# Council of Ministers of East Germany

The Council of Ministers (German: Ministerrat der Deutschen Demokratischen Republik, pronounced) was the executive organ of the People's Chamber of the German Democratic Republic from November 1950 until the country was reunified on 3 October 1990. Originally formed as a body of 18 members, by 1989 the council consisted of 44 members.
Under the Constitution of East Germany, the Council of Ministers was formally defined as the government of East Germany. The same Constitution, however, officially confirmed the leading role of the Socialist Unity Party (SED). Hence, for most of the GDR's existence, the Council of Ministers was not the highest authority in the country, but was charged with implementing the SED's policies into practical administration. In particular, ministers were subordinate to the secretary of the Central Committee responsible for their portfolio, and, at least unofficially, to the General Secretary.

## Structure

The Council was led by a chairman (Vorsitzender), who was usually called "prime minister" in non-German sources. There were two first deputy chairmen and nine other deputy chairmen. Together with some key ministers they formed the presidency (Präsidium) of the Council. The Präsidium prepared all decisions in consultation with the responsible departments of the Central Committee (Zentralkomitee) of the Socialist Unity Party of Germany (SED) and especially the Politbüro of the SED Central Committee. The Präsidium managed the day-to-day affairs of the Council between its weekly meetings, which took place regularly on Wednesdays to execute the resolutions of the Politbüro’s weekly meetings (on Tuesdays). The secretaries and department managers in the Central Committee were authorized to give instructions to the ministers as necessary.
Officially, the prime minister held the highest state post in the GDR. Despite this, no SED first secretary/general secretary ever simultaneously served as prime minister.
Until the Wende in the fall of 1989, the two first deputy chairmen were Werner Krolikowski and Alfred Neumann, who were both members of the SED Politbüro. Other deputy chairmen included the leaders of the four allied parties (Blockparteien). Additional members included the chairman of the State Planning Commission, the president of the Staatsbank der DDR (State Bank of the GDR) and some state secretaries, who were usually office directors at the Council. All members of the Council were selected by the GDR Volkskammer (parliament) for a term of five years. Within the centralized state structure of the GDR, the city, county and district administrations were subordinated to the Council.
Willi Stoph and his entire cabinet resigned on 7 November 1989. Stoph was succeeded by Hans Modrow. The SED gave up its monopoly of power on 1 December. Modrow continued in office, leading a cabinet with both SED/PDS and non-communist members. For much of the winter of 1989 and 1990, he was the de facto leader of East Germany. Modrow was succeeded by Lothar de Maizière after what turned out to be the only free election ever held in East Germany, in March 1990. The de Maizière cabinet presided over the transition period to the reunification of the two Germanies in October 1990.
The former Prussian state parliament (Preußischer Landtag) served as the seat of the Council from 1950 to 1953. From 1961 to 1990 the Council's offices were located in the former Old City Hall of Berlin at No. 47 Klosterstraße. The Law Gazette of the GDR (Gesetzblatt der DDR) was also published by the Council. In addition, the Council’s Press Office made official government announcements and was responsible for the accreditation of foreign journalists in the GDR.
The individual ministries had their own headquarters buildings in East Berlin, although the former Reich Air Ministry building on Leipziger Straße housed the industrially-oriented ministries.

## Chairmen of the Council of Ministers

| No. | Chairman | Took office | Left office | Time in office | Party | Election | Cabinet |
| Minister-President of the German Democratic Republic |||||||||
| 1 | Grotewohl, OttoOtto Grotewohl (1894–1964) | 12 October 1949 | 8 December 1958 (office renamed) | 9 years, 57 days | SED | Provisional Volkskammer (1949) 1st Volkskammer (1950) 2nd Volkskammer (1954) | Grotewohl I Grotewohl II Grotewohl III |
| Chairmen of the Council of Ministers of the German Democratic Republic |||||||||
| 1 | Grotewohl, OttoOtto Grotewohl (1894–1964) | 8 December 1958 | 21 September 1964 † | 5 years, 288 days | SED | 3rd Volkskammer (1958) 4th Volkskammer (1963) | Grotewohl IV Grotewohl V |
| 2 | Stoph, WilliWilli Stoph (1914–1999) | 21 September 1964 | 3 October 1973 | 9 years, 12 days | SED | 4th Volkskammer (1963) 5th Volkskammer (1967) 6th Volkskammer (1971) | Stoph I [de] Stoph II [de] Stoph III [de] |
| 3 | Sindermann, HorstHorst Sindermann (1915–1990) | 3 October 1973 | 29 October 1976 | 3 years, 26 days | SED | 6th Volkskammer (1971) | Sindermann [de] |
| (2) | Stoph, WilliWilli Stoph (1914–1999) | 29 October 1976 | 13 November 1989 | 13 years, 15 days | SED | 7th Volkskammer (1976) 8th Volkskammer (1981) 9th Volkskammer (1986) | Stoph IV [de] Stoph V [de] Stoph VI [de] |
