GetWiki

{{Short description|None}}{{unreferenced|date=November 2018}}{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2018}}{{Politics of East Germany|image=Flag of East Germany.svg}}These are lists of political office-holders in East Germany. The political leadership of East Germany was distributed between several offices. However, until the Volkskammer removed a section in the GDR's constitution guaranteeing their monopoly on political power on 1 December 1989, the Socialist Unity Party of Germany (SED) held ultimate power and authority over state and government. Thus, the head of the SED's Politburo of the Central Committee was the de facto leader of the country.

Overview

(File:Sozialistische Einheitspartei Deutschlands Logo.svg|thumb|right|190px|Logo of the Socialist Unity Party of Germany)The political leadership of East Germany was distributed between several offices. The Socialist Unity Party of Germany (SED) and its leader held ultimate power and authority over state and government. Prior to the proclamation of an East German state, the Soviets established the German Economic Commission (DWK) in 1948 as a de facto government in their occupation zone. Its chairman was Heinrich Rau.On 7 October 1949 an East German state, called the German Democratic Republic (GDR), was proclaimed and took over governmental functions from the DWK, largely with the same leading figures. Until 1 December 1989, the most important position in the GDR was that of the Leader of the Socialist Unity Party of Germany (SED), first titled chairman from 1946 to 1950, then as the First Secretary between 1950 and 1976 and finally titled General Secretary. The first article of the GDR's constitution contained a section granting the SED a monopoly on power, making the SED's leader the de facto leader of the country. He and the party Politburo, which he headed, set all policy, with both cabinet, state council and parliament acting as a rubber stamp implementing their decisions.The formal head of state was originally the President of the German Democratic Republic. After the death of incumbent Wilhelm Pieck in 1960, the office was replaced by a collective body as head of state, the State Council. The position of chairman was the de facto head of state and commonly held by the party leader.The government was headed by the Council of Ministers and its chairman, sometimes colloquially called Prime Minister. However, all the decisions were made by the party, with the cabinet implementing them. Indeed, the SED Central Committee had committees mirroring the cabinet departments.Other institutions included the Volkskammer, the legislature whose sessions were chaired by a President, 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 in late 1989, which saw the SED having to relinquish its monopoly on political power in favour of the Council of Ministers, the National Defense Council and the State Council being abolished. The remaining institutions were the People's Chamber, whose President became head of state by default for the remainder of the GDR's existence, and the Council of Ministers, both soon constituted on basis of the country's first and only democratic elections in March 1990. The GDR joined the Federal Republic of Germany on 3 October 1990{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; width:100%;"! scope="col" style="width:11em;" | Name{{small|(Lifespan)}}! scope="col" | Portrait! scope="col" style="width:10em;" | Period! scope="col" | Congress(es)! scope="col" style="width:11.5em;" | Political office! Premier ! President! scope="col" style="width:14.1em;" | Policies

Walter Ulbricht{{small|(1893–1973)}}	(File:Opvolger van Pieck, Walter Ulbricht, Bestanddeelnr 911-5926 (cropped).jpg|99x132px)	25 July 1950↓3 May 1971}}| 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th	Socialist Unity Party of Germany#General Secretaries of the Central Committee of the SED>First Secretary of the Socialist Unity Party{{efn	General Secretary until 1953}}State Council of East Germany#List of members>Chairman of the State Council{{small	Leadership of East Germany#Heads of the military>Chairman of the National Defense Council{{small|(1960–1971)}}| Otto GrotewohlWilli Stoph| Wilhelm Pieckhimself	Stalinism• Walter Ulbricht#Construction of a socialist society in GDR	{{small>(1950–54)}} • Landwirtschaftliche Produktionsgenossenschaft	{{small>(1952–61)}} • Ten Commandments of Socialist Morality and Ethics{{small	New Economic System{{small>(1963–68)}} • Economic System of Socialism {{small|(1968–70)}}

Ever since the merger of the KPD and SPD, Ulbricht was one of the leading figures in the Socialist Unity Party of Germany					, largely due to his good relationship with the Soviets. Originally led in parity by former SPD Central Committee Co-Chairman Otto Grotewohl and aging former KPD leader Wilhelm Pieck, Ulbricht was elected Socialist Unity Party of Germany#General Secretaries of the Central Committee of the SED>First Secretary of the Socialist Unity Party on 25 July 1950, solidifying his leading role of both country and party.

