Egon Krenz

Egon Krenz joined the Free German Youth (FDJ) in 1953, as a teenager and the Socialist Unity Party of Germany (SED) in 1955.
Between 1974 and 1983, he was leader of the FDJ and from 1981 to 1984 he was a member of the Council of State.
On 18 October 1989 Krenz was elected as the new (and last) General Secretary of the SED Central Committee.