| 4 | Modrow, HansHans Modrow (1928–2023) | 13 November 1989 | 12 April 1990 | 150 days | SED PDS | 9th Volkskammer (1986) | Modrow |
| Minister-President of the German Democratic Republic |||||||||
| 5 | Maizière, LotharLothar de Maizière (born 1940) | 12 April 1990 | 2 October 1990 | 173 days | CDU | 10th Volkskammer [de] (1990) | de Maizière |

## Ministries

| Name of the ministry | Minister (party) | Term of office | Cabinet |
| Labor and Vocational Training (until 1954: Labor) | Roman Chwalek (SED) | 1950–1953 | 1st Council of Ministers |
| Labor and Vocational Training (until 1954: Labor) | Friedrich Macher (SED) | 1953–1958 | 1st Council of Ministers |
| Labor and Vocational Training (until 1954: Labor) | Friedrich Macher (SED) | 1953–1958 | 2nd Council of Ministers |
| Guidance and Control of Bezirk and District Councils (from 1971: Working Group "Organization and Inspection") | Kurt Seibt (SED) | 1964–1965 | 4th Council of Ministers |
| Guidance and Control of Bezirk and District Councils (from 1971: Working Group "Organization and Inspection") | Fritz Scharfenstein (SED) | 1965–1971 | 4th Council of Ministers |
| Guidance and Control of Bezirk and District Councils (from 1971: Working Group "Organization and Inspection") | Fritz Scharfenstein (SED) | 1965–1971 | 5th Council of Ministers |
| downgraded from minister to state secretary at the Chairman of the Council of Ministers |||
| Guidance and Control of Bezirk and District Councils (from 1971: Working Group "Organization and Inspection") | Harry Möbis (SED) | 1971–1989 | 6th Council of Ministers |
| Guidance and Control of Bezirk and District Councils (from 1971: Working Group "Organization and Inspection") | Harry Möbis (SED) | 1971–1989 | 7th Council of Ministers |
| Guidance and Control of Bezirk and District Councils (from 1971: Working Group "Organization and Inspection") | Harry Möbis (SED) | 1971–1989 | 8th Council of Ministers |
| Guidance and Control of Bezirk and District Councils (from 1971: Working Group "Organization and Inspection") | Harry Möbis (SED) | 1971–1989 | 9th Council of Ministers |
| Foreign Affairs | Georg Dertinger (CDU) | 1949–1953 | Provisional Government of the GDR |
| Foreign Affairs | Georg Dertinger (CDU) | 1949–1953 | 1st Council of Ministers |
| Foreign Affairs | Lothar Bolz (NDPD) | 1953–1965 | 1st Council of Ministers |
| Foreign Affairs | Lothar Bolz (NDPD) | 1953–1965 | 2nd Council of Ministers |
| Foreign Affairs | Lothar Bolz (NDPD) | 1953–1965 | 3rd Council of Ministers |
| Foreign Affairs | Lothar Bolz (NDPD) | 1953–1965 | 4th Council of Ministers |
| Foreign Affairs | Otto Winzer (SED) | 1965–1975† | 4th Council of Ministers |
| Foreign Affairs | Otto Winzer (SED) | 1965–1975† | 5th Council of Ministers |
| Foreign Affairs | Otto Winzer (SED) | 1965–1975† | 6th Council of Ministers |
| Foreign Affairs | Oskar Fischer (SED) | 1975–1990 | 6th Council of Ministers |
| Foreign Affairs | Oskar Fischer (SED) | 1975–1990 | 7th Council of Ministers |
| Foreign Affairs | Oskar Fischer (SED) | 1975–1990 | 8th Council of Ministers |
| Foreign Affairs | Oskar Fischer (SED) | 1975–1990 | 9th Council of Ministers |
| Foreign Affairs | Oskar Fischer (SED) | 1975–1990 | Modrow government |
| Foreign Affairs | Markus Meckel (SPD) | 1990 | de Maizière government |
| Foreign Affairs | Lothar de Maizière (CDU) (acting) | 1990 | de Maizière government |
| Construction (until 1958: Reconstruction; 1989–1990: Construction and Housing; from 1990: Construction, Urban Development, and Housing) | Lothar Bolz (NDPD) | 1949–1953 | Provisional Government of the GDR |
| Construction (until 1958: Reconstruction; 1989–1990: Construction and Housing; from 1990: Construction, Urban Development, and Housing) | Lothar Bolz (NDPD) | 1949–1953 | 1st Council of Ministers |
| Construction (until 1958: Reconstruction; 1989–1990: Construction and Housing; from 1990: Construction, Urban Development, and Housing) | Heinz Winkler (SED) | 1953–1958 | 2nd Council of Ministers |
| Construction (until 1958: Reconstruction; 1989–1990: Construction and Housing; from 1990: Construction, Urban Development, and Housing) | Ernst Scholz (SED) | 1958–1963 | 3rd Council of Ministers |
| Construction (until 1958: Reconstruction; 1989–1990: Construction and Housing; from 1990: Construction, Urban Development, and Housing) | Wolfgang Junker (SED) | 1963–1989 | 4th Council of Ministers |
| Construction (until 1958: Reconstruction; 1989–1990: Construction and Housing; from 1990: Construction, Urban Development, and Housing) | Wolfgang Junker (SED) | 1963–1989 | 5th Council of Ministers |
| Construction (until 1958: Reconstruction; 1989–1990: Construction and Housing; from 1990: Construction, Urban Development, and Housing) | Wolfgang Junker (SED) | 1963–1989 | 6th Council of Ministers |
| Construction (until 1958: Reconstruction; 1989–1990: Construction and Housing; from 1990: Construction, Urban Development, and Housing) | Wolfgang Junker (SED) | 1963–1989 | 7th Council of Ministers |
