Beginning from the fragmented world of German States which organized administrative action to preserve historical heritage at the beginning of the 19^th century, the author shows the development of the protection of historical monuments in Germany. In reality the subject of a coherent administrative organisation of heritage issues was not more successful in one German state than another. However reflection on the quality and status of monuments of the German-speaking world coincided with a marked professionalisation of the various historical heritage administrations. It was only with the Weimar Republic however that artistic and historical heritage of the country was seen as the responsibility of the State. After the devastation of cities and heritage resulting from World Word II, German decentralized State administrations took on the task of dealing with heritage issues; differing views and approaches to the subject have thus resulted.