Leaders of East Germany
Encyclopedia
The political leadership of East Germany was in the hands of several offices.
Prior the proclamation of an East German state, the Soviets established in 1948 the German Economic Commission
(DWK) as a de facto government in their occupation zone. Its chairman was Heinrich Rau
.
On 7 Oct 1949 an East German state, called the German Democratic Republic
(GDR), was proclaimed and took the governmental functions over from the DWK. (Largely with the same function owners.)
For most of its existence (until autumn of 1989), the most important position in the GDR was that of the General Secretary of the Socialist Unity Party
(SED). The Communist party and its leader held ultimate power and authority over state and government.
The formal head of state originally was the President of the German Democratic Republic. After the death of incumbent Wilhelm Pieck
in 1960, the office was replaced by a collective head of state, the State Council. The position of chairman was commonly held by the party leader.
Government was headed by the Council of Ministers and its chairman, sometimes colloquially called Prime Minister.
Other important institutions included the People's Chamber
, whose sessions were chaired by a President of the People's Chamber, and, since 1960, the National Defense Council, which held supreme command of the GDR's armed forces and had unlimited authority over the State in time of war. The Council was composed exclusively of members of the SED's Central Committee
and Politburo
, with the party leader serving as Chairman of the National Defense Council.
The political landscape was completely changed by the peaceful revolution
late in 1989, which saw the Socialist Unity Party of Germany
having to relinquish its monopoly on political power and the National Defense Council and the State Council being abolished. The remaining institutions were the People's Chamber
, whose President by default became head of state for the remainder of the GDR's existence, and the Council of Ministers, both now based on the country's first and democratic elections in March 1990
. The GDR joined the Federal Republic of Germany
on 3 October 1990
Late in 1989, the SED transformed from a leninist cadre party into a democratically structured party, renaming itself first to Socialist Unity Party — Party of Democratic Socialism and later in the same year, to Party of Democratic Socialism in the process, and relinquished its monopoly on political power. Hence, the party's subsequent leaders were no more leaders of East Germany than the leaders of other parties.
Prior the proclamation of an East German state, the Soviets established in 1948 the German Economic Commission
German Economic Commission
The German Economic Commission was the top administrative body in the Soviet Occupation Zone of Germany prior to the creation of the German Democratic Republic ....
(DWK) as a de facto government in their occupation zone. Its chairman was Heinrich Rau
Heinrich Rau
Heinrich Gottlob "Heiner" Rau was a German communist politician during the time of the Weimar Republic; subsequently, during the Spanish Civil War, a leading member of the International Brigades and after World War II an East German statesman.Rau grew up in a suburb of Stuttgart, where he early...
.
On 7 Oct 1949 an East German state, called the German Democratic Republic
German Democratic Republic
The German Democratic Republic , informally called East Germany by West Germany and other countries, was a socialist state established in 1949 in the Soviet zone of occupied Germany, including East Berlin of the Allied-occupied capital city...
(GDR), was proclaimed and took the governmental functions over from the DWK. (Largely with the same function owners.)
For most of its existence (until autumn of 1989), the most important position in the GDR was that of the General Secretary of the Socialist Unity Party
Socialist Unity Party of Germany
The Socialist Unity Party of Germany was the governing party of the German Democratic Republic from its formation on 7 October 1949 until the elections of March 1990. The SED was a communist political party with a Marxist-Leninist ideology...
(SED). The Communist party and its leader held ultimate power and authority over state and government.
The formal head of state originally was the President of the German Democratic Republic. After the death of incumbent Wilhelm Pieck
Wilhelm Pieck
Friedrich Wilhelm Reinhold Pieck was a German politician and a Communist. In 1949, he became the first President of the German Democratic Republic, an office abolished upon his death. He was succeeded by Walter Ulbricht, who served as Chairman of the Council of States.-Biography:Pieck was born to...
in 1960, the office was replaced by a collective head of state, the State Council. The position of chairman was commonly held by the party leader.
Government was headed by the Council of Ministers and its chairman, sometimes colloquially called Prime Minister.