| Construction (until 1958: Reconstruction; 1989–1990: Construction and Housing; from 1990: Construction, Urban Development, and Housing) | Wolfgang Junker (SED) | 1963–1989 | 8th Council of Ministers |
| Construction (until 1958: Reconstruction; 1989–1990: Construction and Housing; from 1990: Construction, Urban Development, and Housing) | Wolfgang Junker (SED) | 1963–1989 | 9th Council of Ministers |
| Construction (until 1958: Reconstruction; 1989–1990: Construction and Housing; from 1990: Construction, Urban Development, and Housing) | Gerhard Baumgärtel (CDU) | 1989–1990 | Modrow government |
| Construction (until 1958: Reconstruction; 1989–1990: Construction and Housing; from 1990: Construction, Urban Development, and Housing) | Axel Viehweger (LDPD/FDP) | 1990 | de Maizière government |
| Finance (1989–1990: Finance and Prices) | Hans Loch (LDPD) | 1949–1955 | Provisional Government of the GDR |
| Finance (1989–1990: Finance and Prices) | Hans Loch (LDPD) | 1949–1955 | 1st Council of Ministers |
| Finance (1989–1990: Finance and Prices) | Hans Loch (LDPD) | 1949–1955 | 2nd Council of Ministers |
| Finance (1989–1990: Finance and Prices) | Willy Rumpf (SED) | 1955–1966 | 2nd Council of Ministers |
| Finance (1989–1990: Finance and Prices) | Willy Rumpf (SED) | 1955–1966 | 3rd Council of Ministers |
| Finance (1989–1990: Finance and Prices) | Willy Rumpf (SED) | 1955–1966 | 4th Council of Ministers |
| Finance (1989–1990: Finance and Prices) | Siegfried Böhm (SED) | 1966–1980† | 4th Council of Ministers |
| Finance (1989–1990: Finance and Prices) | Siegfried Böhm (SED) | 1966–1980† | 5th Council of Ministers |
| Finance (1989–1990: Finance and Prices) | Siegfried Böhm (SED) | 1966–1980† | 6th Council of Ministers |
| Finance (1989–1990: Finance and Prices) | Siegfried Böhm (SED) | 1966–1980† | 7th Council of Ministers |
| Finance (1989–1990: Finance and Prices) | Werner Schmieder (SED) | 1980–1981 | 7th Council of Ministers |
| Finance (1989–1990: Finance and Prices) | Ernst Höfner (SED) | 1981–1989 | 8th Council of Ministers |
| Finance (1989–1990: Finance and Prices) | Ernst Höfner (SED) | 1981–1989 | 9th Council of Ministers |
| Finance (1989–1990: Finance and Prices) | Uta Nickel (SED-PDS) | 1989–1990 | Modrow government |
| Finance (1989–1990: Finance and Prices) | Walter Siegert (SED-PDS) (acting) | 1990 | Modrow government |
| Finance (1989–1990: Finance and Prices) | Walter Romberg (SPD) | 1990 | de Maizière government |
| Finance (1989–1990: Finance and Prices) | Werner Skowron (CDU) (acting) | 1990 | de Maizière government |
| Transport | Hans Reingruber (Cultural Association of the GDR) | 1949–1953 | Provisional Government of the GDR |
| Transport | Hans Reingruber (Cultural Association of the GDR) | 1949–1953 | 1st Council of Ministers |
| Transport | Erwin Kramer (SED) also General Director of the Deutsche Reichsbahn | 1954–1970 |
| Transport | Erwin Kramer (SED) also General Director of the Deutsche Reichsbahn | 1954–1970 | 2nd Council of Ministers |
| Transport | Erwin Kramer (SED) also General Director of the Deutsche Reichsbahn | 1954–1970 | 3rd Council of Ministers |
| Transport | Erwin Kramer (SED) also General Director of the Deutsche Reichsbahn | 1954–1970 | 4th Council of Ministers |
| Transport | Erwin Kramer (SED) also General Director of the Deutsche Reichsbahn | 1954–1970 | 5th Council of Ministers |
| Transport | Otto Arndt (SED) also General Director of the Deutsche Reichsbahn | 1970–1989 | 5th Council of Ministers |
| Transport | Otto Arndt (SED) also General Director of the Deutsche Reichsbahn | 1970–1989 | 6th Council of Ministers |
| Transport | Otto Arndt (SED) also General Director of the Deutsche Reichsbahn | 1970–1989 | 7th Council of Ministers |
| Transport | Otto Arndt (SED) also General Director of the Deutsche Reichsbahn | 1970–1989 | 8th Council of Ministers |
| Transport | Otto Arndt (SED) also General Director of the Deutsche Reichsbahn | 1970–1989 | 9th Council of Ministers |
| Transport | Heinrich Scholz (SED) also General Director of the Deutsche Reichsbahn | 1989–1990 | Modrow government |
| Transport | Herbert Keddi (SED-PDS) | 1990 | Modrow government |
| Transport | Horst Gebenner (CDU) | 1990 | de Maizière government |
| Post and Telecommunications | Friedrich Burmeister (CDU) | 1949–1963 | Provisional Government of the GDR |
| Post and Telecommunications | Friedrich Burmeister (CDU) | 1949–1963 | 1st Council of Ministers |
| Post and Telecommunications | Friedrich Burmeister (CDU) | 1949–1963 | 2nd Council of Ministers |
| Post and Telecommunications | Friedrich Burmeister (CDU) | 1949–1963 | 3rd Council of Ministers |
| Post and Telecommunications | Rudolph Schulze (CDU) | 1963–1989 | 4th Council of Ministers |
| Post and Telecommunications | Rudolph Schulze (CDU) | 1963–1989 | 5th Council of Ministers |
| Post and Telecommunications | Rudolph Schulze (CDU) | 1963–1989 | 6th Council of Ministers |
| Post and Telecommunications | Rudolph Schulze (CDU) | 1963–1989 | 7th Council of Ministers |
| Post and Telecommunications | Rudolph Schulze (CDU) | 1963–1989 | 8th Council of Ministers |
| Post and Telecommunications | Rudolph Schulze (CDU) | 1963–1989 | 9th Council of Ministers |
