Erich Honecker agenda now being the composition of the Politburo. Krenz and Mielke attempted by telephone on the night of 16 October to win other Politburo members over to remove Honecker. At the beginning of the session on 17 October, Honecker asked his routine question of “Are there any suggestions for the agenda?” Stoph replied, "Please, General Secretary, Erich, I propose that a new item be placed on the agenda. It is the release of Erich Honecker as General Secretary and the election of Egon Krenz in his place." Honecker reportedly calmly responded: "Well, then I open the debate". All those present
Erich Peter Erich Peter Erich Peter was a German general in the National People's Army. He commanded the GDR Border Troops of East Germany, also holding the position of the Deputy Minister of National Defense. Erich Peter was born in 1919 into a working-class family. He took part in World War II, being taken prisoner by the American forces in 1945. Shortly after the end of the war, Peter joined the Communist Party of Germany. In 1948, he joined the People's Police, earning promotions in the force and becoming head of a technical school for armoured troops in Erfurt. He was educated