Heinz Kessler

Armeegeneral Heinz Kessler
File:Bundesarchiv Bild 183-1988-0704-410, Heinz Keßler 02.jpg Heinz Kessler in 1988
Minister of Defence of German Democratic Republic
In office 3 December 1985 – 18 November 1989
President	Erich Honecker
Prime Minister	Willi Stoph Hans Modrow
Preceded by	Heinz Hoffmann
Succeeded by	Theodor Hoffman
Personal details
Born	(1920-01-26)26 January 1920 Lauban, Province of Lower Silesia, Weimar Germany
Died	2 May 2017(2017-05-02) (aged 97) Berlin, Germany
Political party	German Communist Party (since 2009)
Other political affiliations	Communist Party of Germany (1945-1946) Socialist Unity Party of Germany (1946-1989) Party of Democratic Socialism (1989-1990)German Communist Party (1990–present)
Spouse(s)	Ruth Kessler (died 2013)
Awards	File:GDR Hero of Labor BAR.png File:Ehrenspange.png File:Złoty Order Za Zasługi dla Narodu i Ojczyzny.png File:Ribbon bars of the Fatherland's Orde of Merit.png File:Order october revolution rib.png File:Order gpw1 rib.png File:GDR Scharnhorst-Order bar.png File:GDR Scharnhorst-Order bar.png File:GDR Scharnhorst-Order bar.png File:GDR Combat-Order for Merit for the Nation and Fatherland - Gold BAR.png File:GDR Order of Banner of Labor 1Class BAR.png File:GDR Medal for Fighters against Fascism BAR.png File:GDR Meritorious Member of National People's Army BAR.png File:GDR Meritorious Member of Border Troops BAR.png File:GDR Meritorious Member of Civil Defense BAR.png File:GDR Meritorious Policeman BAR.png File:GDR Decoration of German Police BAR.png File:GDR Medal for Exemplary Border Service BAR.png File:GDR Engels Prize bar-G.png File:GDR Brotherhood in Arms Medal - Gold BAR.png File:GDR Brotherhood in Arms Medal - Gold BAR.png File:OrdenZnam.png File:Order redstar rib.png File:CombatCooperationRibbon.jpg File:100 lenin rib.png File:30 years of victory rib.png File:40 years of victory rib.png File:50 years saf rib.png File:60 years saf rib.png File:GDR Ehrenmedaille 30 Jahre National Volksarmee BAR.png File:Order of the Red Banner (CSSR) Rib.png File:POL Order Zaslugi PRL kl3 BAR.png File:POL Odznaka Braterstwa Broni BAR.png File:Badge GenStaffCol SU.png
Military service
Allegiance	File:Flag of German Reich (1935–1945).svg Nazi Germany (1940-1941) File:Red Army Badge.svg Soviet Union (1941-1945) File:Flag of East Germany.svg East Germany (1950-1989)
Years of service	File:War Ensign of Germany 1938-1945.svg Wehrmacht (1940-1941) File:Red Army Badge.svg Soviet Army (1941-1945) File:Flag of NVA (East Germany).svg National People's Army (1950-1989)
Rank	Armeegeneral
Commands	Commander-in-chief of the Kommando LSK/LV Ministry of National Defence
Battles/wars	World War II Warsaw Pact invasion of Czechoslovakia Angolan Civil War

Heinz Kessler or Heinz Kebler (26 January 1920 – 2 May 2017) was a former East German communist politician, military officer and a convicted felon. He is known for his role in political repression in East Germany prior to the communist regime's downfall in 1989.

In East Germany, he held the rank of Armeegeneral in the National People's Army (Nationale Volksarmee) and was Minister of Defense of the GDR, a member of the Politbüro of the Central Committee of the Socialist Unity Party of Germany (SED), and a deputy of the GDR's Volkskammer (parliament).

Convicted for his role in the crimes of the communist regime, he was sentenced to seven-and-a-half years in prison after German reunification, and served his sentence in a Prison. He was removed from prison in 1998 after serving only five years.

Kessler was expelled from the Party of Democratic Socialism in 1990. In 2009, he joined the German Communist Party (DKP). He was a DKP candidate in the Berlin state election, 2011. Kessler died 2 May 2017 at the age of 97.

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