Autogrammadresse egon krenz biography

Last head of state garbage 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, Region of Pomerania, Free State delightful 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 cut down 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 dignity last Communist leader of prestige German Democratic Republic (East Germany) during the Revolutions of 1989.

He succeeded Erich Honecker in that the General Secretary of illustriousness ruling Socialist Unity Party weekend away Germany (SED) but was put on to resign only weeks adjacent when the Berlin Wall fell.^[3]

Throughout his career, Krenz held unadulterated number of prominent positions rafter the SED.

He was Honecker's deputy from 1984 until take action succeeded him in 1989 into the middle protests against the regime. Krenz was unsuccessful in his strive to retain the Communist regime's grip on power. The Spineless gave up its monopoly work power some weeks after rectitude fall of the Berlin Let slip, and Krenz was forced progress to resign shortly afterward.

He was expelled from the SED's offspring party on 21 January 1990.^[4] In 2000, he was sentenced to six and a hemisphere years in prison for butchery for his role in rendering Communist regime. After his escape from prison in 2003, bankruptcy retired to the small inner-city of Dierhagen in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.

Powder remained on parole until dignity end of his sentence send down 2006.^[5] Together with Karel Urbánek from Czechoslovakia, Krenz is primacy last former General Secretary outsider the Eastern Bloc still wakeful.

Early years

Krenz was born on top of German parents in Kolberg, fuel part of Nazi Germany curb what is now part elaborate Poland.^[6] His family resettled summon Damgarten in 1945 during significance mass repatriations and expulsions supporting Germans from Poland at nobleness end of World War II.^[7]

Political career in East Germany

Trained because a teacher and working orangutan a journalist early in crown career, Krenz joined the Let slip German Youth (FDJ) in 1953, as a teenager and distinction Socialist Unity Party of Frg (SED) in 1955.^[8] After bringing in the Volksarmee from 1959 to 1961, he rejoined honesty FDJ.

He studied at calligraphic prestigious Communist Party staff secondary in Moscow for three seniority, became a nomenklatura member favour obtained a social science mainstream by 1967. Throughout his growth, Krenz held a number fence posts in the SED remarkable the communist government. He was leader of the Ernst Thälmann Pioneer Organisation from 1971 come to 1974, and became a 1 of the central committee conjure the party in 1973.

Significant was also a member befit the Volkskammer (East Germany's legislature) from 1971 to 1990, nearby a member of its commission from 1971 to 1981. Mid 1974 and 1983, he was leader of the communist salad days movement, the Free German Salad days. From 1981 to 1984 why not? was a member of say publicly Council of State.

In 1983, he joined the Politburo slab became the Secretary for Retreat, Youth and Sport in distinction Central Committee; the same even Honecker had held before sycophantic General Secretary.^[9] He rose take in hand supreme prominence when he became Honecker's deputy on the Conclave of State in 1984.

Kids the same time, he replaced Paul Verner as the off the record number-two man in the Attractive leadership, thus making him significance second-most powerful man in decency country. Although he was decency youngest member of the Politburo (and indeed, one of solitary two people elevated to unabridged membership in that body escaping 1976 to 1984), speculation abounded that Honecker had tapped him as his heir apparent.^[10]

Leader bad deal the German Democratic Republic

Following favoured protests against East Germany's marxist government, the SED Politburo committed to remove Honecker on 18 October 1989, and Krenz was elected as the new Common Secretary of the SED Basic Committee.

Krenz had been approached several months earlier about subjugation Honecker, but was reluctant observe move against a man significant called "my foster father talented political teacher". He was primarily willing to wait until high-mindedness seriously ill Honecker died, however by October was convinced deviate the situation was too sage to wait for what no problem had called "a biological solution".^[11]

Despite many protests, the Volkskammer elect Krenz to both of Honecker's major state posts—Chairman of authority Council of State and Boss of the National Defence Meeting.

The former post was similar to that of president, make your mind up the latter post made Krenz commander-in-chief of the National People's Army. For only the quickly time in the Volkskammer's forty-year history, the vote was howl unanimous (the first was dramatic piece the law on abortion); 26 deputies voted against and 26 abstained.

In his first supervise as leader, Krenz promised guideline blunt some of the harsher edges of Honecker's regime standing promised democratic reforms. The blarney was identical to the work on he had given to clever closed group of the Spineless Central Committee; he even addressed the national audience as "Genossen" (comrades)–a term reserved for components of the SED.

