# Egon Krenz

_German politician, communist leader of East Germany_

Canonical: https://diginpl.com/people/egon-krenz
Last updated: 2026-11-08

> Egon Rudi Ernst Krenz is a German former politician who was the last Communist leader of the German Democratic Republic during the Revolutions of 1989. He succeeded Erich Honecker as the General Secretary of the ruling Socialist Unity Party of Germany (SED) but was forced to resign only weeks later when the Berlin Wall fell.

## Quick facts

- **Born:** 19 March 1937 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2602#P569))
- **Place of birth:** Kołobrzeg ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2602#P19))
- **Citizenship:** Germany; East Germany ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2602#P27))
- **Occupation:** politician ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2602#P106))
- **Political party:** Socialist Unity Party of Germany ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2602#P102))
- **Education:** Higher Party School at the Central Committee of the CPSU; Institut für Lehrerbildung; Polytechnic Secondary School ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2602#P69))
- **Spouse:** Erika Krenz ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2602#P26))
- **Positions held:** Chairman of the National Defence Council of the GDR (24 October 1989 – 6 December 1989); Chairman of the State Council (17 October 1989 – 6 December 1989); member of the Volkskammer ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2602#P39))
- **Awards:** Order of Karl Marx; Banner of Labor; Order of Friendship of Peoples ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2602#P166))

## Questions

**When was Egon Krenz born?**  
Egon Krenz was born on 19 March 1937 in Kołobrzeg.

**What positions has Egon Krenz held?**  
Positions held by Egon Krenz include: Chairman of the National Defence Council of the GDR (1989–1989); Chairman of the State Council (1989–1989); member of the Volkskammer.

**Where did Egon Krenz study?**  
Egon Krenz was educated at Higher Party School at the Central Committee of the CPSU, Institut für Lehrerbildung, Polytechnic Secondary School.

## Related

- [Erich Honecker](https://diginpl.com/people/erich-honecker)
- [Walter Ulbricht](https://diginpl.com/people/walter-ulbricht)
- [Manfred Gerlach](https://diginpl.com/people/manfred-gerlach)
- [Friedrich Ebert Jr.](https://diginpl.com/people/friedrich-ebert-jr)
- [Willi Stoph](https://diginpl.com/people/willi-stoph)
- [Gregor Gysi](https://diginpl.com/people/gregor-gysi)
- [Robert Neddermeyer](https://diginpl.com/people/robert-neddermeyer)
- [Hans Modrow](https://diginpl.com/people/hans-modrow)

## Sources

- [Wikipedia (English): Egon Krenz](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egon_Krenz) — [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)
- [Wikidata item Q2602](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2602) — [CC0 1.0](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
- [Image: Egon Krenz 2013.jpg by U.S. Consulate General Munich from Germany (CC BY 2.0)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Egon_Krenz_2013.jpg)

## Licence and attribution

Text from the Wikipedia article Egon Krenz, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. This page's text is shared under the same licence. Facts from Wikidata (CC0). Image: Egon Krenz 2013.jpg — U.S. Consulate General Munich from Germany, CC BY 2.0.

## Cite this page

"Egon Krenz". DigiNepal. Last updated 8 November 2026. https://diginpl.com/people/egon-krenz. Retrieved 8 November 2026.