Erich Honecker{{small|(1912–1994)}}	(File:Bundesarchiv Bild 183-R1220-401, Erich Honecker.jpg|140x140px)	3 May 1971↓18 October 1989}}| 8th 9th 10th 11th	Socialist Unity Party of Germany#General Secretaries of the Central Committee of the SED>General Secretary of the Socialist Unity Party{{efn	First Secretary until 1976}}State Council of East Germany#List of members>Chairman of the State Council{{small	Leadership of East Germany#Heads of the military>Chairman of the National Defense Council| Willi StophHorst SindermannWilli Stoph| Walter UlbrichtWilli Stophhimself	• Erich Honecker#Leadership of East Germany	{{small>(1971–89)}}

The failure of Ulbricht's Economic System of Socialism and his bad relationship with new Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev opened an opportunity for Honecker, formerly Ulbricht's protégé and Secretary for Security and Cadre Affairs of the Central Committee Secretariat, to depose him. After finally receiving Brezhnev's approval, Honecker forced Ulbricht to resign as First Secretary in May 1971.

Egon Krenz{{small|(1937–)}}	(File:Bundesarchiv Bild 183-1984-0704-400, Egon Krenz.jpg|99x132px)	18 October 1989↓ 1 December 1989}}|—	Socialist Unity Party of Germany#General Secretaries of the Central Committee of the SED>General Secretary of the Socialist Unity PartyState Council of East Germany#List of members	Leadership of East Germany#Heads of the military>Chairman of the National Defense Council| Willi StophHans Modrow| himself

By the late 1980s, the GDRs economy was in crisis, with the unsustainable debt burden rising every year to finance the country's generous welfare system. By summer 1989, an opposition movement had formed that the ruling class was unable to deal with. In addition, Honecker's health was failing and he became increasingly oblivious to the situation in the country. On 17 October 1989, Egon Krenz, Honecker's protégé and youngest Socialist Unity Party of Germany#Politburo of the Central Committee					member, deposed Honecker in the Politburo. Honecker announced his resignation a day later in the Socialist Unity Party of Germany#Central Committee>Central Committee, citing his failing health, and proposed Krenz as his successor.

Hans Modrow{{small|(1928–2023)}}	(File:Bundesarchiv Bild 183-1989-1117-431, Hans Modrow, Dr..jpg|99x132px)	1 December 1989↓12 April 1990}}|—	Council of Ministers of East Germany#Chairmen of the Council of Ministers>Chairman of the Council of Ministers| himself	Egon KrenzManfred GerlachSabine Bergmann-Pohl {{small>(interim)}}	Round Table• Democratization

In November 1989, Willi Stoph resigned as Council of Ministers of East Germany#Chairmen of the Council of Ministers					. His replacement, former First Secretary of the Socialist Unity Party of Germany>Socialist Unity Partyin Bezirk Dresden Modrow, stressed his independence towards the SED's leadership upon his election by the Volkskammer on 13 November. After the Volkskammer removed the section in the GDR's constitution guaranteeing their monopoly on political power on 1 December 1989, Modrow became the de facto leader of the GDR, Krenz resigning as head of state a few days later.

Lothar de Maizière{{small|(1940–)}}	(File:De Maizière (Portrait).jpg|99x132px)	12 April 1990↓2 October 1990|—	Council of Ministers of East Germany#Chairmen of the Council of Ministers>Minister-President| himself	Sabine Bergmann-Pohl {{small>(interim)}}	German reunification• Privatization

The 1990 East German general election					, the first and only free elections of the GDR, saw a victory for the Alliance for Germany electoral coalition and chiefly the Christian Democratic Union (East Germany)>Christian Democratic Union, led by de Maizière. The Volkskammer elected him as Minister-President on 12 April 1990.

