The last communist leader of East Germany, who succeeded Honecker, opened the Wall, and fell in 50 days
On 9 November 1989, Krenz read the travel regulation draft to the Central Committee, handed the note to Schabowski saying "Here, explain this to the journalists," and hours later the Berlin Wall was open.
Designated as Erich Honecker's successor, Egon Krenz was the last communist leader of East Germany, becoming SED General Secretary after Honecker was ousted in October 1989. Just three weeks into his tenure, he approved the draft travel regulations, read them to the Central Committee on 9 November, and handed the note to Günter Schabowski for announcement at a press conference; that night the Berlin Wall was opened. He promised reforms but never gained public trust, and resigned all his posts by early December. After reunification, he was convicted of manslaughter for the border deaths and served nearly four years of a six-and-a-half-year sentence.
Career Timeline
- 1955Joined the Socialist Unity Party (SED)
- 1971–1974Chairman of the Ernst Thälmann Pioneer Organisation
- 1974–1983First Secretary of the FDJ Central Council
- 1983–1989SED Politburo member, CC Secretary for Security, Youth and Sport
- 1984–1989Deputy Chairman of the State Council
- 1989.10–12SED General Secretary
- 1989.10–12Chairman of the State Council and National Defence Council
- 1997Sentenced to 6.5 years for border deaths