PHP - RECORD OF CONVERSATION BETWEEN GENERAL SECRETARY OF THE EAST GERMAN SOCIALIST UNITY PARTY (ERICH HONECKER) AND EAST GERMAN DEFENSE MINISTER (HEINZ KESSLER)

Record of Conversation between General Secretary of the East German Socialist Unity Party (Erich Honecker) and East German Defense Minister (Heinz Kessler)

4 Dec 1988

Description: This memorandum relates to a meeting between the general secretary of the East German Socialist Unity Party, Erich Honecker, and Defense Minister Heinz Kessler. Honecker describes his conversation with Soviet Ambassador Vyacheslav Kochemassov about changes in Soviet policy. The Soviet leadership thinks that arms cutbacks based on reciprocity with the West are not feasible, and that therefore, the Warsaw Pact (WP) must make unilateral reductions. Kochemasov implies that these cuts should take place before the next round of talks on conventional armed forces in Europe (CFE) in Vienna. The Soviet ambassador informs Honecker that his government plans to withdraw four armored divisions from East Germany and to convert several tank units into motor rifle divisions, contributing to an overall more defensive stance of the WP.

Collection: A Cardboard Castle?

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German (1.0 MB )

Document Type: Memorandum of Conversation
Language of Original Document: German
Number of Pages: 7
Cold War Period: 1985-1991
Persons: Honecker, Kessler, Kochemasov

Document Source: Federal Archives of Germany Military Branch (Freiburg i. Br.)
Call Number: VA-01/32663
Document Companion: Document No. 139

Record of Conversation between General Secretary of the East German Socialist Unity Party (Erich Honecker) and East German Defense Minister (Heinz Kessler)

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