1989: East German Leader Ousted
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Archive: The Communist leader of East Germany, Erich Honecker, was forced to step down as leader of the country.
After 18 years in power he was replaced by Egon Krenz, who had been the head of internal and external security for the Politburo.
The official reason for his departure was said to be "ill health" but failure to deal with the tide of discontentment sweeping the country and the party was thought to be the real reason.