Arnold Schölzel
Encyclopedia
Arnold Angelus Schölzel (born October 21, 1947 in Bremen
) is the editor-in-chief of the far-left newspaper Junge Welt
. Prior to 1989, he worked at East Berlin's Humboldt University and also was an informant for the East German domestic intelligence agency Stasi
.
in West Germany
. In 1967, he deserted
from the German Army
and emigrated to East Germany.
He was recruited as a Stasi informant under the code name "André Holzer". He infiltrated an opposition group at East Berlin's Humboldt University, and reported on the activities of Wolfgang Templin, among others.
Stefan Wolle of Forschungsverbund SED-Staat (Research Network on the Communist State) at the Free University of Berlin
describes Schölzel as an informant "aus wirklicher Begeisterung, der mit größter Perfidie die Menschen, mit denen er befreundet war, permanent hinterging".
Because of his activities as an informant, which had continued until 1989, Arnold Schölzel was suspended from his job at the Humboldt University in 1991 and dishonourably discharged in 1994.
Schölzel's activities as a Stasi informant was the subject of a documentary film shown by ARD
in 2007, Verraten – sechs Freunde und ein Spitzel. In the film, Arnold Schölzel acknowledged having been an informant for the Stasi. When asked by film maker Inga Wolfram why he had betrayed his friends, he replied: "Well, you betrayed 17 million people" (the population of East Germany).
In 1997, Schölzel became the feuilleton editor of the Junge Welt
. In February 2000 he became editor-in-chief. The newspaper is under observation by the Bundesamt für Verfassungsschutz, is categorized by the Bundesamt as leftist extremist and is described by Die Welt
as dominated by Stasi
veterans.
Bremen
The City Municipality of Bremen is a Hanseatic city in northwestern Germany. A commercial and industrial city with a major port on the river Weser, Bremen is part of the Bremen-Oldenburg metropolitan area . Bremen is the second most populous city in North Germany and tenth in Germany.Bremen is...
) is the editor-in-chief of the far-left newspaper Junge Welt
Junge Welt
junge Welt is a German daily newspaper published in Berlin. The jW describes itself as a left and Marxist newspaperIt was first published on 12 February 1947 in the Soviet Sector of Berlin. junge Welt became the official newspaper of the Central Council of the Free German Youth on 12 November 1947...
. Prior to 1989, he worked at East Berlin's Humboldt University and also was an informant for the East German domestic intelligence agency Stasi
Stasi
The Ministry for State Security The Ministry for State Security The Ministry for State Security (German: Ministerium für Staatssicherheit (MfS), commonly known as the Stasi (abbreviation , literally State Security), was the official state security service of East Germany. The MfS was headquartered...
.
Life
Schölzel grew up in BremenBremen
The City Municipality of Bremen is a Hanseatic city in northwestern Germany. A commercial and industrial city with a major port on the river Weser, Bremen is part of the Bremen-Oldenburg metropolitan area . Bremen is the second most populous city in North Germany and tenth in Germany.Bremen is...
in West Germany
West Germany
West Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....
. In 1967, he deserted
Desertion
In military terminology, desertion is the abandonment of a "duty" or post without permission and is done with the intention of not returning...
from the German Army
Bundeswehr
The Bundeswehr consists of the unified armed forces of Germany and their civil administration and procurement authorities...
and emigrated to East Germany.
He was recruited as a Stasi informant under the code name "André Holzer". He infiltrated an opposition group at East Berlin's Humboldt University, and reported on the activities of Wolfgang Templin, among others.
Stefan Wolle of Forschungsverbund SED-Staat (Research Network on the Communist State) at the Free University of Berlin
Free University of Berlin
Freie Universität Berlin is one of the leading and most prestigious research universities in Germany and continental Europe. It distinguishes itself through its modern and international character. It is the largest of the four universities in Berlin. Research at the university is focused on the...
describes Schölzel as an informant "aus wirklicher Begeisterung, der mit größter Perfidie die Menschen, mit denen er befreundet war, permanent hinterging".
Because of his activities as an informant, which had continued until 1989, Arnold Schölzel was suspended from his job at the Humboldt University in 1991 and dishonourably discharged in 1994.
Schölzel's activities as a Stasi informant was the subject of a documentary film shown by ARD
ARD (broadcaster)
ARD is a joint organization of Germany's regional public-service broadcasters...
in 2007, Verraten – sechs Freunde und ein Spitzel. In the film, Arnold Schölzel acknowledged having been an informant for the Stasi. When asked by film maker Inga Wolfram why he had betrayed his friends, he replied: "Well, you betrayed 17 million people" (the population of East Germany).
In 1997, Schölzel became the feuilleton editor of the Junge Welt
Junge Welt
junge Welt is a German daily newspaper published in Berlin. The jW describes itself as a left and Marxist newspaperIt was first published on 12 February 1947 in the Soviet Sector of Berlin. junge Welt became the official newspaper of the Central Council of the Free German Youth on 12 November 1947...
. In February 2000 he became editor-in-chief. The newspaper is under observation by the Bundesamt für Verfassungsschutz, is categorized by the Bundesamt as leftist extremist and is described by Die Welt
Die Welt
Die Welt is a German national daily newspaper published by the Axel Springer AG company.It was founded in Hamburg in 1946 by the British occupying forces, aiming to provide a "quality newspaper" modelled on The Times...
as dominated by Stasi
Stasi
The Ministry for State Security The Ministry for State Security The Ministry for State Security (German: Ministerium für Staatssicherheit (MfS), commonly known as the Stasi (abbreviation , literally State Security), was the official state security service of East Germany. The MfS was headquartered...
veterans.