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 | |
President | Wilhelm Pieck (1957–1960) Walter Ulbricht (1960–1973) Friedrich Ebert (1973) Willi Stoph (1973–1976) Erich Honecker (1976–1989) |
Prime Minister | Otto Grotewohl (1957–1964) Willi Stoph (1964–1973) Horst Sindermann (1973–1976) Willi Stoph (1976–1989) Hans Modrow (1989) |
Lieutenant | Walter Ulbricht (1957–1971) Erich Honecker (1971–1989) |
Preceded by | Ernst Wollweber |
Succeeded by | Wolfgang Schwanitz |
Personal details | |
Born | Erich Fritz Emil Mielke 28 December 1907 Wedding, Berlin, Brandenburg, Prussia, German Empire |
Died | 21 May 2000 Berlin, Germany | (aged 92)
Political party | Socialist Unity Party of Germany |
Spouse(s) | Gertrud Mueller |
Children | Frank Ingrid |
Occupation | Communist official, Stasi leader, Executioner, and Chairman of SV Dynamo |
Military service | |
Allegiance | ![]() |
Branch/service | ![]() |
Rank | Armeegeneral |
Battles/wars | Spanish Civil War (1936-1939), World War II (1939-1945) (as a Nazi) |
Criminal status | Paroled in 1995 due to poor health |
Conviction(s) | Double homicide, attempted murder |
Criminal penalty | 6 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
change- ↑ 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