Friedrich Dickel (9 December 1913 – 23 October 1993) was a German politician, veteran of the International Brigades in the Spanish Civil War and law enforcement administrator who served as the interior minister for nearly twenty-six years, the longest-serving individual to hold that post in East Germany.
Dickel was born on 9 December 1913 in Wuppertal-Vohwinkel in the Prussian Rhine Province of the German Empire.[1]
Dickel joined the Communist Party of Germany in 1931.[2] He was a military officer with the rank of colonel general.[3][4] He fought in the international brigades in the civil war of Spain together with others, including future Stasi chief Erich Mielke.[2][3] Dickel commanded a platoon unit in the civil war in Spain.[5]
After the Nazi rule in Germany, he settled in the Soviet Union where he taught at the Soviet General Staff Academy.[5] He returned to East Germany in 1946[1] and served as the commander of the Officers’ School for Political Work in East Berlin from 1950.[5] He was promoted to the rank of major general in 1956.[5] Next year he was named as the deputy national defense minister.[5]
Dickel became a member of the Socialist Unity Party of Germany (SED) and of its central committee.[6] His tenure in the SED central committee was between 1967 and 1989.[5] He also served as a police chief in East Berlin.[7]
Dickel was appointed interior minister on 14 November 1963, replacing Karl Maron in the post.[8] He also led the Volkspolizei during his tenure.[6][9] Dickel's term ended on 18 November 1989 when he was dismissed as a result of the atmosphere of change and reform in the country which began leading up to German reunification.[7] He was succeeded by Lothar Ahrendt as interior minister.[9] In December 1989 Dickel retired from politics.[1]
Dickel was also a member of the Volkskammer for Auerbach, Klingenthal, Oelsnitz, Plauen-Stadt, Plauen-Land between 2 July 1967 and 5 April 1990.[10]
After a long illness Dickel died in Berlin on 23 October 1993.[11] He was 79.[11]
Dickel was the recipient of the Order of Karl Marx which was awarded to him in June 1985 on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the German People's Police.[12]