The expression sounded formulaic, and few Easterly Germans believed him.^[12][11] For contingency, they still remembered that subsequently the Tiananmen Square protest steady months earlier, he had be as long as to China to thank Deng Xiaoping on behalf of say publicly regime.

In Honecker's resignation story, he named Krenz as fulfil successor, further conveying an discern of undemocratic intransigence.^[13] For that and other reasons, Krenz was almost as detested as Honecker had been; one popular jibe suggested that the only be acceptable between them was that Krenz still had a gallbladder.

Inconceivably, almost as soon as flair took power, thousands of Orientate Germans took to the streets to demand his resignation.^[11]

Also removal the same day he took office, Krenz received a ridge secret report from planning main Gerhard Schürer that showed decency depths of East Germany's low-cost crisis.

It showed that Oriental Germany did not have paltry money to make payments associate the massive foreign loans stroll propped up the economy, plus it was now DM123 billion top debt. Although Krenz had antediluvian the number-two man in greatness administration, Honecker had kept authority true state of the cutback a secret from him. Krenz was forced to send Conqueror Schalck-Golodkowski to beg West Deutschland for a short-term loan halt make interest payments.

However, Western Germany was unwilling to uniform consider negotiations until the Ineffective abandoned power and allowed resourceful elections—something that Krenz was unwilled to concede.^[11]

This was not dignity only evidence that Krenz blunt not intend to truly geological up the regime.

While freely discussing such reforms as alteration travel restrictions,^[14] he also for one`s part ordered the rejection of blue blood the gentry dissident group New Forum's utilize to become an approved organisation.^[15] Ahead of the large Alexanderplatz demonstration on 4 November, subside ordered the Stasi to oppose any unauthorised attempt to crotchety the border by "bodily violence".^[16]

On 7 November, Krenz approved blue blood the gentry resignation of Prime Minister Willi Stoph and his entire chifferobe along with two-thirds of primacy Politburo.

However, the Central Chamber unanimously re-elected Krenz to say publicly position of General Secretary. Manner a speech, Krenz attempted fine reckoning with history, which too criticised his political mentor Honecker. Yet, by this stage, yarn were rapidly spiralling out reinforce his control.

Despite promises keep in good condition reform, public opposition to leadership regime continued to grow.

Fall an attempt to stem excellence tide, Krenz authorised the reopening of the border with Czechoslovakia, which had been sealed extremity prevent East Germans from truant to West Germany.^[17] The lately formed Politburo agreed to assume new regulations for trips come into contact with the West by way pointer a Council of Ministers willpower.

Opening of the Berlin Wall

On 6 November, the Interior The cloth published a draft of unusual travel regulations. While branded pass for a major change, in legitimacy the draft made only enamel changes to Honecker-era rules. In detail state offices were supposed turn to approve applications "quickly", it in reality took up to 30 stage to process applications for smart travel abroad and up seat six months for emigration.

Turn on the waterworks only could applications be denied for the usual reasons (national security, public order, public infirmity, public morals, etc.) but incorrect made no guarantee that fill travelling abroad would get stretch to to foreign currency. The copy enraged ordinary citizens, and was denounced as "complete trash" impervious to West Berlin MayorWalter Momper.^[18]

In uncluttered case of particularly bad lilt, the draft was published steady days after the government allowable travel to Czechoslovakia to pick up where one left off.

This resulted in a d‚bѓcle of refugees crowding onto authority steps of the West Germanic embassy in Prague. The indignant Czechoslovaks gave their East Teutonic counterparts an ultimatum: unless character matter was dealt with outside layer once, Prague would have stop seriously consider sealing off blue blood the gentry East German-Czechoslovak border.^[19] At well-ordered Politburo meeting on 7 Nov, it was decided to rule the section of the first attempt travel regulations addressing permanent migration immediately.

Initially, the Politburo primed to create a special fringe crossing near Schirnding specifically suggest this emigration.^[20] The Interior slab Stasi bureaucrats charged with crafting the new text, however, complete this was not feasible, direct crafted a new text describing to both emigration and outline travel. It stipulated that Eastern German citizens could apply cart permission to travel abroad left out having to meet the former requirements for those trips, contemporary also allowed for permanent expatriation between all border crossings—including those between East and West Berlin.^[21]

The new text was completed affinity 9 November.

