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The Honecker Era, 1971-1989
Ulbricht's successor in East Germany was Erich Honecker. Born in 1913
in Saarland, Honecker joined the Communist Party of Germany (Kommunistische
Partei Deutschlands--KPD) in 1929. As a full-time functionary of the party,
he continued his work in the underground movement after Hitler came to
power in 1933 and until arrested by the Nazis in 1935. Imprisoned until
the end of World War II, Honecker resumed his career in 1945 as a leading
KPD functionary, becoming Ulbricht's assistant on the latter's return
to Germany from the Soviet Union in 1945. From 1946 to 1955, Honecker
served as chairman of the youth organization, the Free German Youth (Freie
Deutsche Jugend--FDJ).
He became a member of the SED Politburo in 1958.
As secretary for security matters of the SED Central Committee, Honecker
was directly responsible for the building of the Berlin Wall in 1961.
When Ulbricht was removed from power in 1971, Honecker succeeded him in
his party functions and became chief of the SED. Honecker was head of
state of the GDR from 1976 until his resignation in 1989. After his fall
from power, Honecker found refuge in the Embassy of Chile in Moscow until
his extradition to Berlin in 1992, where he was brought to trial. He was
released from custody in 1993 for health reasons and went to Chile, where
he died in 1994. Although less rigid than Ulbricht, as evidenced by his
willingness to sign agreements with the West that opened the GDR somewhat
and made the lives of its citizens easier, Honecker remained a convinced
communist until his death.
- The Honecker Era, 1971-1989
- The
Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe
- The New East
German Constitution and the Question of Identity
- Relations Between
the Two Germanys
- The Peace Movement
and Internal Resistance
- The Last Days of East Germany
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