Wilhelm Boden (5 March 1890 – 18 October 1961) was a German lawyer, civil servant and politician (Centre Party & CDU). From 1946 to 1947 he was the first Minister President of Rhineland-Palatinate. He contributed substantially to the rebuilding of the administration and to the formation of the state of Rhineland-Palatinate, where he continued former Prussian administrative traditions. On 1 December 1946, Boden was appointed by the French military government as prime minister of the "Provisional Government" of Rheinland-Pfalz with the mission to prepare a draft constitution and conduct elections. After the election on 18 May 1947 he became minister president of a "transitional Cabinet" but failed to form a government; the SPD denied him the coalition as he was considered controversial even