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Coat of arms (Staatswappen) of the German Democratic Republic, 1955-1990

The first constitution of the German Democratic Republic (GDR) in October 1949 created the office of Präsident der Deutschen Demokratischen Republik (President of the German Democratic Republic). Upon the death of President Wilhelm Pieck (the only occupant of that office) on 7 September 1960, the office of President was abolished and replaced by a collective head of state, the Staatsrat der Deutschen Demokratischen Republik (State Council of the German Democratic Republic). The Vorsitzender (Chairman) of the Staatsrat was considered to be the head of state of the GDR. The State Council's role was codified in the GDR's revised constitutions of 1968 and 1974. On 5 April 1990 the body was abolished by a constitutional amendment by the only freely elected Volkskammer ("People's Chamber" or parliament). In theory, this amendment envisaged the possible creation of a new presidency as head of state, delegation of powers, and presidential elections. In practice, however, until the GDR joined with the Federal Republic on 3 October 1990, the president of the Volkskammer also served as the GDR head of state.

Other state officials of importance in the GDR included the Chairman of the Council of Ministers (equivalent to a Prime Minister) and the President of the Volkskammer (equivalent to a Speaker of the House of Representatives (USA) or Speaker of the House of Commons (UK)). Worthy of note was the National Defense Council of the GDR (Nationale Verteidigungsrat der DDR), established by law on 10 February 1960. The Council, and specifically its chairman, held the supreme command of the GDR's armed forces and had unlimited authority over the State in time of war. During the existence of the Council, it was composed exclusively of members of the Central Committee of the Socialist Unity Party of Germany (SED), with most also being members of the Central Committee's Politbüro. The chairmen of the Council were Walter Ulbricht, Erich Honecker and Egon Krenz.

In a socialist state such as the GDR, the ultimate power lay not with the formal officials of the state, but rather with the leadership of the Communist party - the SED, specifically, the Politbüro.

1 Heads of State
2 Leaders of the Socialist Unity Party of Germany (SED)
- 2.1 Chairman
- 2.2 First Secretary / General Secretary of the Central Committee
3 Heads of Government
- 3.1 Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the GDR
4 Heads of Parliament
- 4.1 President of the People's Chamber of the GDR
5 See also
6 External links

[edit] Heads of State

[edit] President of the GDR (Staatspräsident der DDR) (1949-1960)

Picture	Name	Took office	Left office	Party
	Wilhelm Pieck	11 October 1949	7 September 1960 (died in office)	Socialist Unity Party of Germany

[edit] Chairman of the Council of State of the GDR (Vorsitzender des Staatsrats der DDR) (1960-1990)

Name	Took office	Left office	Party
Walter Ulbricht	12 September 1960	1 August 1973 (died in office)	Socialist Unity Party of Germany
Willi Stoph	3 October 1973	29 October 1976 (replaced)	Socialist Unity Party of Germany
Erich Honecker	29 October 1976	18 October 1989 (resigned)	Socialist Unity Party of Germany
Egon Krenz	18 October 1989	6 December 1989 (resigned)	Socialist Unity Party of Germany
Manfred Gerlach	6 December 1989	5 April 1990 (office abolished)	Liberal Democratic Party of Germany

[edit] President of the People's Chamber of the GDR (Präsident der Volkskammer der DDR) (1990)

Picture	Name	Took office	Left office	Party
	Sabine Bergmann-Pohl	5 April 1990	2 October 1990 (office abolished)	Christian Democratic Union

The office of Präsident der Volkskammer der DDR was created by the GDR constitution in October 1949 and remained throughout the existence of the GDR. With the abolition of the office of the Chairman of the Council of State of the GDR, the President of the People's Chamber became the GDR's head of state for the remainder of the state's existence.

[edit] List of acting heads of state (Geschäftsführendes Staatsoberhaupt)

Johannes Dieckmann (SED) briefly filled the role of acting State President of East Germany on two occasions: from 7 October to 11 October 1949 (before Wilhelm Pieck took office) and again from 7 September to 12 September 1960 (after Pieck died).
Friedrich Ebert junior (SED) was Acting Chairman of the Council of State in East Germany from 1 August 1973 to 3 October 1973.
Manfred Gerlach (LDPD) was Acting Chairman of the Council of State in East Germany from 6 December 1989 to 5 April 1990.

[edit] Leaders of the Socialist Unity Party of Germany (SED)

[edit] Chairman

Wilhelm Pieck (formerly KPD) and Otto Grotewohl (formerly SPD) (Co-chairmen)(1946–1950)

[edit] First Secretary / General Secretary of the Central Committee

German: Erster Sekretär des Zentralkomitees (ZK) der Sozialistischen Einheitspartei Deutschlands (SED), Generalsekretär des ZK der SED.

Walter Ulbricht (1950–1971)
Erich Honecker (1971–1989)
Egon Krenz (1989)

[edit] Heads of Government

[edit] Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the GDR

German: Vorsitzender des Ministerrats der Deutschen Demokratischen Republik. Also known as Prime Minister / Premier / Minister President (Ministerpräsident)

Name	Took office	Left office	Party
Otto Grotewohl	12 October 1949	21 September 1964	Socialist Unity Party of Germany
Willi Stoph (1st time)	21 September 1964	3 October 1973	Socialist Unity Party of Germany
Horst Sindermann	3 October 1973	29 October 1976	Socialist Unity Party of Germany
Willi Stoph (2nd time)	29 October 1976	13 November 1989	Socialist Unity Party of Germany
Hans Modrow	13 November 1989	12 April 1990	Socialist Unity Party of Germany
Lothar de Maizière	12 April 1990	2 October 1990	Christian Democratic Union