Fritz Streletz
German army general (1926–2025)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Fritz Streletz (28 September 1926 – 24 March 2025) was a German army general of the GDR.[1]
- Heinz Keßler
- Theodor Hoffmann
- Erich Honecker
- Egon Krenz
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 by | Heinz Keßler |
| Succeeded by | Manfred Grätz |
| Secretary of the National Defense Council | |
| In office 3 May 1971 – 6 December 1989 | |
| Chairman |
|
| Preceded by | Erich Honecker |
| Succeeded by | Position abolished |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 28 September 1926 |
| Died | 24 March 2025 (aged 98) |
| Party | Socialist Unity Party (1948–1989) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | Nazi Germany (1944–1945) East Germany (1948–1990) |
| Branch/service | Wehrmacht National People's Army |
Years of service | 1944–45 1948–90 |
| Rank | Generaloberst |
| Criminal information | |
Criminal status | Released early |
| Conviction | Manslaughter |
| Criminal penalty | 5 1/2 years |
Central institution membership
Other offices held
| |
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]
