Oskar Fischer (19 March 1923 – 2 April 2020) was a German politician of the ruling Socialist Unity Party (SED) who served as minister of foreign affairs of the

German Democratic Republic German(s) may refer to: * Germany (of or related to) ** Germania (historical use) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law **G ...

from 1975 to 1990. He previously worked in the secretariat of the central committee of the communist party, and became a member of the SED central committee in 1971.

Early life

Fischer was born in 1923. He joined the German army and fought in

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...

as a soldier. He was arrested and detained by the Soviets for two years in 1944.

Career

Following his release Fischer joined the communist youth organization Free German Youth in East Germany and studied social sciences in Moscow. He served as East Germany's ambassador to

Bulgaria Bulgaria (; bg, България, Bǎlgariya), officially the Republic of Bulgaria,, ) is a country in Southeast Europe. It is situated on the eastern flank of the Balkans, and is bordered by Romania to the north, Serbia and North Macedo ...

for four years between 1955 and 1959. He was deputy minister of foreign affairs from 1965 to 1975. He was named as a member of the Central Committee of the Socialist Unity Party in 1971. He was appointed as minister of foreign affairs on 3 March 1975. Fischer replaced Otto Winzer in the post, who had been removed from office due to ill health. Fischer was the first member of the East German cabinet to visit

Pope John Paul II Pope John Paul II ( la, Ioannes Paulus II; it, Giovanni Paolo II; pl, Jan Paweł II; born Karol Józef Wojtyła ; 18 May 19202 April 2005) was the head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State from 1978 until his ...

at the

Vatican Vatican may refer to: Vatican City, the city-state ruled by the pope in Rome, including St. Peter's Basilica, Sistine Chapel, Vatican Museum The Holy See * The Holy See, the governing body of the Catholic Church and sovereign entity recognized ...

in 1978. In September 1980 he signed a treaty of cooperation with the Palestine Liberation Organization in East Berlin. Fischer also officially visited a number of European states, including

Austria Austria, , bar, Östareich officially the Republic of Austria, is a country in the southern part of Central Europe, lying in the Eastern Alps. It is a federation of nine states, one of which is the capital, Vienna, the most populous ...

Denmark ) , song = ( en, "King Christian stood by the lofty mast") , song_type = National and royal anthem , image_map = EU-Denmark.svg , map_caption = , subdivision_type = Sovereign state , subdivision_name = Kingdom of Denmark , establish ...

and the

Netherlands ) , anthem = ( en, "William of Nassau") , image_map = , map_caption = , subdivision_type = Sovereign state , subdivision_name = Kingdom of the Netherlands , established_title = Before independence , established_date = Spanish Netherl ...

. Fischer's tenure lasted until 12 April 1990, and he was succeeded by

Markus Meckel Markus Meckel (born 18 August 1952) is a German theologian and politician. He was the penultimate foreign minister of the GDR and a member of the German Bundestag. Early life Markus Meckel was born on 18 August 1952 in Müncheberg, Brandenburg ...

in the post.

Later years and death

Following the

fall of communism The Revolutions of 1989, also known as the Fall of Communism, was a revolutionary wave that resulted in the end of most communist states in the world. Sometimes this revolutionary wave is also called the Fall of Nations or the Autumn of Nat ...

, Fischer led a private life from 1990 and declined all interview requests. In 2000, Fischer briefly served as one of several informal advisors to Gabi Zimmer. He published a book about the East German foreign policy in 2007. He died in Berlin on 2 April 2020, aged 97.Langjähriger DDR-Außenminister Oskar Fischer gestorben
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References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Fischer, Oskar 20th-century German diplomats 20th-century German politicians 1923 births 2020 deaths Ambassadors of East Germany to Bulgaria Foreign Ministers of East Germany German Army personnel of World War II German prisoners of war in World War II held by the Soviet Union Members of the 7th Volkskammer Members of the 8th Volkskammer Members of the 9th Volkskammer Members of the Central Committee of the Socialist Unity Party of Germany Members of the Landtag of Brandenburg People from Aš Recipients of the Patriotic Order of Merit (honor clasp) Sudeten German people