Other important institutions included the People's Chamber
Volkskammer
The People's Chamber was the unicameral legislature of the German Democratic Republic . From its founding in 1949 until the first free elections on 18 March 1990, all members of the Volkskammer were elected on a slate controlled by the Socialist Unity Party of Germany , called the National Front...
, whose sessions were chaired by a President of the People's Chamber, and, since 1960, the National Defense Council, which held supreme command of the GDR's armed forces and had unlimited authority over the State in time of war. The Council was composed exclusively of members of the SED's Central Committee
Central Committee
Central Committee was the common designation of a standing administrative body of communist parties, analogous to a board of directors, whether ruling or non-ruling in the twentieth century and of the surviving, mostly Trotskyist, states in the early twenty first. In such party organizations the...
and Politburo
Politburo
Politburo , literally "Political Bureau [of the Central Committee]," is the executive committee for a number of communist political parties.-Marxist-Leninist states:...
, with the party leader serving as Chairman of the National Defense Council.
The political landscape was completely changed by the peaceful revolution
Die Wende
marks the complete process of the change from socialism and planned economy to market economy and capitalism in East Germany around the years 1989 and 1990. It encompasses several processes and events which later have become synonymous with the overall process...
late in 1989, which saw the Socialist Unity Party of Germany
Socialist Unity Party of Germany
The Socialist Unity Party of Germany was the governing party of the German Democratic Republic from its formation on 7 October 1949 until the elections of March 1990. The SED was a communist political party with a Marxist-Leninist ideology...
having to relinquish its monopoly on political power and the National Defense Council and the State Council being abolished. The remaining institutions were the People's Chamber
Volkskammer
The People's Chamber was the unicameral legislature of the German Democratic Republic . From its founding in 1949 until the first free elections on 18 March 1990, all members of the Volkskammer were elected on a slate controlled by the Socialist Unity Party of Germany , called the National Front...
, whose President by default became head of state for the remainder of the GDR's existence, and the Council of Ministers, both now based on the country's first and democratic elections in March 1990
East German general election, 1990
Legislative elections were held in the German Democratic Republic on 18 March 1990. It was the first—and as it turned out, only—free parliamentary election in East Germany, and the first truly free election held in that part of Germany since 1933...
. The GDR joined the Federal Republic of 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....
on 3 October 1990
Leaders of the Socialist Unity Party of Germany (SED)
| # | Picture | Name | Took office | Left office | Party |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joint Chairmen of the Socialist Unity Party |
|||||
| |
Wilhelm Pieck Wilhelm Pieck Friedrich Wilhelm Reinhold Pieck was a German politician and a Communist. In 1949, he became the first President of the German Democratic Republic, an office abolished upon his death. He was succeeded by Walter Ulbricht, who served as Chairman of the Council of States.-Biography:Pieck was born to... |
22 April 1946 | 25 July 1950 | Socialist Unity Party of Germany Socialist Unity Party of Germany The Socialist Unity Party of Germany was the governing party of the German Democratic Republic from its formation on 7 October 1949 until the elections of March 1990. The SED was a communist political party with a Marxist-Leninist ideology... |
|
 |
Otto Grotewohl Otto Grotewohl Otto Grotewohl was a German politician and prime minister of the German Democratic Republic from 1949 until his death. According to Roth , "He was a figurehead who led various economic commissions, lobbied the Soviets for increased aid, and conducted foreign policy tours in the attempt to break... |
Socialist Unity Party of Germany Socialist Unity Party of Germany The Socialist Unity Party of Germany was the governing party of the German Democratic Republic from its formation on 7 October 1949 until the elections of March 1990. The SED was a communist political party with a Marxist-Leninist ideology... |
