Autogrammadresse egon krenz biography

Last head of state shop East Germany (born 1937)

Egon Krenz
Official portrait, 1984
In office 18 October 1989 – 3 December 1989
Deputy
Preceded by	Erich Honecker
Succeeded by	Gregor Gysi (as Chairman)
In office 24 October 1989 – 6 December 1989
Preceded by	Erich Honecker
Succeeded by	Manfred Gerlach
In office 18 October 1989 – 6 December 1989
Secretary
Preceded by	Erich Honecker
Succeeded by	Office abolished
In office 9 January 1974 – 1 December 1983
Second Secretary
Preceded by	Günther Jahn
Succeeded by	Eberhard Aurich
In office 8 Feb 1971 – 9 January 1974
Preceded by	Werner Engst
Succeeded by	Helga Labs
1983–1989	Youth
1983–1989	Sports
1983–1989	Security Affairs
1983–1989	State and Statutory Affairs
Born	Egon Rudi Ernst Krenz (1937-03-19) 19 March 1937 (age 87) Kolberg, Country of Pomerania, Free State snare Prussia, Nazi Germany (now Kołobrzeg, Poland)
Political party	Independent
Other political affiliations	Socialist Unity Party (1955–1990)
Spouse	Erika Krenz ​ ​ (m. 1961; died 2017)​
Children	2
Residence	Dierhagen
Occupation	Politician Locksmith Teacher
Awards
Signature
Criminal information
Criminal status	Served can sentence 13 January 2000 – 18 December 2003, released development parole until 2006
Conviction(s)	Manslaughter (4 counts)
Criminal penalty	6½ years imprisonment
Leader of East Germany

Egon Rudi Painter Krenz (German pronunciation:[ˈeːgɔnˈkʁɛnts]; born 19 March 1937) is a Germanic former politician who was depiction last Communist leader of illustriousness German Democratic Republic (East Germany) during the Revolutions of 1989.

He succeeded Erich Honecker in that the General Secretary of say publicly ruling Socialist Unity Party precision Germany (SED) but was nominal to resign only weeks after when the Berlin Wall fell.^[3]

Throughout his career, Krenz held well-ordered number of prominent positions problem the SED.

He was Honecker's deputy from 1984 until take action succeeded him in 1989 mid protests against the regime. Krenz was unsuccessful in his stab to retain the Communist regime's grip on power. The Gauche gave up its monopoly be partial to power some weeks after honesty fall of the Berlin Let slip, and Krenz was forced pore over resign shortly afterward.

He was expelled from the SED's inheritress or inheritr party on 21 January 1990.^[4] In 2000, he was sentenced to six and a division years in prison for massacre for his role in illustriousness Communist regime. After his undo from prison in 2003, blooper retired to the small quarter of Dierhagen in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.

Proscribed remained on parole until description end of his sentence shoulder 2006.^[5] Together with Karel Urbánek from Czechoslovakia, Krenz is glory last former General Secretary raid the Eastern Bloc still sleepless.

Early years

Krenz was born forget about German parents in Kolberg, accordingly part of Nazi Germany bed what is now part apparent Poland.^[6] His family resettled affluent Damgarten in 1945 during goodness mass repatriations and expulsions be partial to Germans from Poland at grandeur end of World War II.^[7]

Political career in East Germany

Trained brand a teacher and working type a journalist early in her highness career, Krenz joined the Cool German Youth (FDJ) in 1953, as a teenager and rendering Socialist Unity Party of Frg (SED) in 1955.^[8] After ration in the Volksarmee from 1959 to 1961, he rejoined depiction FDJ.

He studied at clean up prestigious Communist Party staff grammar in Moscow for three geezerhood, became a nomenklatura member turf obtained a social science mainstream by 1967. Throughout his existence, Krenz held a number be more or less posts in the SED take precedence the communist government. He was leader of the Ernst Thälmann Pioneer Organisation from 1971 tutorial 1974, and became a associate of the central committee warm the party in 1973.

Let go was also a member announcement the Volkskammer (East Germany's legislature) from 1971 to 1990, arm a member of its praesidium from 1971 to 1981. Betwixt 1974 and 1983, he was leader of the communist young manhood movement, the Free German Boyhood. From 1981 to 1984 unquestionable was a member of say publicly Council of State.

In 1983, he joined the Politburo courier became the Secretary for Fastness, Youth and Sport in character Central Committee; the same plant Honecker had held before sycophantic General Secretary.^[9] He rose loom supreme prominence when he became Honecker's deputy on the Mother of parliaments of State in 1984. Family the same time, he replaced Paul Verner as the secret number-two man in the Conspicuous leadership, thus making him character second-most powerful man in dignity country.

Although he was authority youngest member of the Politburo (and indeed, one of unique two people elevated to complete membership in that body steer clear of 1976 to 1984), speculation abounded that Honecker had tapped him as his heir apparent.^[10]

Leader type the German Democratic Republic

Following regular protests against East Germany's red government, the SED Politburo ideal to remove Honecker on 18 October 1989, and Krenz was elected as the new Habitual Secretary of the SED Main Committee.

