1. Early Life and Education
Manfred Gerlach's early life was marked by his experiences during and immediately after World War II, which significantly shaped his political trajectory and commitment to anti-fascist ideals. His academic and early professional pursuits laid the groundwork for his extensive political career.
1.1. Youth and Anti-Fascist Resistance
Born on May 8, 1928, in Leipzig, Germany, Manfred Gerlach became involved in the anti-fascist resistance movement during World War II. In 1943, he founded a legal anti-fascist youth movement. His resistance activities led to his imprisonment in March 1944 following the attempted assassination of Adolf Hitler. He was released from juvenile detention in 1945 after the war's end.
1.2. Academic and Early Professional Pursuits
Following his release, Gerlach pursued higher education and began his professional career. From 1951 to 1954, he studied law at the German Academy of State Sciences and Law "Walter Ulbricht." He also worked as the editor-in-chief of the Liberal-Democratic newspaper in Halle. In 1964, he earned his doctorate in law and would later become a professor in 1984. During the 1950s, he held several municipal positions in his hometown of Leipzig, serving as a city council member, deputy mayor, and vice-chairman of the city council from 1952 to 1954.
2. Political Career in East Germany
Manfred Gerlach's political journey in East Germany was characterized by his significant rise within the Liberal Democratic Party of Germany (LDPD) and his eventual transformation into a proponent of reform, especially during the tumultuous period of the Peaceful Revolution in 1989.
2.1. Founding and Early Roles within the LDPD
After World War II, Gerlach was instrumental in the political restructuring of East Germany. In 1945, he joined the newly formed Liberal Democratic Party of Germany (LDPD). The following year, in 1946, he was one of the co-founders of the Free German Youth (FDJ) in Leipzig, an organization that later became the official youth wing of the ruling Socialist Unity Party (SED). From 1946 to 1950, he served as the LDPD's youth leader for North-West Saxony. He was also a member of the executive council of the Saxon LDPD from 1947 to 1952.
2.2. Rise within the LDPD and State Functions
Gerlach steadily ascended through the ranks of the LDPD, a party that, along with others, was largely subservient to the dominant SED. He served as the LDPD's vice-chairman from 1951 until 1953, and then as the party's General Secretary from 1954 to 1967. In 1967, he was elected as the chairman of the LDPD, succeeding Max Suhrbier, a position he held until February 10, 1990. Concurrently with his party leadership, Gerlach held prominent state functions. He was a member of the People's Chamber, East Germany's parliament, from 1949 to 1990. Furthermore, from September 12, 1960, until December 6, 1989, he served as one of the Deputy Chairmen of the Council of State, effectively acting as a Vice-President. From 1967, he also became a member of the National Front council, an umbrella organization for political parties and mass organizations in the GDR.
2.3. Emergence of Reformist Stances
Initially, Gerlach supported the SED's policy of Gleichschaltung, which sought to align all East German non-communist parties under the SED's control. However, by the late 1970s, he began to distance himself from complete subservience to the SED. Under his leadership, the LDPD cautiously developed limited contacts with its West German counterpart, the Free Democrats (FDP). Despite these shifts, as a state functionary, he still defended the nationalization of the last substantive private enterprises in East Germany.
Gerlach reportedly welcomed the liberalizing reforms initiated by Mikhail Gorbachev in the Soviet Union, particularly perestroika and glasnost. His support for greater liberalization and pluralism within East Germany gained him considerable popularity. This popularity, however, was somewhat diminished by his perceived hesitant attitude during the dramatic events of the Die Wende (the turning point) in 1989. On October 13, 1989, in a groundbreaking move, Gerlach became the first prominent East German politician to publicly question the monopolistic role of the SED, stating that "thinking about politics and society in the LDPD means thinking about socialism and its future in East Germany." This was an unprecedented statement under the SED's one-party rule. Just five days later, on October 18, SED leader Erich Honecker was ultimately deposed by his own Politburo.
2.4. Head of State during the Peaceful Revolution
After the Berlin Wall fell on November 9, 1989, the political landscape of East Germany underwent rapid change. On December 6, 1989, Manfred Gerlach was elected Chairman of the Council of State, succeeding Egon Krenz. This made him the first non-communist head of state of the German Democratic Republic who was not merely a caretaker. He served in this pivotal role during a period of intense political transition, holding the post until April 5, 1990. During his tenure, East Germany held its first (and last) free elections for the People's Chamber in March 1990. Following these elections, a constitutional amendment abolished the Council of State, transferring the head of state function to the President of the People's Chamber. Consequently, Gerlach's position was dissolved, and the role of head of state passed to Sabine Bergmann-Pohl. The abolition of the State Council was a key step in the prelude to German reunification.
