Joachim Wenzel (journalist)

Joachim Wenzel (born August 10, 1927 in Chemnitz ; † April 1, 1958 in the Leipzig Detention Hospital - Kleinmeusdorf ) was a journalist from the GDR who was involved in the 1957 trial of Walter Janka , Wolfgang Harich and others.

Life

After finishing high school and Reich Labor Service , he was drafted into the Wehrmacht in 1944, deserted and was taken prisoner by the British. In autumn 1946 he joined the KPD . He fled to his family in Chemnitz at Christmas 1946.

He then worked as a journalist for the “ Volksstimme ” in Chemnitz. In 1954 he became an editor in Leipzig for the Börsenblatt des Deutschen Buchhandels . Under the abbreviations JoWe, -zel and Achim Zell he wrote for the Börsenblatt, for the Weltbühne (for the first time in No. 10/1947), the Sonntag , the Eulenspiegel and the like. a. He wrote radio plays for the radio.

Friendships with Gerhard Zwerenz , Thomas Harlan , Eric A. Peschler, Erich Loest and other intellectuals developed in Leipzig and throughout Germany.

In 1956, Heinz Zöger received an offer from Berlin to move to the Sunday editorial office. There he met u. a. to Gustav Just , Walter Janka and Wolfgang Harich.

During the trial of Wolfgang Harich, Gustav Just and Heinz Zöger were arrested from the witness stand. Joachim Wenzel was summoned in July 1957 as a witness in the trial against these two, Walter Janka and others. After trying to relieve her, he returned to Leipzig and became seriously ill. He had to go to the hospital in November.

He was arrested there on November 15, 1957 and taken to the Leipzig-Kleinmeusdorf Detention Hospital. After surgery, she was diagnosed with liver cancer. All requests for discharge or transfer to the Charité were rejected. Joachim Wenzel died on April 1, 1958.

His testimony was used in the trial against Erich Loest, Ralf Schröder , Silka Ruzicka and others.

See also

• History of the GDR
• GDR opposition