Erich Honecker

Erich Honecker (25 August 1912–29 May 1994) was a German Communist politician who led East Germany from 1971 until 1989. After German re-unification, he first fled to the Soviet Union but was extradited by the new democratic Russian government to Germany, where he was imprisoned and tried for high treason and crimes committed during the Cold War (specifically the deaths of 192 Germans who tried to escape the Honecker regime). However, as he was dying of cancer, he was released from prison. He died in exile in Chile shortly after.

Leadership of East Germany

In 1961 Honecker was in charge of the building of the Berlin Wall. In 1971, he initiated a political power struggle that led, with Soviet support, to himself becoming the new leader, replacing Walter Ulbricht as General Secretary of the Socialist Unity Party. In 1976 he also became Chairman of the Council of State (Staatsratsvorsitzender). In 1987, Honecker became the first East German leader to visit West Germany since World War II.

Related Topics:
Berlin Wall - Walter Ulbricht - West Germany

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Despite Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev's efforts to liberalize communism in the late 1980s, Honecker remained opposed to any political or economic reform. However, as reform spread throughout the Eastern bloc, mass demonstrations against the East German government erupted, most prominently the 1989 Monday demonstrations in Leipzig. Faced with civil unrest, Honecker's politburo comrades colluded to replace him. He was forced to resign on October 18, 1989, and was replaced by his short-lived successor Egon Krenz.

Related Topics:
Mikhail Gorbachev - Eastern bloc - Monday demonstrations - Leipzig - October 18 - 1989 - Egon Krenz

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Depictions of Erich Honecker

As in many communist countries, the image of the leader was everpresent (the main photo on this page is an example) in public offices, in newspapers, and on television news. The record for most number of photographs of Erich Honecker in the official SED newspaper, Neues Deutschland, was 41, in the edition of 16 March 1987, on the occasion of Honecker's opening of the Leipzig Messe, as he was shown with different politicians and exhibitors.

Related Topics:
Neues Deutschland - 16 March - 1987 - Leipzig Messe

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