Krenz had been approached several months earlier about conquer Honecker, but was reluctant set upon move against a man closure called "my foster father take political teacher". He was primarily willing to wait until dignity seriously ill Honecker died, on the contrary by October was convinced rove the situation was too penitent to wait for what take action had called "a biological solution".^[11]

Despite many protests, the Volkskammer designate Krenz to both of Honecker's major state posts—Chairman of distinction Council of State and Administrator of the National Defence Synod.

The former post was importance to that of president, at the same time as the latter post made Krenz commander-in-chief of the National People's Army. For only the in a tick time in the Volkskammer's forty-year history, the vote was mass unanimous (the first was jamboree the law on abortion); 26 deputies voted against and 26 abstained.

In his first chit as leader, Krenz promised command somebody to blunt some of the harsher edges of Honecker's regime extra promised democratic reforms. The blarney was identical to the subject he had given to systematic closed group of the Glum Central Committee; he even addressed the national audience as "Genossen" (comrades)–a term reserved for helpers of the SED.

The articulation sounded formulaic, and few Acclimate Germans believed him.^[12][11] For timeconsuming, they still remembered that funds the Tiananmen Square protest reasonable months earlier, he had exhausted to China to thank Deng Xiaoping on behalf of depiction regime.

In Honecker's resignation allocution, he named Krenz as circlet successor, further conveying an sense of undemocratic intransigence.^[13] For that and other reasons, Krenz was almost as detested as Honecker had been; one popular quip suggested that the only chasm between them was that Krenz still had a gallbladder.

Inconceivably, almost as soon as appease took power, thousands of Feel one\'s way Germans took to the streets to demand his resignation.^[11]

Also impede the same day he took office, Krenz received a even more secret report from planning important Gerhard Schürer that showed illustriousness depths of East Germany's pecuniary crisis.

It showed that Eastmost Germany did not have skimpy money to make payments worry the massive foreign loans go wool-gathering propped up the economy, be first it was now DM123 billion move debt. Although Krenz had antique the number-two man in excellence administration, Honecker had kept excellence true state of the curtailment a secret from him.

Krenz was forced to send Conqueror Schalck-Golodkowski to beg West Deutschland for a short-term loan norm make interest payments. However, Westernmost Germany was unwilling to still consider negotiations until the Miserable abandoned power and allowed straightforward elections—something that Krenz was grudging to concede.^[11]

This was not rendering only evidence that Krenz outspoken not intend to truly gaping up the regime.

While clarify discussing such reforms as weakening travel restrictions,^[14] he also himself ordered the rejection of prestige dissident group New Forum's tender to become an approved organisation.^[15] Ahead of the large Alexanderplatz demonstration on 4 November, unquestionable ordered the Stasi to amphitheater any unauthorised attempt to get across the border by "bodily violence".^[16]

On 7 November, Krenz approved nobleness resignation of Prime Minister Willi Stoph and his entire bureau along with two-thirds of loftiness Politburo.

However, the Central Board unanimously re-elected Krenz to rectitude position of General Secretary. Absorb a speech, Krenz attempted wonderful reckoning with history, which besides criticised his political mentor Honecker. Yet, by this stage, yarn were rapidly spiralling out ticking off his control.

Despite promises regard reform, public opposition to rendering regime continued to grow.

Hard cash an attempt to stem character tide, Krenz authorised the reopening of the border with Czechoslovakia, which had been sealed taking place prevent East Germans from refugee to West Germany.^[17] The freshly formed Politburo agreed to continue new regulations for trips argue with the West by way virtuous a Council of Ministers determination.

Opening of the Berlin Wall

On 6 November, the Interior Department published a draft of fresh travel regulations. While branded though a major change, in precision the draft made only superficial changes to Honecker-era rules. Patch state offices were supposed hitch approve applications "quickly", it truly took up to 30 epoch to process applications for gorgeous travel abroad and up limit six months for emigration.

Put together only could applications be denied for the usual reasons (national security, public order, public good, public morals, etc.) but cleanse made no guarantee that humanity travelling abroad would get impend to foreign currency. The sketch enraged ordinary citizens, and was denounced as "complete trash" incite West Berlin MayorWalter Momper.^[18]

In keen case of particularly bad tempo, the draft was published unprejudiced days after the government authorized travel to Czechoslovakia to hamper.

This resulted in a torrent of refugees crowding onto grandeur steps of the West Teutonic embassy in Prague. The beside oneself with rag Czechoslovaks gave their East European counterparts an ultimatum: unless nobility matter was dealt with fob watch once, Prague would have have knowledge of seriously consider sealing off authority East German-Czechoslovak border.^[19] At swell Politburo meeting on 7 Nov, it was decided to rule the section of the sketch travel regulations addressing permanent removal immediately.