Leaders of the Socialist Unity Party of Germany (SED)

{{Officeholder table start| showorder = y| showimage = y| image_title = Portrait| officeholder_title = Name| showtitle = n| showtermstart = y| showtermend = y| showtermlenght = y| showdefencebranch = n| showparty = y| showref = n}}align="center"! colspan=7| Joint Chairmen of the Socialist Unity Party{{small|}}{{Officeholder table| order2 = .| image = Fotothek df ps 0000064 Bildnisse - Porträts ^ Politiker.jpg| officeholder = Wilhelm Pieck| officeholder_sort = Pieck, Wilhelm| officeholder_note = | born_year = 1876| died_year = 1960| term_start = 22 April 1946| term_end = 25 July 1950

1946	22	07|25}}| alt_party = Socialist Unity Party of Germany}}{{Officeholder table| order2 = .| image = Otto Grotewohl Anefo.jpg| officeholder = Otto Grotewohl| officeholder_sort = Grotewohl, Otto| officeholder_note = | born_year = 1894| died_year = 1964| term_start = 22 April 1946| term_end = 25 July 1950	1946	22	07|25}}| alt_party = Socialist Unity Party of Germany}}

align="center"! colspan=7| General Secretary of the Central Committee{{smaller|(First Secretary of the Central Committee 1953–1976)}}{{small|}}{{Officeholder table| order2 = 1| image = Bundesarchiv Bild 183-J1231-1002-002 Walter Ulbricht, Neujahrsansprache (cropped colour).jpg| officeholder = Walter Ulbricht| officeholder_sort = Ulbricht, Walter| officeholder_note = | born_year = 1893| died_year = 1973| term_start = 25 July 1950| term_end = 3 May 1971

1950	25	05|03}}| alt_party = Socialist Unity Party of Germany}}{{Officeholder table| order2 = 2| image = Bundesarchiv Bild 183-R1220-401, Erich Honecker.jpg| officeholder = Erich Honecker| officeholder_sort = Honecker, Erich| officeholder_note = | born_year = 1912| died_year = 1994| term_start = 3 May 1971| term_end = 18 October 1989	1971	03	10|18}}| alt_party = Socialist Unity Party of Germany}}{{Officeholder table| order2 = 3| image = Bundesarchiv Bild 183-1984-0704-400, Egon Krenz.jpg| officeholder = Egon Krenz| officeholder_sort = Krenz, Egon| officeholder_note = | born_year = 1937| died_year = | term_start = 18 October 1989| term_end = 6 December 1989	1989	18	12|06}}| alt_party = Socialist Unity Party of Germany}}

align="center"! colspan=7| (Honorary) Chairman of the Central Committee{{small|}}{{Officeholder table| order2 = 1| image = Fotothek df pk 0000079 077.jpg| officeholder = Walter Ulbricht| officeholder_sort = Ulbricht, Walter| officeholder_note = | born_year = 1893| died_year = 1973| died = y| term_start = 3 May 1971| term_end = 1 August 1973

1971	03	08|01}}| alt_party = Socialist Unity Party of Germany}}{{Officeholder table end}}On 1 December 1989, the People's Chamber removed the section of the East German Constitution granting the SED a monopoly of power—thus ending Communist rule in East Germany. Before the month was out, the SED transformed from a Leninist cadre party into a democratic socialist party, renaming itself first to Socialist Unity Party — Party of Democratic Socialism and later in the same year, to Party of Democratic Socialism (PDS). Hence, the party's subsequent leaders were no more leaders of East Germany than the leaders of other parties. Heads of state {{Officeholder table start| showorder = y| showimage = y| image_title = Portrait| officeholder_title = Name| showtitle = n| showtermstart = y| showtermend = y| showtermlenght = y| showdefencebranch = n| showparty = y| showref = n}}

align="center"! colspan=7| President of the Republic{{small|}}{{Officeholder table| order2 = –| image = Bundesarchiv Bild 183-F0711-0037-001, Johannes Dieckmann.jpg| officeholder = Johannes Dieckmann| officeholder_sort = Dieckmann, Johannes| officeholder_note = | born_year = 1893| died_year = 1969| term_start = 7 October 1949| term_end = 11 October 1949

