In 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), the State Council (German: Staatsrat) was the collective head of state

Head of State

A head of state is the individual that serves as the chief public representative of a monarchy, republic, federation, commonwealth or other kind of state. His or her role generally includes legitimizing the state and exercising the political powers, functions, and duties granted to the head of...

 from 1960 to 1990.

Origins

When 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...

 was founded in 1949, its constitution in its formal structure resembled a "bourgeois", federalist democratic systems in order to portray the GDR as the legitimate continuation of the German nation state (in opposition to the supposedly separatist Federal Republic. One of the "bourgeois" features of the constitution (in Article 66) was the office of President, which was filled by 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...

, formerly the leader of the Communist party and now one of the two chairmen of the Socialist Unity Party.

However, East German government was controlled solely by the Socialist Unity Party (SED) and the country gradually transformed into a Socialist state based on the model of the Soviet Union

Soviet Union

The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....

. When President Pieck died on 7 September 1960, the head of state was reshaped along those lines. The constitution was amended on 12 September 1960 by the Law concerning the formation of the State Council, which created a collective body in place of the presidency. The same constitutional amendment also acknowledged the role of the recently formed National Defense Council (Nationaler Verteidigungsrat) in GDR defense policy. The State Council remained virtually unchanged in the constitutional changes of 1968 and 1974.

Election

The State Council was elected by the People's Chamber, the East German parliament. Its term was originally four years, but was later changed to five years.

The body consisted of a chairman, several deputy chairmen (usually six), further members (usually sixteen) and a secretary. Members were taken from the political parties and mass organizations affiliated to the SED-controlled National Front

National Front (East Germany)

The National Front of the German Democratic Republic was an alliance of political parties and mass organisations in East Germany...

. Occasionally an otherwise prominent citizen was also included. The position of chairmen was commonly occupied by the leader of the SED - short exceptions were the period of transformation from the leadership of Ulbricht to Honnecker 1971-1976 and the final phase of the body 1989/1990 -, whereas the leaders of the smaller parties served as deputy chairmen.

Functions and development

Functions of the State council included

• to call elections to the People's Chamber and other parliamentary bodies
• to appoint members to the National Defense Council
• to grant pardon
  Pardon
  Clemency means the forgiveness of a crime or the cancellation of the penalty associated with it. It is a general concept that encompasses several related procedures: pardoning, commutation, remission and reprieves...
  
  , amnesty
  Amnesty
  Amnesty is a legislative or executive act by which a state restores those who may have been guilty of an offense against it to the positions of innocent people, without changing the laws defining the offense. It includes more than pardon, in as much as it obliterates all legal remembrance of the...
  
   and reprieves
• to ratify international treaties
• to grant diplomatic accreditation
  Diplomatic accreditation
  Diplomatic accreditation is the process in which an ambassador is certified as one country's official representative to another.Accreditation occurs when a new ambassador presents "letters of credence", or credentials, to the host country's head of state...
  
  
• to grant decorations
  State decoration
  State decorations are orders, medals and other decorations granted by a state. International decorations are similar, but are not granted by a specific nation but rather an international organization....
  
   and awards
• to sponsor families with many children

Originally, the State Council also could issue statutory decrees and legallly-binding interpretations of constitution and laws. The diplomatic role of a head of state solely rested with chairman. Both the body's legislative powers and the chairman's special diplomatic status were formally abolished in constitutional changes of 1974.

Though the Council formally exercised its functions collectively, it was dominated by its chairman, especially if the chairman was also leader of the party. However, the body had some importance an advisory and decision-making body under 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...

. When Ulbricht lost power in the early 1970s, the body was reduced to a ceremonial role. The changes of 1974 reflected this development.

The secretariat of the State Council was of some practical importance as its approximately 200 employees since 1961 dealt with citizens' petitions. Authorities in government and economics were obliged to cooperate with the secretariat on this.

Abolition

When Egon Krenz

Egon Krenz

Egon Krenz is a former politician from East Germany , and that country's last Communist leader...

