Fritz Streletz

Fritz Streletz
Streletz in 1982
Deputy Minister of National Defence
Chief of Staff of the
National People's Army
In office
1 January 1979 – 31 December 1989
Minister
Preceded byHeinz Keßler
Succeeded byManfred Grätz
Secretary of the
National Defense Council
In office
3 May 1971 – 6 December 1989
Chairman
  • Erich Honecker
  • Egon Krenz
Preceded byErich Honecker
Succeeded byPosition abolished
Personal details
Born(1926-09-28)28 September 1926
Died24 March 2025(2025-03-24) (aged 98)
PartySocialist Unity Party (1948–1989)
Military service
AllegianceNazi Germany (1944–1945)
East Germany (1948–1990)
Branch/serviceWehrmacht
National People's Army
Years of service1944–45
1948–90
RankGeneraloberst
Criminal information
Criminal statusReleased early
ConvictionManslaughter
Criminal penalty5 1/2 years
Central institution membership

Other offices held

Fritz Streletz (28 September 1926 – 24 March 2025) was a German army general of the GDR.[1]

In 1944, he entered the Wehrmacht as a noncommissioned officer after graduating from military school in Deggendorf. He was captured by Soviet forces in February 1945 and released in October 1948, whereupon he joined the Volkspolizei. In 1956, he joined the precursor to the National People's Army, the Kasernierte Volkspolizei, as an officer. [2]

In 1991, after the reunification of Germany, Streletz was arrested. He was charged in February 1992 for the incitement to kill German civilians fleeing East Germany and was found guilty. He was sentenced to five years and six months in prison but was released in October 1997.

Streletz remained committed to the GDR's ideals after reunification.[3][4]

Streletz died on 24 March 2025, at the age of 98.[5]

References

  1. ^ "Streletz, Fritz". Bundesstiftung Aufarbeitung (in German). Retrieved 25 March 2020.
  2. ^ Hans Ehlert, Armin Wagner: Genosse General! Die Militärelite der DDR in biografischen Skizzen. Ch Links Verlag, Berlin, 2003
  3. ^ "90. Geburt Generaloberst a.D. Fritz Streletz". Verband zur Pflege der Traditionen der Nationalen Volksarmee und der Grenztruppen der DDR e.V. (in German). Retrieved 25 March 2020.
  4. ^ "Geleitwort aus der Sicht eines sozialistischen Militärs zum "DDR-Kabinett Bochum e.V."". DDR Kabinett Bochum e.V. (in German). November 2010. Retrieved 25 March 2020.
  5. ^ DDR-Vizeminister Fritz Streletz ist tot (in German)