1949	07	10|11}}| acting = y| alt_party = Liberal Democratic Party of Germany}}{{Officeholder table| order2 = 1| image = Fotothek df roe-neg 0002793 004 Portrait Wilhelm Piecks im Publikum der Bachfeier.jpg| officeholder = Wilhelm Pieck| officeholder_sort = Pieck, Wilhelm| officeholder_note = | born_year = 1876| died_year = 1960| died = y| term_start = 11 October 1949| term_end = 7 September 1960	1949	11	09|07}}| alt_party = Socialist Unity Party of Germany}}{{Officeholder table| order2 = –| image = Bundesarchiv Bild 183-F0711-0037-001, Johannes Dieckmann.jpg| officeholder = Johannes Dieckmann| officeholder_sort = Dieckmann, Johannes| officeholder_note = | born_year = 1893| died_year = 1969| term_start = 7 September 1960| term_end = 12 September 1960	1960	07	09|12}}| acting = y| alt_party = Liberal Democratic Party of Germany}}

align="center"! colspan=7| Chairman of the State Council{{small|}}{{Officeholder table| order2 = 1| image = Bundesarchiv Bild 183-J1231-1002-002 Walter Ulbricht, Neujahrsansprache (cropped colour).jpg| officeholder = Walter Ulbricht| officeholder_sort = Ulbricht, Walter| officeholder_note = | born_year = 1893| died_year = 1973| died = y| term_start = 12 September 1960| term_end = 1 August 1973

1960	12	08|01}}| alt_party = Socialist Unity Party of Germany}}{{Officeholder table| order2 = –| image = Bundesarchiv Bild 183-83285-0029, Friedrich Ebert.jpg| officeholder = Friedrich Ebert Jr.| officeholder_sort = Ebert Jr., Friedrich| officeholder_note = | born_year = 1894| died_year = 1979| term_start = 1 August 1973| term_end = 3 October 1973	1973	01	10|03}}| acting = y| alt_party = Socialist Unity Party of Germany}}{{Officeholder table| order2 = 2| image = Bundesarchiv Bild 183-R0430-0305A, Willi Stoph.jpg| officeholder = Willi Stoph| officeholder_sort = Stoph, Willi| officeholder_note = | born_year = 1914| died_year = 1999| term_start = 3 October 1973| term_end = 29 October 1976	1973	03	10|29}}| alt_party = Socialist Unity Party of Germany}}{{Officeholder table| order2 = 3| image = Bundesarchiv Bild 183-R1220-401, Erich Honecker.jpg| officeholder = Erich Honecker| officeholder_sort = Honecker, Erich| officeholder_note = | born_year = 1912| died_year = 1994| term_start = 29 October 1976| term_end = 24 October 1989	1976	29	10|24}}| alt_party = Socialist Unity Party of Germany}}{{Officeholder table| order2 = 4| image = Bundesarchiv Bild 183-1984-0704-400, Egon Krenz.jpg| officeholder = Egon Krenz| officeholder_sort = Krenz, Egon| officeholder_note = | born_year = 1937| died_year = | term_start = 24 October 1989| term_end = 6 December 1989	1989	24	12|06}}| alt_party = Socialist Unity Party of Germany}}{{Officeholder table| order2 = 5| image = Bundesarchiv Bild 183-1986-0617-034, Prof. Dr. Manfred Gerlach.jpg| officeholder = Manfred Gerlach| officeholder_sort = Gerlach, Manfred| officeholder_note = | born_year = 1928| died_year = 2011| term_start = 6 December 1989| term_end = 5 April 1990	1989	06	04|05}}| alt_party = Liberal Democratic Party of Germany}}

align="center"! colspan=7| President of the People's Chamber{{efn|On 5 April 1990, the State Council was abolished and its responsibilities were transferred to the Presidium of the People's Chamber, with the President of the latter body serving as interim Head of state.}}{{small|}}{{Officeholder table| order2 = –| image = Sabine Bergmann-Pohl.jpg| officeholder = Sabine Bergmann-Pohl| officeholder_sort = Bergmann-Pohl, Sabine| officeholder_note = | born_year = 1946| died_year = | term_start = 5 April 1990| term_end = 2 October 1990