| Post and Telecommunications | Klaus Wolf (CDU) | 1989–1990 | Modrow government |
| Post and Telecommunications | Emil Schnell (SPD) | 1990 | de Maizière government |
| Post and Telecommunications | Hans-Jürgen Niehof (FDP) (acting) | 1990 | de Maizière government |
| Culture | Johannes R. Becher (SED) | 1954–1958† | 2nd Council of Ministers |
| Culture | Alexander Abusch (SED) | 1958–1961 | 3rd Council of Ministers |
| Culture | Hans Bentzien (SED) | 1961–1965 | 3rd Council of Ministers |
| Culture | Hans Bentzien (SED) | 1961–1965 | 4th Council of Ministers |
| Culture | Klaus Gysi (SED) | 1966–1973 | 4th Council of Ministers |
| Culture | Klaus Gysi (SED) | 1966–1973 | 5th Council of Ministers |
| Culture | Klaus Gysi (SED) | 1966–1973 | 6th Council of Ministers |
| Culture | Hans-Joachim Hoffmann (SED) | 1973–1989 | 6th Council of Ministers |
| Culture | Hans-Joachim Hoffmann (SED) | 1973–1989 | 7th Council of Ministers |
| Culture | Hans-Joachim Hoffmann (SED) | 1973–1989 | 8th Council of Ministers |
| Culture | Hans-Joachim Hoffmann (SED) | 1973–1989 | 9th Council of Ministers |
| Culture | Dietmar Keller (SED-PDS) | 1989–1990 | Modrow government |
| Culture | Herbert Schirmer (CDU) | 1990 | de Maizière government |
| Church Affairs (1957–1989: Secretariat for Church Affairs) | Werner Eggerath (SED) | 1957–1960 | 2nd Council of Ministers |
| Church Affairs (1957–1989: Secretariat for Church Affairs) | Werner Eggerath (SED) | 1957–1960 | 3rd Council of Ministers |
| Church Affairs (1957–1989: Secretariat for Church Affairs) | Hans Seigewasser (SED) | 1960–1979† | 3rd Council of Ministers |
| Church Affairs (1957–1989: Secretariat for Church Affairs) | Hans Seigewasser (SED) | 1960–1979† | 4th Council of Ministers |
| Church Affairs (1957–1989: Secretariat for Church Affairs) | Hans Seigewasser (SED) | 1960–1979† | 5th Council of Ministers |
| Church Affairs (1957–1989: Secretariat for Church Affairs) | Hans Seigewasser (SED) | 1960–1979† | 6th Council of Ministers |
| Church Affairs (1957–1989: Secretariat for Church Affairs) | Hans Seigewasser (SED) | 1960–1979† | 7th Council of Ministers |
| Church Affairs (1957–1989: Secretariat for Church Affairs) | Klaus Gysi (SED) | 1979–1988 | 7th Council of Ministers |
| Church Affairs (1957–1989: Secretariat for Church Affairs) | Klaus Gysi (SED) | 1979–1988 | 8th Council of Ministers |
| Church Affairs (1957–1989: Secretariat for Church Affairs) | Klaus Gysi (SED) | 1979–1988 | 9th Council of Ministers |
| Church Affairs (1957–1989: Secretariat for Church Affairs) | Kurt Löffler (SED) | 1988–1989 | 9th Council of Ministers |
| upgraded from state secretary to minister |||
| Church Affairs (1957–1989: Secretariat for Church Affairs) | Lothar de Maizière (CDU) | 1989–1990 | Modrow government |
| dissolved to new Minister-President's Office |||
| Agriculture (1963–1968: Agricultural Council; 1968–1971: Council for Agricultural Production and Food Economy) | Ernst Goldenbaum (DBD) | 1949–1950 | Provisional Government of the GDR |
| Agriculture (1963–1968: Agricultural Council; 1968–1971: Council for Agricultural Production and Food Economy) | Paul Scholz (DBD) | 1950–1952 | 1st Council of Ministers |
| Agriculture (1963–1968: Agricultural Council; 1968–1971: Council for Agricultural Production and Food Economy) | Wilhelm Schröder (DBD) | 1952–1953 | 1st Council of Ministers |
| Agriculture (1963–1968: Agricultural Council; 1968–1971: Council for Agricultural Production and Food Economy) | Hans Reichelt (DBD) | 1953 | 1st Council of Ministers |
| Agriculture (1963–1968: Agricultural Council; 1968–1971: Council for Agricultural Production and Food Economy) | Paul Scholz (DBD) | 1953–1955 | 1st Council of Ministers |
| Agriculture (1963–1968: Agricultural Council; 1968–1971: Council for Agricultural Production and Food Economy) | Paul Scholz (DBD) | 1953–1955 | 2nd Council of Ministers |
| Agriculture (1963–1968: Agricultural Council; 1968–1971: Council for Agricultural Production and Food Economy) | Hans Reichelt (DBD) | 1955–1963 | 2nd Council of Ministers |
| Agriculture (1963–1968: Agricultural Council; 1968–1971: Council for Agricultural Production and Food Economy) | Hans Reichelt (DBD) | 1955–1963 | 3rd Council of Ministers |
| Agriculture (1963–1968: Agricultural Council; 1968–1971: Council for Agricultural Production and Food Economy) | Karl-Heinz Bartsch (SED) | 1963 | 3rd Council of Ministers |
| Agriculture (1963–1968: Agricultural Council; 1968–1971: Council for Agricultural Production and Food Economy) | Georg Ewald (SED) | 1963–1973† | 3rd Council of Ministers |
| Agriculture (1963–1968: Agricultural Council; 1968–1971: Council for Agricultural Production and Food Economy) | Georg Ewald (SED) | 1963–1973† | 4th Council of Ministers |
| Agriculture (1963–1968: Agricultural Council; 1968–1971: Council for Agricultural Production and Food Economy) | Georg Ewald (SED) | 1963–1973† | 5th Council of Ministers |
| Agriculture (1963–1968: Agricultural Council; 1968–1971: Council for Agricultural Production and Food Economy) | Georg Ewald (SED) | 1963–1973† | 6th Council of Ministers |
