# Third Schmidt cabinet

The Third Schmidt cabinet was the government of West Germany between 6 November 1980 and 1 October 1982, during the 9th legislature of the Bundestag. Led by the Social Democrat Helmut Schmidt. After the 1980 federal election, incumbent Chancellor Schmidt continued the social-liberal coalition between his SPD and the FDP.
In 1982 the coalition collapsed. A first cabinet reshuffle was performed on 28 April, replacing several ministers. The split culminated in the resignation of all FDP ministers on 17 September. Schmidt briefly replaced them with an all-SPD cabinet before being voted out of office in a constructive vote of no confidence in favour of Helmut Kohl, who formed the first Kohl cabinet.

## Composition

| Portfolio | Minister | Took office | Left office | Party |
| Chancellor | Helmut Schmidt | 16 May 1974 | 1 October 1982 | SPD |
| Vice Chancellor | Hans-Dietrich Genscher | 17 May 1974 | 17 September 1982 | FDP |
| Vice Chancellor | Egon Franke | 17 September 1982 | 1 October 1982 | SPD |
| Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs | Hans-Dietrich Genscher | 17 May 1974 | 17 September 1982 | FDP |
| Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs | Helmut Schmidt | 17 September 1982 | 1 October 1982 | SPD |
| Federal Minister of the Interior | Gerhart Baum | 8 June 1978 | 17 September 1982 | FDP |
| Federal Minister of the Interior | Jürgen Schmude | 17 September 1982 | 1 October 1982 | SPD |
| Federal Minister of Justice | Hans-Jochen Vogel | 16 May 1974 | 22 January 1981 | SPD |
| Federal Minister of Justice | Jürgen Schmude | 22 January 1981 | 1 October 1982 | SPD |
| Federal Minister of Finance | Hans Matthöfer | 16 February 1978 | 28 April 1982 | SPD |
| Federal Minister of Finance | Manfred Lahnstein | 28 April 1982 | 1 October 1982 | SPD |
| Federal Minister for Economy | Otto Graf Lambsdorff | 7 October 1977 | 17 September 1982 | FDP |
| Federal Minister for Economy | Manfred Lahnstein | 17 September 1982 | 1 October 1982 | SPD |
| Federal Minister for Food, Agriculture and Forests | Josef Ertl | 22 October 1969 | 17 September 1982 | FDP |
| Federal Minister for Food, Agriculture and Forests | Björn Engholm | 17 September 1982 | 1 October 1982 | SPD |
| Federal Minister for Labour and Social Affairs | Herbert Ehrenberg | 16 December 1976 | 28 April 1982 | SPD |
| Federal Minister for Labour and Social Affairs | Heinz Westphal | 28 April 1982 | 1 October 1982 | SPD |
| Federal Minister of Defence | Hans Apel | 16 February 1978 | 1 October 1982 | SPD |
| Federal Minister for Youth, Family and Health | Antje Huber | 16 December 1976 | 28 April 1982 | SPD |
| Federal Minister for Youth, Family and Health | Anke Fuchs | 28 April 1982 | 1 October 1982 | SPD |
| Federal Minister of Transport | Volker Hauff | 6 November 1980 | 1 October 1982 | SPD |
| Federal Minister of Post and Telecommunications | Kurt Gscheidle | 16 May 1974 | 28 April 1982 | SPD |
| Federal Minister of Post and Telecommunications | Hans Matthöfer | 28 April 1982 | 1 October 1982 | SPD |
| Federal Minister of Regional Planning, Building and Urban Development | Dieter Haack | 16 February 1978 | 1 October 1982 | SPD |
| Federal Minister of Intra-German Relations | Egon Franke | 22 October 1969 | 1 October 1982 | SPD |
| Federal Minister of Research and Technology | Andreas von Bülow | 6 October 1980 | 1 October 1982 | SPD |
| Federal Ministry of Education and Science | Jürgen Schmude | 16 February 1978 | 28 January 1981 | SPD |
| Federal Ministry of Education and Science | Björn Engholm | 28 January 1981 | 1 October 1982 | SPD |
| Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation | Rainer Offergeld | 16 February 1978 | 1 October 1982 | SPD |