1990	05	10|02}}| interim = y| alt_party = Christian Democratic Union (East Germany)}}{{Officeholder table end}} Heads of government {{Officeholder table start| showorder = y| showimage = y| image_title = Portrait| officeholder_title = Name| showtitle = n| showtermstart = y| showtermend = y| showtermlenght = y| showdefencebranch = n| showparty = y| showref = n}}

align="center"! colspan=7| Minister-President{{small|}}{{Officeholder table| order2 = 1| image = Otto Grotewohl Anefo.jpg| officeholder = Otto Grotewohl| officeholder_sort = Grotewohl, Otto| officeholder_note = | born_year = 1894| died_year = 1964| died = n| term_start = 12 October 1949

(office renamed)}}	1949	12	12|8}}| alt_party = Socialist Unity Party of Germany}}! colspan=7| Chairman of the Council of Ministers{{small|}}{{Officeholder table| order2 = 1| image = Otto Grotewohl Anefo.jpg| officeholder = Otto Grotewohl| officeholder_sort = Grotewohl, Otto| officeholder_note = | born_year = 1894| died_year = 1964| died = y| term_start = 8 December 1958| term_end = 21 September 1964	1958	8	09|21}}| alt_party = Socialist Unity Party of Germany}}{{Officeholder table| order2 = 2| image = Bundesarchiv Bild 183-B0621-0002-001, Willi Stoph (cropped).jpg| officeholder = Willi Stoph| officeholder_sort = Stoph, Willi| officeholder_note = | born_year = 1914| died_year = 1999| term_start = 21 September 1964| term_end = 3 October 1973	1964	21	10|03}}| alt_party = Socialist Unity Party of Germany}}{{Officeholder table| order2 = 3| image = Bundesarchiv Bild 183-M1017-015, Horst Sindermann.jpg| officeholder = Horst Sindermann| officeholder_sort = Sindermann, Horst| officeholder_note = | born_year = 1915| died_year = 1990| term_start = 3 October 1973| term_end = 29 October 1976	1973	03	10|29}}| alt_party = Socialist Unity Party of Germany}}{{Officeholder table| order2 = (2)| image = Bundesarchiv Bild 183-1987-0306-112, Willi Stoph.jpg| officeholder = Willi Stoph| officeholder_sort = Stoph, Willi| officeholder_note = | born_year = 1914| died_year = 1999| term_start = 29 October 1976| term_end = 13 November 1989	1976	29	11|13}}| alt_party = Socialist Unity Party of Germany}}{{Officeholder table| order2 = 4| image = Bundesarchiv Bild 183-1989-1117-431, Hans Modrow, Dr..jpg| officeholder = Hans Modrow| officeholder_sort = Modrow, Hans| officeholder_note = | born_year = 1928| died_year = 2023| term_start = 13 November 1989| term_end = 12 April 1990	1989	13	04|12}}| alt_party = Socialist Unity Party of Germany| alt_party2 = Party of Democratic Socialism (Germany)}}! colspan=7| Minister-President{{small|}}{{Officeholder table| order2 = 5| image = De Maizière (Portrait).jpg| officeholder = Lothar de Maizière| officeholder_sort = de Maizière, Lothar| officeholder_note = | born_year = 1940| died_year = | term_start = 12 April 1990| term_end = 2 October 1990	1990	12	10|02}}| alt_party = Christian Democratic Union (East Germany)}}{{Officeholder table end}} Heads of parliament {{Officeholder table start| showorder = y| showimage = y| image_title = Portrait| officeholder_title = Name| showtitle = n| showtermstart = y| showtermend = y| showtermlenght = y| showdefencebranch = n| showparty = y| showref = n}}

align="center"! colspan=7| President of the People's Chamber{{small|}}{{Officeholder table| order2 = 1| image = Bundesarchiv Bild 183-F0711-0037-001, Johannes Dieckmann.jpg| officeholder = Johannes Dieckmann| officeholder_sort = Dieckmann, Johannes| officeholder_note = | born_year = 1893| died_year = 1969| died = y| term_start = 7 October 1949| term_end = 22 February 1969

