• President – Johannes Rau (until 30 July), Horst Köhler (starting 30 July)
• Chancellor – Gerhard Schröder

January edit

February edit

• 5–15 February - 54th Berlin International Film Festival

March edit

• 19 March: Germany in the Eurovision Song Contest 2004

April edit

May edit

June edit

• 9 June: 2004 Cologne bombing

July edit

August edit

• 2 August: Protests against Hartz IV reforms
• 21 August: The Berlin Rules on Water Resources are adopted by the International Law Association.

September edit

October edit

November edit

December edit

• 26 December: Several thousands of Germans are among thousands of people killed by the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami.

• 2004 German presidential election
• 2004 European Parliament election in Germany
• 2004 Brandenburg state election
• 2004 Hamburg state election
• 2004 Saarland state election
• 2004 Saxony state election
• 2004 Thuringian state election

• 2003–04 Bundesliga
• 2003–04 2. Bundesliga
• 2003–04 Deutsche Eishockey Liga season
• 2004 BMW Open
• 2004 German Grand Prix
• 2004 European Grand Prix
• 2004 German motorcycle Grand Prix

• 15 November — Vincent Keymer, German chess prodigy
• 20 November — Youssoufa Moukoko, German professional footballer.

• 6 February - Claus Hinrich Casdorff, German journalist and writer (born 1925)
• 19 May - Carl Raddatz, German actor (born 1912)
• 24 May - Friedrich Wilhelm Christians, German banker (born 1922)
• 16 June - Ursula Lillig, German actress (born 1938)
• 8 July - Albert Friedlander, German rabbi and teacher (born 1927)
• 10 July - Inge Meysel, German actress (born 1910)
• 22 July - Bodo Hauser, German journalist and writer (born 1946)
• 11 August -Wolfgang Mommsen, German historian (born 1930)
• 19 August - Günter Rexrodt, German politician (born 1941)
• 4 October - Helmut Bantz, German gymnast (born 1921)
• 17 October - Andreas Sassen, football player (born 1968)
• 28 September - Christl Cranz, German alpine racer (born 1914)
• 1 December - Prince Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld, German-born prince who was the consort of Queen Juliana of the Netherlands (born 1911)
• 12 December - Herbert Dreilich, German rock musician (born 1942)
• Unknown - OUBEY, visual artist (born 1958)

• 2004 in German television