| Agriculture (1963–1968: Agricultural Council; 1968–1971: Council for Agricultural Production and Food Economy) | Heinz Kuhrig (SED) | 1973–1982 | 6th Council of Ministers |
| Agriculture (1963–1968: Agricultural Council; 1968–1971: Council for Agricultural Production and Food Economy) | Heinz Kuhrig (SED) | 1973–1982 | 7th Council of Ministers |
| Agriculture (1963–1968: Agricultural Council; 1968–1971: Council for Agricultural Production and Food Economy) | Heinz Kuhrig (SED) | 1973–1982 | 8th Council of Ministers |
| Agriculture (1963–1968: Agricultural Council; 1968–1971: Council for Agricultural Production and Food Economy) | Bruno Lietz (SED) | 1982–1989 | 8th Council of Ministers |
| Agriculture (1963–1968: Agricultural Council; 1968–1971: Council for Agricultural Production and Food Economy) | Bruno Lietz (SED) | 1982–1989 | 9th Council of Ministers |
| Agriculture (1963–1968: Agricultural Council; 1968–1971: Council for Agricultural Production and Food Economy) | Hans Watzek (DBD) | 1989–1990 | Modrow government |
| Agriculture (1963–1968: Agricultural Council; 1968–1971: Council for Agricultural Production and Food Economy) | Peter Pollack (independent/SPD) | 1990 | de Maizière government |
| Agriculture (1963–1968: Agricultural Council; 1968–1971: Council for Agricultural Production and Food Economy) | Peter Kauffold (SPD) | 1990 | de Maizière government |
| Agriculture (1963–1968: Agricultural Council; 1968–1971: Council for Agricultural Production and Food Economy) | Gottfried Haschke (CDU) (acting) | 1990 | de Maizière government |
| People's Education (until 1950: People's Education and Youth; from 1989: Education and Youth) | Paul Wandel (SED) | 1949–1952 | Provisional Government of the GDR |
| People's Education (until 1950: People's Education and Youth; from 1989: Education and Youth) | Paul Wandel (SED) | 1949–1952 | 1st Council of Ministers |
| People's Education (until 1950: People's Education and Youth; from 1989: Education and Youth) | Elisabeth Zaisser (SED) | 1952–1954 | 1st Council of Ministers |
| People's Education (until 1950: People's Education and Youth; from 1989: Education and Youth) | Fritz Lange (SED) | 1954–1958 | 2nd Council of Ministers |
| People's Education (until 1950: People's Education and Youth; from 1989: Education and Youth) | Alfred Lemmnitz (SED) | 1958–1963 | 3rd Council of Ministers |
| People's Education (until 1950: People's Education and Youth; from 1989: Education and Youth) | Margot Honecker (SED) | 1963–1989 | 4th Council of Ministers |
| People's Education (until 1950: People's Education and Youth; from 1989: Education and Youth) | Margot Honecker (SED) | 1963–1989 | 5th Council of Ministers |
| People's Education (until 1950: People's Education and Youth; from 1989: Education and Youth) | Margot Honecker (SED) | 1963–1989 | 6th Council of Ministers |
| People's Education (until 1950: People's Education and Youth; from 1989: Education and Youth) | Margot Honecker (SED) | 1963–1989 | 7th Council of Ministers |
| People's Education (until 1950: People's Education and Youth; from 1989: Education and Youth) | Margot Honecker (SED) | 1963–1989 | 8th Council of Ministers |
| People's Education (until 1950: People's Education and Youth; from 1989: Education and Youth) | Margot Honecker (SED) | 1963–1989 | 9th Council of Ministers |
| People's Education (until 1950: People's Education and Youth; from 1989: Education and Youth) | Günther Fuchs (SED) (acting) | 1989 | 9th Council of Ministers |
| People's Education (until 1950: People's Education and Youth; from 1989: Education and Youth) | Hans-Heinz Emons (SED-PDS) | 1989–1990 | Modrow government |
| dissolved to new Ministry of Education and Science |||
| Higher and Technical Education (1951–1958: State Secretariat for Higher Education; 1958–1967: State Secretariat for Higher and Technical Education) | Gerhard Harig (SED) | 1951–1957 | 1st Council of Ministers |
| Higher and Technical Education (1951–1958: State Secretariat for Higher Education; 1958–1967: State Secretariat for Higher and Technical Education) | Gerhard Harig (SED) | 1951–1957 | 2nd Council of Ministers |
| Higher and Technical Education (1951–1958: State Secretariat for Higher Education; 1958–1967: State Secretariat for Higher and Technical Education) | Wilhelm Girnus (SED) | 1957–1962 | 2nd Council of Ministers |
| Higher and Technical Education (1951–1958: State Secretariat for Higher Education; 1958–1967: State Secretariat for Higher and Technical Education) | Wilhelm Girnus (SED) | 1957–1962 | 3rd Council of Ministers |
| Higher and Technical Education (1951–1958: State Secretariat for Higher Education; 1958–1967: State Secretariat for Higher and Technical Education) | Ernst-Joachim Gießmann (SED) | 1962–1967 | 3rd Council of Ministers |
| Higher and Technical Education (1951–1958: State Secretariat for Higher Education; 1958–1967: State Secretariat for Higher and Technical Education) | Ernst-Joachim Gießmann (SED) | 1962–1967 | 4th Council of Ministers |
| upgraded from state secretary to minister |||