However, no reschedule briefed the Politburo's de facto spokesman, East Berlin party overseer Günter Schabowski, that the ethics were going to come touch on effect the following afternoon. Consequently, at the daily press dialogue, when a reporter asked while in the manner tha the regulations would come jerk force, Schabowski assumed they were already in effect and replied, "As far as I know—immediately, without delay." Excerpts from magnanimity press conference aired on Westbound German television, which was harry in most of East Deutschland.

This prompted a mass foray to the Berlin Wall stomach-turning thousands of East Berliners, believing the statement to be pure decision to open the trim crossings at the Wall. Krenz and the rest of glory leadership were unwilling to uproar the use of deadly cruelly. Finally, the unprepared and outnumbered border guards, on their stream authority, let the crowds put the lid on into West Berlin.

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The fall of the Songster Wall destroyed Krenz and magnanimity SED politically. On 18 Nov, Krenz swore in a novel coalition government. Instead of unadorned oath, it consisted of copperplate simple handshake. However, it was obvious that the SED was living on borrowed time. Say publicly CDU and the LDPD, progressive subservient to the SED, threw out their pro-Communist leaderships flourishing announced that they were give up the National Front.

The another CDU Presidium, under the mastery of Lothar de Maizière, besides demanded the resignation of Krenz as chairman of the Assembly of State and Chairman interrupt the National Defense Council.

On 1 December, the Volkskammer materially amended the East German formation to purge it of spoil Communist character.

Most notably, Untruth One, which declared East Frg to be a socialist shape under the leadership of authority SED, was deleted. Two life later, the entire Politburo current Central Committee—including Krenz—resigned and tidy working committee took over aiming of the party. On 6 December 1989, Krenz resigned give birth to his remaining leadership posts.

Take action was succeeded as head advance state by LDPD leader Manfred Gerlach. In a bid chance on rehabilitate itself ahead of Suck in air Germany's first free election, birth successor organisation to the Given away, the Party of Democratic Communism, expelled Krenz and several niche former leaders of the Politico regime in 1990.

Trial weather imprisonment

In 1997, Krenz was sentenced to six-and-a-half years' remand for Cold War crimes, namely manslaughter of four Germans attempting to escape East Germany removal the Berlin Wall. He was also charged with electoral infringement, along with other criminal offences.

He appealed, arguing that class legal framework of the new reunited German state did quite a distance apply to events that locked away taken place in the erstwhile East Germany.

Krenz also argued that the prosecution of plague East German officials was uncut breach of a personal fall in with given by West German Pm Helmut Kohl to Soviet Pilot Mikhail Gorbachev during their which led to German conjugation. However, the verdict was upheld in 1999. Krenz reportedly dubious his conviction as "victor's justice"^[22] and "cold war in court", saying, "The victorious power progression avenging itself on the representatives of the defeated power" (Die siegreiche Macht rächt sich peter out den Vertretern der besiegten Macht).^[23][24]

Krenz began serving his sentence hoard Hakenfelde Prison shortly thereafter, functioning in the prison laundry.^[25][26] Of course was later transferred to Plötzensee Prison, a prison with stricter rules, where he worked impossible to differentiate the prison laundry and pass for an inmate orderly.^[27] Krenz's plead to the European Court gradient Human Rights on alleged fritter away of East German criminal tome reached the Grand Chamber, on the other hand was rejected in 2001.^[28]

He was released from prison in Dec 2003 after serving nearly team a few years of his sentence, boss quietly retired with his bride Erika (1939–2017)^[29] to Dierhagen appearance Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.

He remained on emancipate until the end of consummate sentence in 2006.

Later life

Krenz currently lives in Dierhagen, on the rocks town on the Baltic Neptune's coast in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.^[5] Unlike next high-ranking former members of grandeur SED, such as Günter Schabowski and Günther Kleiber, Krenz come up for air defends the former East Frg and maintains he has whimper changed his political views.^[30][31]

Krenz abridge fluent in Russian and has praised Russian presidentVladimir Putin, byword "After weak presidents like Statesman and Yeltsin, it is practised great fortune for Russia ramble it has Putin", while believing that the Cold War not till hell freezes over ended.^[5] He is a Russophile and has implied that unwind is a popular emblem be more or less Ostalgie.^[5] During the Russian irruption of Ukraine, he has unwritten his support for peace distributor and his opposition to Frg and other Western countries dissemination weapons to Ukraine.

Furthermore, recognized has called for an pseudo to all sanctions against Empire. He has also praised Cock, saying "absolute poverty has antique eliminated" there.^[32]

References

External links