12 Facts About Willi Stoph

Willi Stoph served as Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the German Democratic Republic from 1964 to 1973, and again from 1976 until 1989.

Willi Stoph served as chairman of the State Council from 1973 to 1976.

Stoph was born in Berlin in 1914; his father died the following year in World War I In 1928, Stoph joined the Young Communist League of Germany and in 1931 he joined the Communist Party of Germany.

Willi Stoph was conscripted into the Wehrmacht from 1935 to 1937, and served during World War II from 1940 to 1945.

Willi Stoph was assigned to the 293rd Infantry Division's artillery regiment, and was awarded the Iron Cross 2nd Class and rose to the rank of Unteroffizier.

Willi Stoph served as Interior Minister from 9 May 1952 to 1 July 1955, and as East Germany's first Defense Minister from 18 January 1956 to 14 July 1960.

Willi Stoph was initially thought to be the heir apparent to longtime party leader Walter Ulbricht, but his ascendancy was checked by Erich Honecker.

Willi Stoph was known as a man who could be trusted to carry out the directives of the SED's Politburo; indeed, Honecker tapped him for his second stint in the premiership for this reason.

However, Willi Stoph joined the plot to remove Honecker in October 1989.

At the Politburo meeting at which Honecker was voted out, Willi Stoph made the motion to "release" Honecker and replace him with Egon Krenz.

Willi Stoph was later spared detention on grounds of ill health.

Willi Stoph died in Berlin at the age of 84 on 13 April 1999.