|||
| General Secretary of the Central Committee (after 1953 titled First Secretary of the Central Committee) |
|||||
| 1 | Walter Ulbricht Walter Ulbricht Walter Ulbricht was a German communist politician. As First Secretary of the Socialist Unity Party from 1950 to 1971 , he played a leading role in the creation of the Weimar-era Communist Party of Germany and later in the early development and... |
25 July 1950 | 3 May 1971 | Socialist Unity Party of Germany Socialist Unity Party of Germany The Socialist Unity Party of Germany was the governing party of the German Democratic Republic from its formation on 7 October 1949 until the elections of March 1990. The SED was a communist political party with a Marxist-Leninist ideology... |
|
| (Honorary) Chairmen of the Central Committee |
|||||
| Walter Ulbricht Walter Ulbricht Walter Ulbricht was a German communist politician. As First Secretary of the Socialist Unity Party from 1950 to 1971 , he played a leading role in the creation of the Weimar-era Communist Party of Germany and later in the early development and... |
3 May 1971 | 1 August 1973 | Socialist Unity Party of Germany Socialist Unity Party of Germany The Socialist Unity Party of Germany was the governing party of the German Democratic Republic from its formation on 7 October 1949 until the elections of March 1990. The SED was a communist political party with a Marxist-Leninist ideology... |
||
| General Secretary of the Central Committee (until 1976 titled First Secretary of the Central Committee) |
|||||
| 2 |  |
Erich Honecker Erich Honecker Erich Honecker was a German communist politician who led the German Democratic Republic as General Secretary of the Socialist Unity Party from 1971 until 1989, serving as Head of State as well from Willi Stoph's relinquishment of that post in 1976.... |
3 May 1971 | 18 October 1989 | Socialist Unity Party of Germany Socialist Unity Party of Germany The Socialist Unity Party of Germany was the governing party of the German Democratic Republic from its formation on 7 October 1949 until the elections of March 1990. The SED was a communist political party with a Marxist-Leninist ideology... |
| 3 | Egon Krenz Egon Krenz Egon Krenz is a former politician from East Germany , and that country's last Communist leader... |
18 October 1989 | 3 December 1989 | Socialist Unity Party of Germany Socialist Unity Party of Germany The Socialist Unity Party of Germany was the governing party of the German Democratic Republic from its formation on 7 October 1949 until the elections of March 1990. The SED was a communist political party with a Marxist-Leninist ideology... |
|
Late in 1989, the SED transformed from a leninist cadre party into a democratically structured party, renaming itself first to Socialist Unity Party — Party of Democratic Socialism and later in the same year, to Party of Democratic Socialism in the process, and relinquished its monopoly on political power. Hence, the party's subsequent leaders were no more leaders of East Germany than the leaders of other parties.
Heads of state
| # | Picture | Name | Took office | Left office | Party |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| President |
|||||
| Johannes Dieckmann Johannes Dieckmann Johannes Dieckmann held the office of State President of East Germany on an acting basis in 1949 and again in 1960.... Acting President |
7 October 1949 | 11 October 1949 | Liberal Democratic Party of Germany Liberal Democratic Party of Germany The Liberal Democratic Party of Germany ) was a political party in East Germany. Like the other allied parties of the SED in the National Front it had 52 representatives in the Volkskammer.-Foundation:... |
||
| 1 | |
Wilhelm Pieck Wilhelm Pieck Friedrich Wilhelm Reinhold Pieck was a German politician and a Communist. In 1949, he became the first President of the German Democratic Republic, an office abolished upon his death. He was succeeded by Walter Ulbricht, who served as Chairman of the Council of States.-Biography:Pieck was born to... |
11 October 1949 | 7 September 1960 | Socialist Unity Party of Germany Socialist Unity Party of Germany The Socialist Unity Party of Germany was the governing party of the German Democratic Republic from its formation on 7 October 1949 until the elections of March 1990. The SED was a communist political party with a Marxist-Leninist ideology... |
