The Germany women's national handball team is the national handball team of Germany. It is governed by the Deutscher Handball-Bund and takes part in international handball competitions.

History During the years of Germany's division, the East German women's national handball team represented the German Democratic Republic in international matches and tournaments. East Germany was one of the strongest national teams in the world, winning the World Women's Handball Championship three times, in 1971, 1975 and 1978.

As a united Germany, the team had early success already at their first tournament with a 4th placed finish at the 1992 Olympics, followed by their greatest successes; winning the 1993 World Championship and finishing second at the 1994 European Women's Handball Championship. They also finished third at the World Championship in 1965, 1997 and 2007. During the 2010s the team could not replicate the early success, with exiting in the main round of European and World Championships being the norm.

At the 2025 World Women's Handball Championship reached the final, where they lost to Norway. This was the first time since 1994 that Germany made the final of a major international tournament and the first time they won a medal since 2007.

Results For East Germany team record, look here.

Competition TotalOlympic Games0 0 0 0World Championship1 1 3 5European Championship0 1 0 1 Total 1 1 3 5

Olympic Games YearRoundPositionGPWD*LGSGA 1976did not qualify 1980 1984Main round4520391100 1988did not qualify 1992Semifinals45203131111 1996Preliminary round631027073 2000did not qualify 2004 2008Preliminary round115104123134 2012did not qualify 2016 2020 2024Quarterfinals86105159160 2028Future eventTotal5/14247017574578

World Championship YearRoundPositionGPWD*LGSGA 1957Third place game452033338 1962Preliminary round820111518 1965Third place game343013730 1971Fifth place game552035251 1973Placement round1151044966 1975did not qualify 1978Placement round852037877 1982Placement round97313143114 1986Seventh place game77403132128 1990Third place game47403141131 1993Final17601161111/ 1995Fifth place game58512186166 1997Third place game39801260184/ 1999Seventh place game79513234198 2001did not qualify 2003Main round128314220198 2005Fifth place game69603278240 2007Third place game39711324279 2009Seventh place game79603253242 201117th place game177403190165 2013Quarterfinals77601209168 2015Round of 16136303173142 2017Round of 16126312137116 2019Seventh place game89414248230 2021Quarterfinals77502195171// 2023Quarterfinals69603270225/ 2025Final29801281245 2027TBD 2029/ 2031Total25/301 Title1659886040183488

European Championship YearRoundPosition+/- 1994Final27502152143+9 1996Third place game47403169165+4 1998Preliminary round66402140145−5 2000Preliminary round96204139155−16 2002Main round116105142168−26 2004Fifth place game57502183173+10 2006Third place game48503228208+20 2008Third place game48512227208+19/ 2010Preliminary round1331027887−9 2012Main round76312136132+4/ 2014Main round106213164165−1 2016Fifth place game67412169155+14 2018Main round106303162165−3/ 2020Main round76213145158−13 2022Main round763031601600 2024 Main round78403202170 +32 2026 Qualified 2028 TBD 2030 2032 Qualified as co-hostTotal18/20954954123942387+7 ** Red border colour indicates that tournament was held on home soil.

Performance in other tournaments Møbelringen Cup 2011 – Second place Carpathian Trophy 1997 – Third place Carpathian Trophy 2008 – Third place Carpathian Trophy 2013 – Second place Carpathian Trophy 2015 – Third place

Team Current squad The squad for the 2025 World Women's Handball Championship.

Head coach: Markus Gaugisch

Coaches CoachPeriod Carl Schelenz1930Otto Kaundinya1939 Fritz Fromm1952–1953Hans Geilenberg1954–1967Helmut Torka1967–1971 Volker Schneller1972–1974Werner Vick1974–1981 Gerd Tschochohei1981–1983 Ekke Hoffmann1983–1988 Ulrich Weiler1988–1990 Heinz Strauch1991–1992 Lothar Doering1992–1994 Ingolf Wiegert1994–1995 Ekke Hoffmann1995–1999 Lothar Doering1999 Dago Leukefeld2000–2001 Leszek Krowicki2001 Ekke Hoffmann2001–2004 Armin Emrich2005–2009 Rainer Osmann2009–2011 Heine Jensen2011–2014 Jakob Vestergaard2015–2016 Michael Biegler2016–2017 Henk Groener2018–2022 Markus Gaugisch2022–

Individual all-time records

Most matches played Total number of matches played for the senior national team.

# Player Matches Goals 1 Grit Jurack 306 1581 2 Michaela Erler 285 690 3 Anna Loerper 246 428 4 Silvia Schmitt 245 751 5 Anja Althaus 243 527 6 Andrea Stolletz 227 1 7 Stefanie Melbeck 223 483 8 Kathrin Blacha 222 435 Clara Woltering 222 1 10 Dagmar Stelberg 219 832 Last updated: 1 October 2025

Most goals scored Total number of goals scored in official matches only. # Player Goals Matches Average 1 Grit Jurack 1581 306 5.2 2 Dagmar Stelberg 832 219 3.8 3 Bianca Urbanke-Rösicke 775 203 3.8 4 Silvia Schmitt 751 245 245 5 Nadine Krause 741 188 3.9 6 Michaela Erler 690 285 2.4 7 Elena Leonte 530 95 5.6 8 Anja Althaus 527 243 2.2 9 Stefanie Melbeck 483 223 2.2 10 Kathrin Blacha 435 222 1.9 Last updated: 1 October 2025

Former notable players Grit Jurack Nadine Krause Stefanie Melbeck Sabine Englert Clara Woltering Anja Althaus Anna Loerper Nora Reiche Svenja Huber Kerstin Wohlbold Nina Wörz Susann Müller Anne Müller Katja Kramarczyk Laura Steinbach Isabell Klein

Several German players have seen their individual performance recognized at international tournaments, either as topscorer or as a member of the All-Star Team. All-Star Team Silvia Schmitt, 1992 Olympics Bianca Urbanke, 1994 European Championship Silke Fittinger, 1994 European Championship Franziska Heinz, 1997 World Championship Agnieszka Tobiasz, 2000 European Championship Grit Jurack, 2004 European Championship; 2008 European Championship; 2005 World Championship; 2007 World Championship; 2010 European Championship Nadine Krause, 2006 European Championship Anja Althaus, 2012 European Championship; 2013 World Championship Susann Müller, 2013 World Championship Alicia Stolle, 2018 European Championship Antje Döll, 2025 World Championship Emily Vogel, 2025 World Championship Viola Leuchter, 2023 World Championship; 2025 World Championship Topscorer Nadine Krause, 2005 World Championship (60 goals); 2006 European Championship (58 goals) Grit Jurack, 2007 World Championship (86 goals) Susann Müller, 2013 World Championship (62 goals)

References

External links

IHF profile