Wolfgang Schwanitz

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Generalleutnant Wolfgang Schwanitz
Schwanitz in 1989
Head of the Office for National Security
In office 18 November 1989 – 11 January 1990 Leave of absence: 14 December 1989 – 11 January 1990
Chairman of the Council of Ministers	Hans Modrow
Preceded by	Erich Mielke (as Minister for State Security)
Succeeded by	Position abolished
Personal details
Born	(1930-06-26)26 June 1930 Berlin, Free State of Prussia, Weimar Germany (now Germany)
Died	1 February 2022(2022-02-01) (aged 91) Berlin, Germany
Political party	Independent
Other political affiliations	Socialist Unity Party (1953–1989)
Alma mater	Humboldt University of Berlin Juristische Hochschule des MfS (Dr. jur.)
Occupation	Politician Civil Servant Wholesale Merchant
Awards	Patriotic Order of Merit, 3rd class
Central institution membership 1986–1989: Candidate member, Central Committee Other offices held 1986–1989: Deputy Minister, Ministry for State Security 1974–1986: Head, Stasi in Berlin

Wolfgang Schwanitz (26 June 1930 – 1 February 2022) was a German intelligence official, who was the last head of the Stasi, the East German secret police. It was officially renamed the "Office for National Security" on 17 November 1989. Unlike his predecessor, Erich Mielke, he did not hold the title "Minister of State Security", but held the title of "Leader of the Office for National Security". Following the German reunification, he was active as an author of works that sought to portray the Stasi in a positive light.^[1][2]