Fritz Streletz

Fritz Streletz (28 September 1926 – 24 March 2025) was a German army general of the GDR.^[2]

Generaloberst Fritz Streletz
Streletz in 1982
Deputy Minister of National Defence (East Germany)
In office 1 January 1979 – 31 December 1989[1]
Chief of Staff of the Ministry of National Defense
In office 1 January 1979 – 31 December 1989[1]
Preceded by	Heinz Kessler
Succeeded by	Manfred Grätz [de]
Personal details
Born	(1926-09-28)28 September 1926 Friedrichsgrätz, Upper Silesia, Prussia, Germany (now Grodziec, Poland}
Died	24 March 2025(2025-03-24) (aged 98) Oranienburg, Brandenburg, Germany
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 conviction
Criminal status	Released early
Conviction	Manslaughter
Criminal penalty	5 1/2 years

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. ^[3]

In 1991, after the re-unification 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 re-unification. ^[1][4]

Streletz died on 24 March 2025, at the age of 98.^[5]