| Johannes Dieckmann Johannes Dieckmann Johannes Dieckmann held the office of State President of East Germany on an acting basis in 1949 and again in 1960.... Acting President |
7 September 1960 | 12 September 1960 | Liberal Democratic Party of Germany Liberal Democratic Party of Germany The Liberal Democratic Party of Germany ) was a political party in East Germany. Like the other allied parties of the SED in the National Front it had 52 representatives in the Volkskammer.-Foundation:... |
||
| Chairman of the State Council |
|||||
| 1 | Walter Ulbricht Walter Ulbricht Walter Ulbricht was a German communist politician. As First Secretary of the Socialist Unity Party from 1950 to 1971 , he played a leading role in the creation of the Weimar-era Communist Party of Germany and later in the early development and... |
12 September 1960 | 1 August 1973 | Socialist Unity Party of Germany Socialist Unity Party of Germany The Socialist Unity Party of Germany was the governing party of the German Democratic Republic from its formation on 7 October 1949 until the elections of March 1990. The SED was a communist political party with a Marxist-Leninist ideology... |
|
| Friedrich Ebert junior Acting Chairman |
1 August 1973 | 3 October 1973 | Socialist Unity Party of Germany Socialist Unity Party of Germany The Socialist Unity Party of Germany was the governing party of the German Democratic Republic from its formation on 7 October 1949 until the elections of March 1990. The SED was a communist political party with a Marxist-Leninist ideology... |
||
| 2 | Willi Stoph Willi Stoph Willi Stoph was an East German politician. He served as Prime Minister of the German Democratic Republic from 1964 to 1973, and again from 1976 until 1989.-Biography:... |
3 October 1973 | 29 October 1976 | Socialist Unity Party of Germany Socialist Unity Party of Germany The Socialist Unity Party of Germany was the governing party of the German Democratic Republic from its formation on 7 October 1949 until the elections of March 1990. The SED was a communist political party with a Marxist-Leninist ideology... |
|
| 3 | |
Erich Honecker Erich Honecker Erich Honecker was a German communist politician who led the German Democratic Republic as General Secretary of the Socialist Unity Party from 1971 until 1989, serving as Head of State as well from Willi Stoph's relinquishment of that post in 1976.... |
29 October 1976 | 18 October 1989 | Socialist Unity Party of Germany Socialist Unity Party of Germany The Socialist Unity Party of Germany was the governing party of the German Democratic Republic from its formation on 7 October 1949 until the elections of March 1990. The SED was a communist political party with a Marxist-Leninist ideology... |
| 4 | Egon Krenz Egon Krenz Egon Krenz is a former politician from East Germany , and that country's last Communist leader... |
18 October 1989 | 6 December 1989 | Socialist Unity Party of Germany Socialist Unity Party of Germany The Socialist Unity Party of Germany was the governing party of the German Democratic Republic from its formation on 7 October 1949 until the elections of March 1990. The SED was a communist political party with a Marxist-Leninist ideology... |
|
| 5 | Manfred Gerlach Manfred Gerlach Manfred Gerlach was a German jurist and politician . He served as the acting Chairman of the Council of State and was thus head of state of East Germany from 6 December 1989 to 5 April 1990.-Early life:... |
6 December 1989 | 5 April 1990 | Liberal Democratic Party of Germany Liberal Democratic Party of Germany The Liberal Democratic Party of Germany ) was a political party in East Germany. Like the other allied parties of the SED in the National Front it had 52 representatives in the Volkskammer.-Foundation:... |
|
| President of the People's Chamber of the GDR |
|||||
| 1 |  |
Sabine Bergmann-Pohl Sabine Bergmann-Pohl Sabine Bergmann-Pohl née Schulz is a German politician. A member of the Christian Democratic Union of Germany , she was president of the People's Chamber of the German Democratic Republic from April to October 1990 and as such the last head of state... |
5 April 1990 | 2 October 1990 | Christian Democratic Union Christian Democratic Union (East Germany) The Christian Democratic Union of Germany ) was an East German political party founded in 1945. It was part of the National Front with the Socialist Unity Party of Germany until 1989.... |
Heads of government
| # | Picture | Name | Took office | Left office | Party |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chairman of the Council of Ministers |