, Honecker's successor as leader of the SED, had failed in his bid to preserve his party's rule in East Germany, he resigned from his offices in party and government, including in role as chairman of the State Council. To mark the end of the SED's monopoly on power, LDPD

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:...

 politician 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:...

 was elected chairmen. However, the body ceased to be of political importance and merely oversaw the transition to the parliamentary elections of 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 new People's Chamber, the first that emerged from free elections, constituted on 5 April 1990. Among its first measures was an amendment to the constitution abolishing the State Council. As reunification

German reunification

German reunification was the process in 1990 in which the German Democratic Republic joined the Federal Republic of Germany , and when Berlin reunited into a single city, as provided by its then Grundgesetz constitution Article 23. The start of this process is commonly referred by Germans as die...

 with 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....

 was foreseeable, the role of head of state was simply transferred to the President of the People's Chamber.

List of members

Chairman	Political Party	Took Office	Left Office
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...	SED	12 September 1960	1 August 1973
State Council elected 12 September 1960 Deputy chairmen: 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...  (SED) 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....  (LDPD 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:... ) 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...  (CDU 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.... ) Heinrich Homann (NDPD National Democratic Party of Germany (East Germany) The National Democratic Party of Germany was an East German political party that acted as an organisation for former members of the NSDAP, the Wehrmacht and middle classes... ) 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:...  (LDPD) Hans Rietz (DBD 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... ) Members: Günter Christoph (SED), Erich Correns (Cultural Association), Friedrich Ebert (SED), Luise Ermisch (SED), Erich Grützner (FDGB Free German Trade Union Federation The Free German Trade Union Federation, in German Freier Deutscher Gewerkschaftsbund , was the trade union federation in East Germany. It was part of the National Front and had representatives in the Volkskammer.... ), Friedrich Kind (CDU), Bernard Koenen (SED), Otto Krauss (LDPD), Bruno Leuschner (SED), Karl Mewis (SED), Irmgard Neumann (DBD/DFD Democratic Women's League of Germany The Democratic Women's League of Germany was the mass women's organisation in East Germany.It was established in March 1947 and had the following official aims:*Removal of fascist ideas... ), Karl Polak (SED), Karl Rieke (SED), Hans Rodenberg (SED), Horst Schumann (FDJ Free German Youth The Free German Youth, also known as the FDJ , was the official socialist youth movement of the German Democratic Republic and the Socialist Unity Party of Germany.... ), Peter Adolf Thiessen Peter Adolf Thiessen Peter Adolf Thiessen was a German physical chemist. He voluntarily went to the Soviet Union at the close of World War II, and he received high Soviet decorations and the Stalin Prize for contributions to the Soviet atomic bomb project.-Education:Thiessen was born in Schweidnitz .From 1919 to...  (non-affiliated) Secretary: Otto Gotsche (SED)
State Council elected 13 November 1963 Deputy chairmen: 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...  (SED, died 21 September 1964) 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....  (LDPD 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:... ) 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...  (CDU 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.... ) Heinrich Homann (NDPD National Democratic Party of Germany (East Germany) The National Democratic Party of Germany was an East German political party that acted as an organisation for former members of the NSDAP, the Wehrmacht and middle classes... ) 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:...  (LDPD) Hans Rietz (DBD 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... ) Members: Erich Correns (Cultural Association), Friedrich Ebert (SED), Erich Grützner (SED), Lieselott Herforth (FDGB Free German Trade Union Federation The Free German Trade Union Federation, in German Freier Deutscher Gewerkschaftsbund , was the trade union federation in East Germany. It was part of the National Front and had representatives in the Volkskammer.... ), Friedrich Kind (CDU), Bernard Koenen (SED), Else Merke (DBD), Günter Mittag Günter Mittag Günter Mittag was a German member of parliament, secretary of the Socialist Unity Party of Germany , and a central figure in the German planned economy.-Biography:...  (SED), Christel Pappe (FDGB), Karl Rieke (SED), Hans Rodenberg (SED), Horst Schumann (FDJ Free German Youth The Free German Youth, also known as the FDJ , was the official socialist youth movement of the German Democratic Republic and the Socialist Unity Party of Germany.... ), Klaus Sorgenicht (SED), Christian Steinmüller (NDPD), 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:...   (SED), Paul Strauß (SED) Secretary: Otto Gotsche (SED)
