Erich Mielke

German politician (1907-2000)

Erich Fritz Emil Mielke (German: [ˈeːʁɪç ˈmiːlkə]; 28 December 1907 ; Wedding, Berlin, Brandenburg, Prussia, Imperial Germany – 21 May 2000 ; Berlin, Germany) was a East German communist. He was head of the East German Ministry for State Security (Ministerium für Staatsicherheit – MfS), better known as the Stasi, from 1957 appointed by Walter Ulbricht who was leader from 1950-1971 until shortly after the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 lead by Erich Honecker .

Erich Mielke
Mielke in 1976 age 69
Minister for State Security
East Germany
In office
11 December 1957 – 18 November 1989
PresidentWilhelm Pieck (1957–1960)
Walter Ulbricht (1960–1973)
Friedrich Ebert (1973)
Willi Stoph (1973–1976)
Erich Honecker (1976–1989)
Prime MinisterOtto Grotewohl (1957–1964)
Willi Stoph (1964–1973)
Horst Sindermann (1973–1976)
Willi Stoph (1976–1989)
Hans Modrow (1989)
LieutenantWalter Ulbricht (1957–1971)
Erich Honecker (1971–1989)
Preceded byErnst Wollweber
Succeeded byWolfgang Schwanitz
Personal details
Born
Erich Fritz Emil Mielke

(1907-12-28)28 December 1907
Wedding, Berlin, Brandenburg, Prussia, German Empire
Died21 May 2000(2000-05-21) (aged 92)
Berlin, Germany
Political partySocialist Unity Party of Germany
Spouse(s)Gertrud Mueller
ChildrenFrank
Ingrid
OccupationCommunist official, Stasi leader, Executioner, and Chairman of SV Dynamo
Military service
Allegiance East Germany
Branch/service National People's Army
RankArmeegeneral
Battles/warsSpanish Civil War (1936-1939), World War II (1939-1945) (as a Nazi)
Criminal statusParoled in 1995 due to poor health
Conviction(s)Double homicide, attempted murder
Criminal penalty6 years imprisonment

Mielke died on 21 May 2000 at a nursing home in Berlin at the age of 92 just almost 11 year’s after the Fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 .[1]

References

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  1. Obituary: "Erich Mielke, Powerful Head of Stasi, East Germany's Vast Spy Network, Dies at 92" Binder, David, The New York Times, 26 May 2000