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epa03367840 An archive photo dated 08 October 1989 shows Head of State and General Secretary of the Communist Part of the Soviet Union Mikhail Gorbachev (L) and Head of State of the German Democratic Republic Erich Honecker (R) during Gorbachev's arrival for the 40th anniversary celebrations of the GDR in East Berlin, GDR. Born on 25 August 1912, Erich Honecker was, as General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Socialist Unity Party of the GDR from 1971 until 1989, the regime's strongman. Honecker also became in 1976 Chairman of the State Council of the German Democratic Republic. His rule diverged from predecessor Walter Ulbricht in establishing more consumer oriented policies and renouncing to the reunification of Germany under the GDR, becoming the first East German head of state to visit West Germany. Always loyal to Moscow, he nevertheless opposed USSR Gorvachev's political reforms, which in the end precipitated his downfall. On 18 October 1989 the GDR Poliburo voted to oust Honecker and replace him with Egon Krenz, who stayed in power less than 2 months as GDR's last Communist head of state. Honecker escaped in 1990 to Moscow to evade being prosecuted, but was extradited in 1992 to face charges by the German government of involvement in the deaths of 192 East Germans who tried to leave the GDR. In 1993 Honecker was released on ill health grounds and left for Chile, where he died on 29 may 1994. EPA/WOLFGANG KUMM