State Council elected 13 Juli 1967 Deputy chairmen: 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:...  (SED) 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....  (LDPD 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:... , died 22 February 1969) 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...  (CDU 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.... ) Heinrich Homann (NDPD National Democratic Party of Germany (East Germany) The National Democratic Party of Germany was an East German political party that acted as an organisation for former members of the NSDAP, the Wehrmacht and middle classes... ) 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:...  (LDPD) Hans Rietz (DBD 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... ) Members: Erich Correns (Cultural Association), Friedrich Ebert (SED), Erich Grützner (SED), Brunhilde Hanke (SED), Lieselott Herforth (FDGB Free German Trade Union Federation The Free German Trade Union Federation, in German Freier Deutscher Gewerkschaftsbund , was the trade union federation in East Germany. It was part of the National Front and had representatives in the Volkskammer.... ), Friedrich Kind (CDU), Else Merke (DBD), Günter Mittag Günter Mittag Günter Mittag was a German member of parliament, secretary of the Socialist Unity Party of Germany , and a central figure in the German planned economy.-Biography:...  (SED), Anni Neumann (FDGB), Karl Rieke (SED), Hans Rodenberg (SED), Maria Schneider (FDGB), Horst Schumann (SED), Hans-Simon Schneider (NDPD), Klaus Sorgenicht (SED), Paul Strauß (SED) elected 1969: Bruno Thalmann (LDPD) Secretary: Otto Gotsche (SED)
State Council elected 26 November 1971 Deputy chairmen: Friedrich Ebert (SED, acting chairman 1 August-3 October 1973) 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:...  (SED) 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...  (CDU 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.... ) Heinrich Homann (NDPD National Democratic Party of Germany (East Germany) The National Democratic Party of Germany was an East German political party that acted as an organisation for former members of the NSDAP, the Wehrmacht and middle classes... ) 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:...  (LDPD 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:... ) Hans Rietz (DBD 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... ) Members: Kurt Anclam (LDPD), Friedrich Clermont (SED), Erich Correns (Cultural Association), Willi Grandetzka (DBD), Erich Grützner (SED), Brunhilde Hanke (SED), Lieselott Herforth (FDGB Free German Trade Union Federation The Free German Trade Union Federation, in German Freier Deutscher Gewerkschaftsbund , was the trade union federation in East Germany. It was part of the National Front and had representatives in the Volkskammer.... ), 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....  (SED), Friedrich Kind (CDU), Margarete Müller (SED), Hans Rodenberg (SED), Klaus Sorgenicht (SED), Paul Strauß (SED), Ilse Thiele (DFD Democratic Women's League of Germany The Democratic Women's League of Germany was the mass women's organisation in East Germany.It was established in March 1947 and had the following official aims:*Removal of fascist ideas... ), Paul Verner (SED), Rosel Walther (NDPD), Herbert Warnke (SED) Secretary: Heinz Eichler (SED)
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:...	SED	3 October 1973	29 October 1976
Composition see above.
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....	SED	29 October 1976	24 October 1989
