | F | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
;Multi medals at single event
German athletes who have won more than two golds at a single event in the Summer Paralympics. Categorised by medals earned, sports then gold medals earned.
| No. | Athlete | Sport | Event | Years | Games | Gender | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
| 1 | Heinrich Köberle | Marathon | 1984-2000 | 5 | M | 4 | 1 | 0 | 5 | |
| 2 | Jochen Wollmert | Singles | 1992-2012 | 6 | M | 3 | 2 | 1 | 6 | |
| 3 | Marianne Buggenhagen | Discus throw | 1992-2016 | 7 | F | 3 | 1 | 0 | 4 | |
| 4 | Siegmund Hegeholz | Javelin throw | 1992-2004 | 4 | M | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 |
;Most appearances
German athletes who have competed in four or more Paralympic Games. Aged under 15 or over 40 are in bold.
| No. | Athlete | Sport | Birth Year | Games Years | First/Last Age | Gender | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
| 1 | Marianne Buggenhagen | 1953 | 1992-2016 | 39 - 63 | F | 9 | 2 | 3 | 14 | |
| 2 | Martina Willing | 1959 | 1992-2016 | 33 - 57 | F | 3 | 4 | 5 | 12 | |
| 3 | Heinrich Köberle | 1946 | 1984-2000 | 38 - 54 | M | 4 | 1 | 0 | 5 | |
| 4 | Jochen Wollmert | 1964 | 1992-2012 | 28 - 48 | M | 5 | 2 | 3 | 10 | |
| 5 | Robert Figl | 1967 | 1988-2004 | 21 - 37 | M | 5 | 1 | 6 | 12 |
Winter Paralympics
;Multi medalistsGerman athletes who have won three gold medals or more than five medals.
| No. | Athlete | Sport | Years | Games | Gender | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
| 1 | Gerd Schönfelder | 1992-2010 | 6 | M | 16 | 4 | 2 | 22 | |
| 2 | Reinhild Möller | 1980-2006 | 8 | F | 16 | 2 | 1 | 19 | |
| 3 | Frank Höfle | 1988-2002 | 5 | M | 13 | 5 | 3 | 21 | |
| 4 | Verena Bentele | 1998-2010 | 4 | F | 12 | 2 | 2 | 16 | |
| 5 | Martin Braxenthaler | 1998-2010 | 4 | M | 10 | 1 | 1 | 12 | |
| 6 | Anna Schaffelhuber | 2010-2018 | 3 | F | 7 | 1 | 1 | 9 | |
| 7 | Thomas Oelsner | 1994-2006 | 4 | M | 5 | 4 | 1 | 10 | |
| 8 | Andrea Rothfuss | 2006-2018 | 4 | F | 1 | 9 | 3 | 12 |
;Multi medals at single Games
German athletes who have won two golds in a single Games. Categorised by medals earned, sports then year.
| No. | Athlete | Sport | Year | Gender | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
| 1 | Verena Bentele | 2010 | F | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 | |
| 1 | Anna Schaffelhuber | 2014 | F | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 | |
| 3 | Gerd Schönfelder | 2010 | M | 4 | 1 | 0 | 5 |
;Multi medals at single event
German athletes who have won two golds in a single event in the Winter Paralympics. Categorised by medals earned, sports then gold medals earned.
| No. | Athlete | Sport | Event | Years | Games | Gender | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
| 1 | Frank Höfle | 7.5km | 1992-2002 | 4 | M | 3 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
;Most appearances
German athletes who have competed in four or more Winter Paralympic Games. Ages under 15 or over 40 are in bold.
| No. | Athlete | Sport | Birth Year | Games Years | First/Last Age | Gender | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
| 1 | Reinhild Möller | 1956 | 1980-2006 | 24 - 50 | F | 16 | 2 | 1 | 19 | |
| 2 | Gerd Schönfelder | 1970 | 1992-2010 | 22 - 40 | M | 16 | 4 | 2 | 22 |