The choice of Ms Kramp-Karrenbauer, leader of Angela Merkel’s Christian Democrat party (CDU), came as a surprise to many in Berlin, where many had expected Jens Spahn, the arch-conservative health minister, to take the defence job. But Ms Kramp-Karrenbauer, widely seen as the long-serving chancellor’s favoured candidate to succeed her, currently has no government role, a reason critics have opposed her possible rise to the chancellorship in the past.

Ms Von der Leyen will step as defence minister next Tuesday after she was named as the European Commission president last nighyt.

The announcement of Ms Kramp-Karrenbauer’s appointment came just hours after Mrs Merkel promised she would decide “very quickly” on Ms von der Leyen’s successor.

She said:“There will be a fast replacement. The Defence Ministry, the defence minister, holds command and authority.

“You cannot leave that open long. So it will not take long and you will be informed.”

The decision comes amid claims Mrs Merkel, who turned 65 today, will hand power to her successor earlier than planned over health fears after her third shaking episode in public in a month.

Sources within the CDU said officials are re-considering the timeline which sees Mrs Merkel stand down at the 2021 election to make way for party leader Ms Kramp-Karrenbauer.

Concerns about the chancellor’s health were raised again las week after she began trembling as she stood for national anthems with Finland’s prime minister in Berlin on Wednesday.

Mrs Merkel insists she is fine but her office has given no explanation for the repeated shaking and some within her party are asking if it is time for her to leave office.

The 65-year-old stood down as party chair in favour of Ms Kramp-Karrenbauer last year, paving the way for the new leader to become Chancellor in 2021.

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