Hans Bentzien
East German politician (1927–2015) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
East German politician (1927–2015) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Hans Bentzien (1927–2015) was a German writer and politician who served as the culture minister of East Germany from 1961 to 1966. Being a member of the ruling party Socialist Unity Party (SED), he held several political and public posts in East Germany.
Hans Bentzien | |
|---|---|
 Hans Bentzien (left) awarding the Johannes R. Becher Prize to the poet and storyteller Franz Fühmann, 1963 | |
| Minister of Culture | |
| In office February 1961 – January 1966 | |
| Chairman of the Council of Ministers | |
| Preceded by | Alexander Abusch |
| Succeeded by | Klaus Gysi |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 4 January 1927 Greifswald, German Empire |
| Died | 18 May 2015 (aged 88) Bad Saarow, Germany |
| Political party | Socialist Unity Party of Germany |
| Alma mater | |
Bentzien was born in Greifswald, Germany, on 4 January 1927.[1] He became a member of the Nazi Party in 1944.[2][3] He joined the German Army and fought in World War II.[1] He was arrested by the British forces in 1945.[1] Following his release he joined the KPD and subsequently the SED in 1946.[1]
Bentzien graduated from the University of Greifswald and the University of Jena obtaining a degree in history.[1] He also studied history and social sciences in Moscow between 1955 and 1958.[1]
Bentzien worked as a teacher in his hometown between 1946 and 1948.[1] He was assistant to the director of culture in VEB Carl Zeiss in Jena.[1] Then he became the first secretary of the SED in Jena-Stadt and was the secretary for culture and popular education of the SED from 1954 to 1955.[1] He served as the secretary for culture and education of the SED in Halle between 1958 and 1961.[1][3]
Bentzien was appointed culture minister in February 1961, replacing Alexander Abusch in the post.[1][4] Bentzien was removed from office in January 1966 due to the alleged violation of the SED rules.[4][5] The reason for his removal was the publication of several writings in Neue Deutsche Literatur (German: New German Literature) which supported views opposite to the position of the SED.[5] In the same move Kurt Turba, head of the youth commission at the Politburo of the SED's Central Committee, was also fired.[5] Klaus Gysi succeeded Bentzien as minister of culture.[3]
Then Bentzien was made the publishing director of a publishing house, Neues Leben, which he held between 1966 and 1975.[1] In 1975 he was appointed deputy chairman of the state committee for television and served in the post until 1979 when he was dismissed.[1] In the period between 1 December 1989 and 13 June 1990 he served as the television manager of East Germany.[6] He was succeeded by Michael Albert in the post.[6]
Bentzien wrote several television plays and published some books on history.[4]
Bentzien died in Bad Saarow, Germany, on 18 May 2015.[1]
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