Fritz Streletz, Former GDR Military Leader, Dies at 98

Streletz's death rekindles debate over his role in the Berlin Wall and his defense of the GDR's policies.

Fritz Streletz, former Deputy Minister of Defense of the GDR, passed away on March 24, 2025, at the age of 98 after a prolonged illness.
Streletz was a key figure in the GDR's military leadership, serving as Secretary of the National Defense Council and Deputy Minister of Defense from 1971 to 1989.
He was convicted in 1993 for incitement to manslaughter over border deaths at the Berlin Wall but denied responsibility, claiming no shoot-to-kill order existed.
Streletz staunchly defended the Berlin Wall as a peacekeeping measure, co-authoring a 2011 book asserting its necessity to prevent war.
His death has reignited discussions on his controversial legacy, including his loyalty to GDR ideals and his role in preventing violence during Leipzig's 1989 protests.