| Higher and Technical Education (1951–1958: State Secretariat for Higher Education; 1958–1967: State Secretariat for Higher and Technical Education) | Ernst-Joachim Gießmann (SED) | 1967–1970 | 5th Council of Ministers |
| Higher and Technical Education (1951–1958: State Secretariat for Higher Education; 1958–1967: State Secretariat for Higher and Technical Education) | Hans-Joachim Böhme (SED) | 1970–1989 | 5th Council of Ministers |
| Higher and Technical Education (1951–1958: State Secretariat for Higher Education; 1958–1967: State Secretariat for Higher and Technical Education) | Hans-Joachim Böhme (SED) | 1970–1989 | 6th Council of Ministers |
| Higher and Technical Education (1951–1958: State Secretariat for Higher Education; 1958–1967: State Secretariat for Higher and Technical Education) | Hans-Joachim Böhme (SED) | 1970–1989 | 7th Council of Ministers |
| Higher and Technical Education (1951–1958: State Secretariat for Higher Education; 1958–1967: State Secretariat for Higher and Technical Education) | Hans-Joachim Böhme (SED) | 1970–1989 | 8th Council of Ministers |
| Higher and Technical Education (1951–1958: State Secretariat for Higher Education; 1958–1967: State Secretariat for Higher and Technical Education) | Hans-Joachim Böhme (SED) | 1970–1989 | 9th Council of Ministers |
| dissolved to Ministry of Education and Youth |||
| Science and Technology (from 1990: Research and Technology) | Herbert Weiz (SED) | 1974–1989 | 6th Council of Ministers |
| Science and Technology (from 1990: Research and Technology) | Herbert Weiz (SED) | 1974–1989 | 7th Council of Ministers |
| Science and Technology (from 1990: Research and Technology) | Herbert Weiz (SED) | 1974–1989 | 8th Council of Ministers |
| Science and Technology (from 1990: Research and Technology) | Herbert Weiz (SED) | 1974–1989 | 9th Council of Ministers |
| Science and Technology (from 1990: Research and Technology) | Peter-Klaus Budig (LDPD) | 1989–1990 | Modrow government |
| Science and Technology (from 1990: Research and Technology) | Frank Terpe (SPD) | 1990 | de Maizière government |
| Science and Technology (from 1990: Research and Technology) | Hans Joachim Meyer (CDU) (acting) | 1990 | de Maizière government |
| Health (until 1958: Labor and Health; 1989 to 1990: Health and Social Affairs) | Luitpold Steidle (CDU) | 1949–1958 | Provisional Government of the GDR |
| Health (until 1958: Labor and Health; 1989 to 1990: Health and Social Affairs) | Luitpold Steidle (CDU) | 1949–1958 | 1st Council of Ministers |
| Health (until 1958: Labor and Health; 1989 to 1990: Health and Social Affairs) | Luitpold Steidle (CDU) | 1949–1958 | 2nd Council of Ministers |
| Health (until 1958: Labor and Health; 1989 to 1990: Health and Social Affairs) | Max Sefrin (CDU) | 1958–1971 | 3rd Council of Ministers |
| Health (until 1958: Labor and Health; 1989 to 1990: Health and Social Affairs) | Max Sefrin (CDU) | 1958–1971 | 4th Council of Ministers |
| Health (until 1958: Labor and Health; 1989 to 1990: Health and Social Affairs) | Max Sefrin (CDU) | 1958–1971 | 5th Council of Ministers |
| Health (until 1958: Labor and Health; 1989 to 1990: Health and Social Affairs) | Ludwig Mecklinger (SED) | 1971–1988 | 6th Council of Ministers |
| Health (until 1958: Labor and Health; 1989 to 1990: Health and Social Affairs) | Ludwig Mecklinger (SED) | 1971–1988 | 7th Council of Ministers |
| Health (until 1958: Labor and Health; 1989 to 1990: Health and Social Affairs) | Ludwig Mecklinger (SED) | 1971–1988 | 8th Council of Ministers |
| Health (until 1958: Labor and Health; 1989 to 1990: Health and Social Affairs) | Ludwig Mecklinger (SED) | 1971–1988 | 9th Council of Ministers |
| Health (until 1958: Labor and Health; 1989 to 1990: Health and Social Affairs) | Klaus Thielmann (SED-PDS) | 1989–1990 | 9th Council of Ministers |
| Health (until 1958: Labor and Health; 1989 to 1990: Health and Social Affairs) | Klaus Thielmann (SED-PDS) | 1989–1990 | Modrow government |
| Health (until 1958: Labor and Health; 1989 to 1990: Health and Social Affairs) | Jürgen Kleditzsch (CDU) | 1990 | de Maizière government |
| Geology | Manfred Bochmann (SED) | 1974–1989 | 6th Council of Ministers |
| Geology | Manfred Bochmann (SED) | 1974–1989 | 7th Council of Ministers |
| Geology | Manfred Bochmann (SED) | 1974–1989 | 8th Council of Ministers |
| Geology | Manfred Bochmann (SED) | 1974–1989 | 9th Council of Ministers |
| dissolved to new Ministry of Heavy Industry |||
| Environmental Protection and Water Management (from 1990: Environmental and Nature Conservation, Reactor Safety and Energy) | Werner Titel (DBD) | 1971† | 6th Council of Ministers |
| Environmental Protection and Water Management (from 1990: Environmental and Nature Conservation, Reactor Safety and Energy) | Hans Reichelt (DBD) | 1972–1990 | 6th Council of Ministers |
| Environmental Protection and Water Management (from 1990: Environmental and Nature Conservation, Reactor Safety and Energy) | Hans Reichelt (DBD) | 1972–1990 | 7th Ministerrat |
| Environmental Protection and Water Management (from 1990: Environmental and Nature Conservation, Reactor Safety and Energy) | Hans Reichelt (DBD) | 1972–1990 | 8th Council of Ministers |