1949	07	02|22}}| alt_party = Liberal Democratic Party of Germany}}{{Officeholder table| order2 = 2| image = Bundesarchiv Bild 183-1986-0617-033, Gerald Götting.jpg| officeholder = Gerald Götting| officeholder_sort = Götting, Gerald| officeholder_note = | born_year = 1923| died_year = 2015| term_start = 12 May 1969| term_end = 29 October 1976	1969	12	10|29}}| alt_party = Christian Democratic Union (East Germany)}}{{Officeholder table| order2 = 3| image = Bundesarchiv Bild 183-M1017-015, Horst Sindermann.jpg| officeholder = Horst Sindermann| officeholder_sort = Sindermann, Horst| officeholder_note = | born_year = 1915| died_year = 1990| term_start = 29 October 1976| term_end = 13 November 1989	1976	29	11|13}}| alt_party = Socialist Unity Party of Germany}}{{Officeholder table| order2 = 4| image = Bundesarchiv Bild 183-1990-0628-010, Berlin, Volkskammer, Karin Bencze, Günther Maleuda (cropped) (cropped).jpg| officeholder = Günther Maleuda| officeholder_sort = Maleuda, Günther| officeholder_note = | born_year = 1931| died_year = 2012| term_start = 13 November 1989| term_end = 5 April 1990	1989	13	04|05}}| alt_party = Democratic Farmers' Party of Germany}}{{Officeholder table| order2 = 5| image = Sabine Bergmann-Pohl.jpg| officeholder = Sabine Bergmann-Pohl| officeholder_sort = Bergmann-Pohl, Sabine| officeholder_note = | born_year = 1946| died_year = | term_start = 5 April 1990| term_end = 2 October 1990	1990	05	10|02}}| alt_party = Christian Democratic Union (East Germany)}}{{Officeholder table end}} Heads of the military (File:Flag of the Chairman of the National Defence Council of East Germany.svg|thumb|right|190px|Standard of the chairman of the National Defence Council){{Officeholder table start| showorder = y| showimage = y| image_title = Portrait	}}| showtitle = n| showtermstart = y| showtermend = y| showtermlenght = y| showdefencebranch = n| showparty = y| showref = n}}{{Officeholder table| order2 = 1| image = Fotothek df pk 0000079 077.jpg| officeholder = Walter Ulbricht| officeholder_sort = Ulbricht, Walter| officeholder_note = | born_year = 1893| died_year = 1973| term_start = 10 February 1960| term_end = 3 May 1971	1960	10	05|03}}| alt_party = Socialist Unity Party of Germany}}{{Officeholder table| order2 = 2| image = Bundesarchiv Bild 183-R1220-401, Erich Honecker.jpg| officeholder = Erich Honecker| officeholder_sort = Honecker, Erich| officeholder_note = | born_year = 1912| died_year = 1994| term_start = 3 May 1971| term_end = 18 October 1989	1971	03	10|18}}| alt_party = Socialist Unity Party of Germany}}{{Officeholder table| order2 = 3| image = Bundesarchiv Bild 183-1984-0704-400, Egon Krenz.jpg| officeholder = Egon Krenz| officeholder_sort = Krenz, Egon| officeholder_note = | born_year = 1937| died_year = | term_start = 18 October 1989| term_end = 6 December 1989	1989	18	12|06}}| alt_party = Socialist Unity Party of Germany}}{{Officeholder table end}} See also List of German monarchs President of Germany President of Germany (1919–1945) List of presidents of Germany Chancellor of Germany List of chancellors of Germany Notes {{notelist}} References {{reflist}} External links World Statesmen{{spaced ndash}}East Germany {{reflist|group=note}}{{General Secretaries of the SED}}{{Heads of state of the German Democratic Republic}}{{Heads of government of the German Democratic Republic}}{{Volkskammer Presidents}}{{Heads of state and government of Europe}}{{Authority control}}