Hans Modrow
| Hans Modrow | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Member of the European Parliament | |
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In office 20 July 1999 – 19 July 2004 |
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| Member of the Bundestag | |
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In office 3 October 1990 – 1994 |
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| Prime Minister of the German Democratic Republic (East Germany) |
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In office 18 November 1989 – 12 April 1990 |
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| President |
Egon Krenz Manfred Gerlach Sabine Bergmann-Pohl (acting) |
| Deputy |
Lothar de Maizière Christa Luft Peter Moreth |
| Preceded by | Willi Stoph |
| Succeeded by | Lothar de Maizière |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
27 January 1928 Jasenitz, Pomeranian Province, Germany (now Jasienica, Poland) |
| Political party |
The Left (2007-present) |
| Other political affiliations |
Socialist Unity Party of Germany (1949-1989) Party of Democratic Socialism (1989-2007) |
| Spouse(s) | Annemarie Straubing (d. 2003) |
| Children | 2 daughters |
| Profession | Politician |
Hans Modrow (German pronunciation: [ˈhans ˈmoːdʁo]; born 27 January 1928) is a German politician, best known as the last communist premier of East Germany. He currently is the honorary Chairman of the Left Party.
Modrow was born in Jasenitz, Province of Pomerania, Germany, now Jasienica part of the town of Police, Poland. He briefly served in the Volkssturm, founded in 1944 by Adolf Hitler and was subsequently held as a prisoner of war. Upon release in 1949, he joined the Socialist Unity Party (SED). Modrow had a long political career in East Germany, including periods as a member of the Volkskammer. From 1973 onward, he was the SED leader in Dresden, East Germany's third-largest city.
Modrow was prevented from rising any further than a local party boss, largely because he was one of the few SED leaders who dared to publicly criticise longtime SED chief Erich Honecker. Nonetheless, he developed some important contacts with the Soviet Union, including eventual Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev. When Honecker was toppled in October 1989, Gorbachev hoped that Modrow would become the new leader of the SED. However, Egon Krenz was selected instead.
He became premier following the resignation of Willi Stoph on 18 November 1989. After Krenz's resignation as leader of the SED on 3 December, Modrow became the de facto leader of East Germany. The SED, which later changed its name to the Party of Democratic Socialism, had abandoned power two days earlier. Modrow remained premier until the elections on 18 March 1990.
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