|||||
| 1 | |
Otto Grotewohl Otto Grotewohl Otto Grotewohl was a German politician and prime minister of the German Democratic Republic from 1949 until his death. According to Roth , "He was a figurehead who led various economic commissions, lobbied the Soviets for increased aid, and conducted foreign policy tours in the attempt to break... |
12 October 1949 | 21 September 1964 | Socialist Unity Party of Germany Socialist Unity Party of Germany The Socialist Unity Party of Germany was the governing party of the German Democratic Republic from its formation on 7 October 1949 until the elections of March 1990. The SED was a communist political party with a Marxist-Leninist ideology... |
| 2 |  |
Willi Stoph Willi Stoph Willi Stoph was an East German politician. He served as Prime Minister of the German Democratic Republic from 1964 to 1973, and again from 1976 until 1989.-Biography:... |
21 September 1964 | 3 October 1973 | Socialist Unity Party of Germany Socialist Unity Party of Germany The Socialist Unity Party of Germany was the governing party of the German Democratic Republic from its formation on 7 October 1949 until the elections of March 1990. The SED was a communist political party with a Marxist-Leninist ideology... |
| 3 |  |
Horst Sindermann Horst Sindermann Horst Sindermann was a Communist German politician and one of the leaders of East Germany.-Early life:Sindermann was born in Dresden as the son of the Saxon Social Democratic politician Karl Sindermann... |
3 October 1973 | 29 October 1976 | Socialist Unity Party of Germany Socialist Unity Party of Germany The Socialist Unity Party of Germany was the governing party of the German Democratic Republic from its formation on 7 October 1949 until the elections of March 1990. The SED was a communist political party with a Marxist-Leninist ideology... |
| 4 | |
Willi Stoph Willi Stoph Willi Stoph was an East German politician. He served as Prime Minister of the German Democratic Republic from 1964 to 1973, and again from 1976 until 1989.-Biography:... |
29 October 1976 | 13 November 1989 | Socialist Unity Party of Germany Socialist Unity Party of Germany The Socialist Unity Party of Germany was the governing party of the German Democratic Republic from its formation on 7 October 1949 until the elections of March 1990. The SED was a communist political party with a Marxist-Leninist ideology... |
| 5 | Hans Modrow Hans Modrow Hans Modrow is a German politician, best known as the last communist premier of East Germany. He currently is the honorary Chairman of the Left Party.... |
13 November 1989 | 12 April 1990 | Socialist Unity Party of Germany Socialist Unity Party of Germany The Socialist Unity Party of Germany was the governing party of the German Democratic Republic from its formation on 7 October 1949 until the elections of March 1990. The SED was a communist political party with a Marxist-Leninist ideology... |
|
| 6 | Lothar de Maizière Lothar de Maizière Lothar de Maizière is a German christian democratic politician. In 1990, he served as the only democratically elected Prime Minister of the German Democratic Republic, and as such was the last leader of an independent East Germany.... |
12 April 1990 | 2 October 1990 | Christian Democratic Union Christian Democratic Union (East Germany) The Christian Democratic Union of Germany ) was an East German political party founded in 1945. It was part of the National Front with the Socialist Unity Party of Germany until 1989.... |
|
Heads of parliament
| # | Picture | Name | Took office | Left office | Party |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| President of the People's Chamber |
|||||
| 1 | Johannes Dieckmann Johannes Dieckmann Johannes Dieckmann held the office of State President of East Germany on an acting basis in 1949 and again in 1960.... |
7 October 1949 | 22 February 1969 | Liberal Democratic Party of Germany Liberal Democratic Party of Germany The Liberal Democratic Party of Germany ) was a political party in East Germany. Like the other allied parties of the SED in the National Front it had 52 representatives in the Volkskammer.-Foundation:... |
|
| 2 |  |
Gerald Götting Gerald Götting Gerald Götting is a former East German Christian Democratic politician.-Life:Götting was born in Nietleben, Province of Saxony, now part of Halle/Saale. During World War II, he served in the Reichsarbeitsdienst, an auxiliary support and supply organization, and later in the Wehrmacht... |