| Environmental Protection and Water Management (from 1990: Environmental and Nature Conservation, Reactor Safety and Energy) | Hans Reichelt (DBD) | 1972–1990 | 9th Council of Ministers |
| Environmental Protection and Water Management (from 1990: Environmental and Nature Conservation, Reactor Safety and Energy) | Hans Reichelt (DBD) | 1972–1990 | Modrow government |
| Environmental Protection and Water Management (from 1990: Environmental and Nature Conservation, Reactor Safety and Energy) | Peter Diederich (DBD) | 1990 | Modrow government |
| Environmental Protection and Water Management (from 1990: Environmental and Nature Conservation, Reactor Safety and Energy) | Karl-Hermann Steinberg (CDU) | 1990 | de Maizière government |
| Trade and Supply | Karl Hamann (LDPD) | 1949–1952 | Provisional Government of the GDR |
| Trade and Supply | Karl Hamann (LDPD) | 1949–1952 | 1st Council of Ministers |
| Trade and Supply | Curt Wach (SED) | 1953–1959 | 1st Council of Ministers |
| Trade and Supply | Curt Wach (SED) | 1953–1959 | 2nd Council of Ministers |
| Trade and Supply | Curt Wach (SED) | 1953–1959 | 3rd Council of Ministers |
| Trade and Supply | Curt-Heinz Merkel (SED) | 1959–1963 | 3rd Council of Ministers |
| Trade and Supply | Gerhard Lucht (SED) | 1963–1965 | 4th Council of Ministers |
| Trade and Supply | Günter Sieber (SED) | 1965–1972 | 4th Council of Ministers |
| Trade and Supply | Günter Sieber (SED) | 1965–1972 | 5th Council of Ministers |
| Trade and Supply | Günter Sieber (SED) | 1965–1972 | 6th Council of Ministers |
| Trade and Supply | Gerhard Briksa (SED) | 1972–1989 | 6th Council of Ministers |
| Trade and Supply | Gerhard Briksa (SED) | 1972–1989 | 7th Council of Ministers |
| Trade and Supply | Gerhard Briksa (SED) | 1972–1989 | 8th Council of Ministers |
| Trade and Supply | Gerhard Briksa (SED) | 1972–1989 | 9th Council of Ministers |
| Trade and Supply | Manfred Flegel (NDPD) | 1989–1990 | Modrow government |
| Foreign Trade | Georg Ulrich Handke (SED) | 1949–1952 | Provisional Government of the GDR |
| Foreign Trade | Georg Ulrich Handke (SED) | 1949–1952 | 1st Council of Ministers |
| Foreign Trade | Kurt Gregor (SED) | 1952–1954 | 1st Council of Ministers |
| Foreign Trade | Heinrich Rau (SED) | 1955–1961† | 2nd Council of Ministers |
| Foreign Trade | Heinrich Rau (SED) | 1955–1961† | 3rd Council of Ministers |
| Foreign Trade | Julius Balkow (SED) | 1961–1965 | 3rd Council of Ministers |
| Foreign Trade | Julius Balkow (SED) | 1961–1965 | 4th Council of Ministers |
| Foreign Trade | Horst Sölle (SED) | 1965–1986 | 4th Council of Ministers |
| Foreign Trade | Horst Sölle (SED) | 1965–1986 | 5th Council of Ministers |
| Foreign Trade | Horst Sölle (SED) | 1965–1986 | 6th Council of Ministers |
| Foreign Trade | Horst Sölle (SED) | 1965–1986 | 7th Council of Ministers |
| Foreign Trade | Horst Sölle (SED) | 1965–1986 | 8th Council of Ministers |
| Foreign Trade | Gerhard Beil (SED) | 1986–1990 | 9th Council of Ministers |
| Foreign Trade | Gerhard Beil (SED) | 1986–1990 | Modrow government |
| Justice | Max Fechner (SED) | 1949–1953 | Provisional Government of the GDR |
| Justice | Max Fechner (SED) | 1949–1953 | 1st Council of Ministers |
| Justice | Hilde Benjamin (SED) | 1953–1967 | 1st Council of Ministers |
| Justice | Hilde Benjamin (SED) | 1953–1967 | 2nd Council of Ministers |
| Justice | Hilde Benjamin (SED) | 1953–1967 | 3rd Council of Ministers |
| Justice | Hilde Benjamin (SED) | 1953–1967 | 4th Council of Ministers |
| Justice | Kurt Wünsche (LDPD) | 1967–1972 | 5th Council of Ministers |
| Justice | Kurt Wünsche (LDPD) | 1967–1972 | 6th Council of Ministers |
| Justice | Hans-Joachim Heusinger (LDPD) | 1972–1990 | 6th Council of Ministers |
| Justice | Hans-Joachim Heusinger (LDPD) | 1972–1990 | 7th Council of Ministers |
| Justice | Hans-Joachim Heusinger (LDPD) | 1972–1990 | 8th Council of Ministers |
| Justice | Hans-Joachim Heusinger (LDPD) | 1972–1990 | 9th Council of Ministers |
| Justice | Hans-Joachim Heusinger (LDPD) | 1972–1990 | Modrow government |
| Justice | Kurt Wünsche (LDPD/FDP) | 1990 | Modrow government |
| Justice | Kurt Wünsche (LDPD/FDP) | 1990 | de Maizière government |
| Justice | Manfred Walther (CDU) (acting) | 1990 | de Maizière government |
| Minister-President's Office (1949–1954: Government Chancellery; 1954–1962: Office of the Presidium of the Council of Ministers; 1962–1974: Office of the Council of Ministers; 1974–1990: Secretariat of the Council of Ministers) | Rudi Geyer (SED) | 1949–1956 | 1st Council of Ministers |
| Minister-President's Office (1949–1954: Government Chancellery; 1954–1962: Office of the Presidium of the Council of Ministers; 1962–1974: Office of the Council of Ministers; 1974–1990: Secretariat of the Council of Ministers) | Rudi Geyer (SED) | 1949–1956 | 2nd Council of Ministers |
| Minister-President's Office (1949–1954: Government Chancellery; 1954–1962: Office of the Presidium of the Council of Ministers; 1962–1974: Office of the Council of Ministers; 1974–1990: Secretariat of the Council of Ministers) | Anton Plenikowski (SED) | 1956–1963 | 2nd Council of Ministers |
