Heinz Keßler
Heinz Keßler (26 January 1920 – 2 May 2017) was a German communist politician and military officer in East Germany.
Heinz Keßler | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Keßler in 1988 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Minister of National Defense | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office 3 December 1985 – 18 November 1989 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chairman of the Council of Ministers |
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| Appointed by | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Heinz Hoffmann | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | Theodor Hoffmann | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Personal details | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 26 January 1920 Lauban, Province of Lower Silesia, Free State of Prussia, Weimar Republic (now Lubań, Poland) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Died | 2 May 2017 (aged 97) Berlin, Germany | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Political party | Communist Party of Germany (1990) (2009–2017) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other political affiliations | Party of Democratic Socialism (1989–1990) Socialist Unity Party (1946–1989) Communist Party of Germany (1945–1946) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Spouse | Ruth | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Children | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Occupation |
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| Military service | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Allegiance | Nazi Germany (1940–1941) Soviet Union (1941–1945) East Germany (1950–1989) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years of service | Wehrmacht (1940–1941) Red Army (1941–1945) National People's Army (1950–1989) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rank | Armeegeneral | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Commands | Commander-in-chief of the Kommando LSK/LV Ministry of National Defence | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Battles/wars | World War II Warsaw Pact invasion of Czechoslovakia Angolan Civil War | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Criminal conviction | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Known for | Incitement to kill German civilians fleeing East Germany | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Criminal status | Served prison sentence 24 January 1990 – April 1990; 1991 – 29 October 1998, released on parole in 1998 due to poor health | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Conviction(s) | Incitement of Manslaughter (7 counts) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Criminal penalty | 7½ years imprisonment | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Central institution membership
Other offices held
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His career in the military started when he was conscripted into the Wehrmacht, the armed forces of Nazi Germany, in World War II. Due to his communist convictions, he deserted the Wehrmacht and fought for the Soviet Union on the Eastern Front. Upon his return to East Germany, he entered service in the National People's Army (Nationale Volksarmee) upon its establishment in 1956. Later, he was Minister of Defense of the GDR with the rank of Armeegeneral, a member of the Politbüro of the Central Committee of the Socialist Unity Party of Germany (SED), and a deputy of the GDR's Volkskammer (parliament).
Convicted for his role in the deaths of defectors along the Berlin wall, he was sentenced to seven and a half years in prison after German reunification, and served his sentence in Hakenfelde Prison. He was released from prison in 1998 after serving only two years.