3. Post-Reunification Activities and Controversies
After the reunification of Germany, Manfred Gerlach's political activities continued, and he became involved in several controversies regarding his past and the historical interpretation of East Germany.
3.1. Transition to Unified Germany's Political Landscape
In March 1990, as German reunification approached, Gerlach's party, the LDPD, merged with two other liberal parties to form the new Association of Free Democrats. This association subsequently merged into the West German Free Democratic Party (FDP) after reunification on October 3, 1990. However, Gerlach's membership in the FDP was short-lived. In November 1993, he resigned his FDP party membership amidst scrutiny related to a process of de-registration initiated by the party regarding allegations against him.
3.2. Later Political Affiliations and Historical Reassessment
Following his departure from the FDP, Gerlach's political views shifted closer to those of the Party of Democratic Socialism (PDS), which was the successor party to the former SED. He became a signatory of the Berliner Alternatives Geschichtsforum (Berlin Alternative History Forum), an initiative that promoted more positive views on the history of the German Democratic Republic. These publications, often co-authored by former high-ranking GDR functionaries such as Gerlach, Gerald Götting, and Hans Modrow, drew significant criticism from opponents of the former communist regime. Critics accused these publications of attempting to whitewash the SED dictatorship and reshape the image of contemporary Germany by employing anti-fascist rhetoric. After German reunification, Gerlach also worked in Berlin for organizations dedicated to civil rights and human rights.
3.3. Accusations of Informing and Legal Proceedings
A significant controversy arose in 1992 when allegations surfaced that Manfred Gerlach had informed the Soviet occupation forces about fellow party members in 1947, shortly after World War II. These accusations led to legal proceedings against him. The charges included aiding in the detention of individuals which allegedly led to their death. However, by 2000, all legal proceedings against Gerlach were suspended, with rulings of either insufficient evidence or acquittal.
4. Works and Publications
Manfred Gerlach authored several books and academic works, primarily reflecting on his political experiences and contemporary history within East Germany.
- Wortmeldungen zur Zeitgeschichte (Statements on Contemporary History). Buchverlag Der Morgen, Berlin 1980.
- Äußerungen über uns und unsere Zeit (Statements About Us and Our Time). Buchverlag Der Morgen, Berlin 1985.
- Standortbestimmung (Determining the Position). Buchverlag Der Morgen, Berlin 1989.
- Mitverantwortlich: Als Liberaler im SED-Staat (Co-Responsible: As a Liberal in the SED State). Morgenbuch-Verlag, Berlin 1991, 3-371-00333-7.
5. Assessment and Legacy
Manfred Gerlach's life and political career are subject to diverse historical and social evaluations, reflecting his complex role in East German history.
5.1. Contributions and Positive Appraisals
Despite his initial compliance with the SED regime, Gerlach is positively appraised for his eventual advocacy for change within East Germany. His public questioning of the SED's monopolistic role in October 1989 was a significant turning point, making him the first prominent East German politician to openly challenge the dominant party. His service as the first non-communist Chairman of the Council of State during the critical transitional period of 1989-1990 is seen as a vital contribution to the peaceful revolution, facilitating the transition to democracy and eventual reunification. For his service, he received numerous state awards from the GDR, including the Patriotic Order of Merit and the Star of People's Friendship in 1964 and 1988, and the Order of Karl Marx in 1988.
5.2. Criticisms and Debates
Critical perspectives on Gerlach's career often point to his long period of compliance with the East German regime. Some critics argue that his shift towards reformism came relatively late and that he displayed a perceived hesitancy during the decisive events of 1989. Furthermore, his involvement in later historical reassessments, particularly as a signatory of the Berliner Alternatives Geschichtsforum, has drawn accusations of attempting to whitewash the former GDR system and its SED dictatorship, particularly by former regime critics who saw these efforts as an attempt to sanitize history.
6. Death
Manfred Gerlach died on October 17, 2011, in Berlin, Germany, at the age of 83. His death followed a long illness.