12 May 1969 | 29 October 1976 | Christian Democratic Union Christian Democratic Union (East Germany) The Christian Democratic Union of Germany ) was an East German political party founded in 1945. It was part of the National Front with the Socialist Unity Party of Germany until 1989.... |
| 3 | |
Horst Sindermann Horst Sindermann Horst Sindermann was a Communist German politician and one of the leaders of East Germany.-Early life:Sindermann was born in Dresden as the son of the Saxon Social Democratic politician Karl Sindermann... |
29 October 1976 | 13 November 1989 | Socialist Unity Party of Germany Socialist Unity Party of Germany The Socialist Unity Party of Germany was the governing party of the German Democratic Republic from its formation on 7 October 1949 until the elections of March 1990. The SED was a communist political party with a Marxist-Leninist ideology... |
| 4 |  |
Günther Maleuda Günther Maleuda Günther Maleuda is a former East German politician. From 13 November 1989 to March 1990 he was the President of the People's Chamber .-Early years:... |
13 November 1989 | 5 April 1990 | Democratic Farmers' Party of Germany Democratic Farmers' Party of Germany The Democratic Farmers' Party of Germany ) was an East German political party. The DBD was founded in 1948. It had 52 representatives in the Volkskammer, as part of the National Front. The DBD participated in all GDR cabinets... |
| 5 | |
Sabine Bergmann-Pohl Sabine Bergmann-Pohl Sabine Bergmann-Pohl née Schulz is a German politician. A member of the Christian Democratic Union of Germany , she was president of the People's Chamber of the German Democratic Republic from April to October 1990 and as such the last head of state... |
5 April 1990 | 2 October 1990 | Christian Democratic Union Christian Democratic Union (East Germany) The Christian Democratic Union of Germany ) was an East German political party founded in 1945. It was part of the National Front with the Socialist Unity Party of Germany until 1989.... |
Heads of the military
| # | Picture | Name | Took office | Left office | Party |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chairman of the National Defense Council |
|||||
| 1 | Walter Ulbricht Walter Ulbricht Walter Ulbricht was a German communist politician. As First Secretary of the Socialist Unity Party from 1950 to 1971 , he played a leading role in the creation of the Weimar-era Communist Party of Germany and later in the early development and... |
10 February 1960 | 3 May 1971 | Socialist Unity Party of Germany Socialist Unity Party of Germany The Socialist Unity Party of Germany was the governing party of the German Democratic Republic from its formation on 7 October 1949 until the elections of March 1990. The SED was a communist political party with a Marxist-Leninist ideology... |
|
| 2 | |
Erich Honecker Erich Honecker Erich Honecker was a German communist politician who led the German Democratic Republic as General Secretary of the Socialist Unity Party from 1971 until 1989, serving as Head of State as well from Willi Stoph's relinquishment of that post in 1976.... |
3 May 1971 | 18 October 1989 | Socialist Unity Party of Germany Socialist Unity Party of Germany The Socialist Unity Party of Germany was the governing party of the German Democratic Republic from its formation on 7 October 1949 until the elections of March 1990. The SED was a communist political party with a Marxist-Leninist ideology... |
| 3 | Egon Krenz Egon Krenz Egon Krenz is a former politician from East Germany , and that country's last Communist leader... |
18 October 1989 | 6 December 1989 | Socialist Unity Party of Germany Socialist Unity Party of Germany The Socialist Unity Party of Germany was the governing party of the German Democratic Republic from its formation on 7 October 1949 until the elections of March 1990. The SED was a communist political party with a Marxist-Leninist ideology... |
|
See also
- List of German monarchs
- President of GermanyPresident of GermanyThe President of the Federal Republic of Germany is the country's head of state. His official title in German is Bundespräsident . Germany has a parliamentary system of government and so the position of President is largely ceremonial...
- President of Germany (Weimar Republic)
- List of German presidents
- Chancellor of GermanyChancellor of GermanyThe Chancellor of Germany is, under the German 1949 constitution, the head of government of Germany...
- List of Chancellors of Germany