State Council elected 29 Oktober 1976 Deputy chairmen: Friedrich Ebert (SED, died 4 December 1979) 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:...  (SED) 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...  (SED) 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...  (CDU 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.... ) Heinrich Homann (NDPD National Democratic Party of Germany (East Germany) The National Democratic Party of Germany was an East German political party that acted as an organisation for former members of the NSDAP, the Wehrmacht and middle classes... ) 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:...  (LDPD 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:... ) Ernst Goldenbaum Ernst Goldenbaum Ernst Goldenbaum was an East German politician.-Biography:Goldenbaum was born in Parchim. During World War I he served as a military and he participated in the German November Revolution...  (DBD 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... ) Members: Kurt Anclam (LDPD), Erich Correns (Cultural Association), Willi Grandetzka (DBD, died 1979), Kurt Hager Kurt Hager Kurt Hager , was an East German statesman, member of the Socialist Unity Party of Germany, was known as the Chief Ideologist of his Party and decided about many cultural and educational policies in East Germany.-Life:The son of a laborer, Hager passed the high school exam in 1931, after a visit of...  (SED), Brunhilde Hanke (SED), Lieselott Herforth (FDGB Free German Trade Union Federation The Free German Trade Union Federation, in German Freier Deutscher Gewerkschaftsbund , was the trade union federation in East Germany. It was part of the National Front and had representatives in the Volkskammer.... ), Friedrich Kind (CDU), Margarete Müller (SED), Albert Norden Albert Norden Albert Norden was a German communist politician. He went into exile during Nazi rule. He returned to Germany after the war, and became an important politician in the German Democratic Republic...  (SED), Bernhard Quandt Bernhard Quandt Bernhard Quandt was a German politician .He was Minister-President of Mecklenburg Bernhard Quandt (* 14 April 1903 in Rostock; † 6 August 1999 in Schwerin) was a German politician (SPD, KPD, SED).He was Minister-President of Mecklenburg Bernhard Quandt (* 14 April 1903 in Rostock; † 6 August 1999...  (SED), Klaus Sorgenicht (SED), Paul Strauß (SED), Ilse Thiele (DFD Democratic Women's League of Germany The Democratic Women's League of Germany was the mass women's organisation in East Germany.It was established in March 1947 and had the following official aims:*Removal of fascist ideas... ), Harry Tisch Harry Tisch thumb|200px|Harry Tisch in 1983.Harry Tisch was the head of the Free German Trade Union Federation between 1975 and 1989....  (SED), Paul Verner (SED), Rosel Walther (NDPD) elected 1979: Werner Seifert (DBD) Secretary: Heinz Eichler (SED)
State Council elected 25 June 1981 Deputy chairmen: 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:...  (SED) 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...  (SED) Paul Verner Paul Verner Paul Verner was a German communist politician. He joined the communist movement at a young age, and went into exile during Hitler's rule. Verner became a prominent political personality in the German Democratic Republic after the war.-Early life:His father was a metal worker while his mother...  (SED) 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...  (CDU 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.... ) Heinrich Homann (NDPD National Democratic Party of Germany (East Germany) The National Democratic Party of Germany was an East German political party that acted as an organisation for former members of the NSDAP, the Wehrmacht and middle classes... ) 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:...  (LDPD 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:... ) Ernst Goldenbaum Ernst Goldenbaum Ernst Goldenbaum was an East German politician.-Biography:Goldenbaum was born in Parchim. During World War I he served as a military and he participated in the German November Revolution...  (DBD 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... ) Members: Kurt Anclam (LDPD), Werner Felfe (SED), Kurt Hager Kurt Hager Kurt Hager , was an East German statesman, member of the Socialist Unity Party of Germany, was known as the Chief Ideologist of his Party and decided about many cultural and educational policies in East Germany.-Life:The son of a laborer, Hager passed the high school exam in 1931, after a visit of...  (SED), Brunhilde Hanke (SED), Friedrich Kind (CDU), Egon Krenz Egon Krenz Egon Krenz is a former politician from East Germany , and that country's last Communist leader...  (FDJ Free German Youth The Free German Youth, also known as the FDJ , was the official socialist youth movement of the German Democratic Republic and the Socialist Unity Party of Germany.... ), Günter Mittag Günter Mittag Günter Mittag was a German member of parliament, secretary of the Socialist Unity Party of Germany , and a central figure in the German planned economy.-Biography:...  (SED), Margarete Müller (SED), Alois Pisnik (SED), Bernhard Quandt Bernhard Quandt Bernhard Quandt was a German politician .He was Minister-President of Mecklenburg Bernhard Quandt (* 14 April 1903 in Rostock; † 6 August 1999 in Schwerin) was a German politician (SPD, KPD, SED).He was Minister-President of Mecklenburg Bernhard Quandt (* 14 April 1903 in Rostock; † 6 August 1999...  (SED), Werner Seifert (DBD), Klaus Sorgenicht (SED), Paul Strauß (SED), Ilse Thiele (DFD Democratic Women's League of Germany The Democratic Women's League of Germany was the mass women's organisation in East Germany.It was established in March 1947 and had the following official aims:*Removal of fascist ideas... ), Harry Tisch Harry Tisch thumb|200px|Harry Tisch in 1983.Harry Tisch was the head of the Free German Trade Union Federation between 1975 and 1989....  (SED), Johanna Töpfer Johanna Töpfer Johanna Töpfer, née Schrocko , was an East German politician and Deputy Director of the FDGB.- Biography :...  (FDGB Free German Trade Union Federation The Free German Trade Union Federation, in German Freier Deutscher Gewerkschaftsbund , was the trade union federation in East Germany. It was part of the National Front and had representatives in the Volkskammer.... ), Rosel Walther (NDPD), Secretary: Heinz Eichler  (SED)
State Council elected 16 June 1986 Deputy chairmen: 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:...  (SED, resigned 16 November 1989) 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...  (SED, resigned 16 November 1989) Egon Krenz Egon Krenz Egon Krenz is a former politician from East Germany , and that country's last Communist leader...  (SED, elected chairman 24 October 1989, resigned 6 December 1989) Günter Mittag Günter Mittag Günter Mittag was a German member of parliament, secretary of the Socialist Unity Party of Germany , and a central figure in the German planned economy.-Biography:...  (SED) 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...  (CDU 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.... , dismissed 7 November 1989) Heinrich Homann (NDPD National Democratic Party of Germany (East Germany) The National Democratic Party of Germany was an East German political party that acted as an organisation for former members of the NSDAP, the Wehrmacht and middle classes... ) 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:...  (LDPD 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:... , elected chairman 6 December 1989) 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:...  (DBD 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... ) Members: Eberhard Aurich (FDJ Free German Youth The Free German Youth, also known as the FDJ , was the official socialist youth movement of the German Democratic Republic and the Socialist Unity Party of Germany.... ), Fritz Dallmann (VdgB), Werner Felfe (SED, died 1988), Kurt Hager Kurt Hager Kurt Hager , was an East German statesman, member of the Socialist Unity Party of Germany, was known as the Chief Ideologist of his Party and decided about many cultural and educational policies in East Germany.-Life:The son of a laborer, Hager passed the high school exam in 1931, after a visit of...  (SED, resigned 16 November 1989), Brunhilde Hanke (SED), Leonhard Helmschrott (DBD), Friedrich Kind (CDU), Eveline Klett (DFD Democratic Women's League of Germany The Democratic Women's League of Germany was the mass women's organisation in East Germany.It was established in March 1947 and had the following official aims:*Removal of fascist ideas... ), Lothar Kolditz (Cultural Association), Peter Moreth (LDPD), Margarete Müller (SED), Alois Pisnik (SED), Bernhard Quandt Bernhard Quandt Bernhard Quandt was a German politician .He was Minister-President of Mecklenburg Bernhard Quandt (* 14 April 1903 in Rostock; † 6 August 1999 in Schwerin) was a German politician (SPD, KPD, SED).He was Minister-President of Mecklenburg Bernhard Quandt (* 14 April 1903 in Rostock; † 6 August 1999...  (SED), Klaus Sorgenicht (SED), Paul Strauß (SED), Ilse Thiele (DFD), Harry Tisch Harry Tisch thumb|200px|Harry Tisch in 1983.Harry Tisch was the head of the Free German Trade Union Federation between 1975 and 1989....  (SED, resigned 16 November 1989), Johanna Töpfer (FDGB Free German Trade Union Federation The Free German Trade Union Federation, in German Freier Deutscher Gewerkschaftsbund , was the trade union federation in East Germany. It was part of the National Front and had representatives in the Volkskammer.... ), Rosel Walther (NDPD), Monika Werner (SED) elected 1988: Peter Florin Peter Florin Peter Florin, born in Cologne on October 2, 1921, is a former East German politician and diplomat.-Early life:Peter's father, Wilhelm Florin, was a leading figure in the pre-war Communist Party of Germany....  (SED), Werner Krolikowski (SED, resigned 16 November 1989) elected 17 November 1989: Manfred Mühlmann (NDPD), Gerhard Lindner (LDPD) Secretary: Heinz Eichler  (SED, resigned 16 November 1989)
Egon Krenz Egon Krenz Egon Krenz is a former politician from East Germany , and that country's last Communist leader...	SED	24 October 1989	6 December 1989
Composition see above.
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:...	LDPD 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:...	6 December 1989	5 April 1990
Composition see above.