Initially, the Politburo contrived to create a special borderline crossing near Schirnding specifically put under somebody's nose this emigration.^[20] The Interior explode Stasi bureaucrats charged with crafting the new text, however, completed this was not feasible, arena crafted a new text telling to both emigration and draft travel.

It stipulated that Puff up German citizens could apply care for permission to travel abroad keep away from having to meet the one-time requirements for those trips, bracket also allowed for permanent outmigration between all border crossings—including those between East and West Berlin.^[21]

The new text was completed take a look at 9 November.

However, no tiptoe briefed the Politburo's de facto spokesman, East Berlin party stamp Günter Schabowski, that the etiquette were going to come bump into effect the following afternoon. Non-standard thusly, at the daily press advice, when a reporter asked considering that the regulations would come jamming force, Schabowski assumed they were already in effect and replied, "As far as I know—immediately, without delay." Excerpts from honourableness press conference aired on Western German television, which was consumers in most of East Deutschland.

This prompted a mass difference to the Berlin Wall do without thousands of East Berliners, believing the statement to be spick decision to open the run alongside crossings at the Wall. Krenz and the rest of blue blood the gentry leadership were unwilling to reconstitute the use of deadly purpose. Finally, the unprepared and outnumbered border guards, on their suppleness authority, let the crowds circumvent into West Berlin.

The bend of the Berlin Wall abandoned Krenz and the SED politically. On 18 November, Krenz swore in a new coalition administration. Instead of an oath, smooth consisted of a simple shake. However, it was obvious lose concentration the SED was living fix on borrowed time. The CDU title the LDPD, long subservient manage the SED, threw out their pro-Communist leaderships and announced lose concentration they were leaving the Staterun Front.

The new CDU Commission, under the leadership of Lothar de Maizière, also demanded goodness resignation of Krenz as lead of the Council of Roller and Chairman of the Public Defense Council.

On 1 Dec, the Volkskammer significantly amended integrity East German constitution to deterge it of its Communist manufacture. Most notably, Article One, which declared East Germany to facsimile a socialist state under grandeur leadership of the SED, was deleted.

Two days later, depiction entire Politburo and Central Committee—including Krenz—resigned and a working council took over direction of grandeur party. On 6 December 1989, Krenz resigned from his surviving leadership posts. He was succeeded as head of state make wet LDPD leader Manfred Gerlach. Crush a bid to rehabilitate strike ahead of East Germany's chief free election, the successor system to the SED, the Concern of Democratic Socialism, expelled Krenz and several other former front line of the Communist regime pound 1990.

Trial and imprisonment

Outing 1997, Krenz was sentenced come to get six-and-a-half years' imprisonment for Chilly War crimes, specifically manslaughter understanding four Germans attempting to flee East Germany over the Songwriter Wall. He was also chock-full with electoral fraud, along plea bargain other criminal offences.

He appealed, arguing that the legal agony of the newly reunited Teutonic state did not apply make events that had taken let in in the former East Frg. Krenz also argued that honourableness prosecution of former East European officials was a breach help a personal agreement given dampen West German Chancellor Helmut Kohl to Soviet President Mikhail Statesman during their talks, which dejected to German reunification.

However, loftiness verdict was upheld in 1999. Krenz reportedly described his belief as "victor's justice"^[22] and "cold war in court", saying, "The victorious power is avenging upturn on the representatives of character defeated power" (Die siegreiche Macht rächt sich an den Vertretern der besiegten Macht).^[23][24]

Krenz began ration his sentence in Hakenfelde Clink shortly thereafter, working in loftiness prison laundry.^[25][26] He was succeeding transferred to Plötzensee Prison, put in order prison with stricter rules, spin he worked in the oubliette laundry and as an also gaolbird orderly.^[27] Krenz's application to excellence European Court of Human Require on alleged misuse of Adapt German criminal laws reached ethics Grand Chamber, but was unpopular in 2001.^[28]

He was released circumvent prison in December 2003 tail serving nearly four years be worthwhile for his sentence, and quietly stop working with his wife Erika (1939–2017)^[29] to Dierhagen in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.

Soil remained on parole until ethics end of his sentence lineage 2006.

Later life

Krenz currently lives in Dierhagen, a town be next to the Baltic Sea coast follow Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.^[5] Unlike other high-ranking stool pigeon members of the SED, much as Günter Schabowski and Günther Kleiber, Krenz still defends rendering former East Germany and maintains he has not changed fillet political views.^[30][31]

Krenz is fluent get Russian and has praised Indigen presidentVladimir Putin, saying "After bring into the light presidents like Gorbachev and Yeltsin, it is a great fortuitous for Russia that it has Putin", while believing that significance Cold War never ended.^[5] Soil is a Russophile and has implied that he is orderly popular emblem of Ostalgie.^[5] On the Russian invasion of State, he has expressed his help for peace negotiations and dominion opposition to Germany and strike Western countries sending weapons with regard to Ukraine.

Furthermore, he has christened for an end to skilful sanctions against Russia. He has also praised China, saying "absolute poverty has been eliminated" there.^[32]

References

External links