| Minister-President's Office (1949–1954: Government Chancellery; 1954–1962: Office of the Presidium of the Council of Ministers; 1962–1974: Office of the Council of Ministers; 1974–1990: Secretariat of the Council of Ministers) | Anton Plenikowski (SED) | 1956–1963 | 3rd Council of Ministers |
| Minister-President's Office (1949–1954: Government Chancellery; 1954–1962: Office of the Presidium of the Council of Ministers; 1962–1974: Office of the Council of Ministers; 1974–1990: Secretariat of the Council of Ministers) | Rudolf Rost (SED) | 1963–1975 | 4th Council of Ministers |
| Minister-President's Office (1949–1954: Government Chancellery; 1954–1962: Office of the Presidium of the Council of Ministers; 1962–1974: Office of the Council of Ministers; 1974–1990: Secretariat of the Council of Ministers) | Rudolf Rost (SED) | 1963–1975 | 5th Council of Ministers |
| Minister-President's Office (1949–1954: Government Chancellery; 1954–1962: Office of the Presidium of the Council of Ministers; 1962–1974: Office of the Council of Ministers; 1974–1990: Secretariat of the Council of Ministers) | Rudolf Rost (SED) | 1963–1975 | 6th Council of Ministers |
| Minister-President's Office (1949–1954: Government Chancellery; 1954–1962: Office of the Presidium of the Council of Ministers; 1962–1974: Office of the Council of Ministers; 1974–1990: Secretariat of the Council of Ministers) | Kurt Kleinert (SED) | 1974–1989 | 6th Council of Ministers |
| Minister-President's Office (1949–1954: Government Chancellery; 1954–1962: Office of the Presidium of the Council of Ministers; 1962–1974: Office of the Council of Ministers; 1974–1990: Secretariat of the Council of Ministers) | Kurt Kleinert (SED) | 1974–1989 | 7th Council of Ministers |
| Minister-President's Office (1949–1954: Government Chancellery; 1954–1962: Office of the Presidium of the Council of Ministers; 1962–1974: Office of the Council of Ministers; 1974–1990: Secretariat of the Council of Ministers) | Kurt Kleinert (SED) | 1974–1989 | 8th Council of Ministers |
| Minister-President's Office (1949–1954: Government Chancellery; 1954–1962: Office of the Presidium of the Council of Ministers; 1962–1974: Office of the Council of Ministers; 1974–1990: Secretariat of the Council of Ministers) | Kurt Kleinert (SED) | 1974–1989 | 9th Council of Ministers |
| Minister-President's Office (1949–1954: Government Chancellery; 1954–1962: Office of the Presidium of the Council of Ministers; 1962–1974: Office of the Council of Ministers; 1974–1990: Secretariat of the Council of Ministers) | Harry Möbis (SED) | 1989–1990 | Modrow government |
| upgraded from state secretary to minister |||
| Minister-President's Office (1949–1954: Government Chancellery; 1954–1962: Office of the Presidium of the Council of Ministers; 1962–1974: Office of the Council of Ministers; 1974–1990: Secretariat of the Council of Ministers) | Klaus Reichenbach (CDU) | 1990 | de Maizière government |

### New Ministries from 1989/1990

| Name of the ministry | Minister | Term of office | Cabinet |
| Mechanical Engineering | Karl Grünheid (SED-PDS) | 1989–1990 | Modrow government |
| Mechanical Engineering | Hans-Joachim Lauck (SED-PDS) | 1990 | Modrow government |
| dissolved to Ministry of Economy |||
| Heavy Industry | Kurt Singhuber (SED-PDS) | 1989–1990 | Modrow government |
| dissolved to Ministry of Economy |||
| Economy | Christa Luft (SED-PDS) | 1989–1990 | Modrow government |
| Economy | Gerhard Pohl (CDU) | 1990 | de Maizière government |
| Economy | Gunter Halm (LDPD/FDP) (acting) | 1990 | de Maizière government |
| Tourism | Bruno Benthien (LDPD) | 1989–1990 | Modrow government |
| Tourism | Sybille Reider (SPD) | 1990 | de Maizière government |
| Tourism | Lothar Engel (independent) (acting) | 1990 | de Maizière government |
| Labor and Wages (from 1990: Labor and Social Affairs) | Hannelore Mensch (SED-PDS) | 1989–1990 | Modrow government |
| Labor and Wages (from 1990: Labor and Social Affairs) | Regine Hildebrandt (SPD) | 1990 | de Maizière government |
| Labor and Wages (from 1990: Labor and Social Affairs) | Jürgen Kleditzsch (CDU) (acting) | 1990 | de Maizière government |
| Family and Women | Christa Schmidt (CDU) | 1990 | de Maizière government |
| Education and Science | Hans Joachim Meyer (CDU) | 1990 | de Maizière government |
| Youth and Sports | Cordula Schubert (CDU) | 1990 | de Maizière government |
| Media Policy | Gottfried Müller (CDU) | 1990 | de Maizière government |
| Economic Cooperation | Hans-Wilhelm Ebeling (DSU/CDU) | 1990 | de Maizière government |

### Ministries of the armed forces

| Name of the ministry | Minister (party) | Term of office | Cabinet |
| Ministry of the Interior | Karl Steinhoff (SED) | 1949–1952 | Provisional Government of the GDR |
| Ministry of the Interior | Karl Steinhoff (SED) | 1949–1952 | 1st Council of Ministers |
| Ministry of the Interior | Willi Stoph (SED) | 1952–1955 | 1st Council of Ministers |
| Ministry of the Interior | Willi Stoph (SED) | 1952–1955 | 2nd Council of Ministers |
| Ministry of the Interior | Karl Maron (SED) | 1955–1963 | 2nd Council of Ministers |
| Ministry of the Interior | Karl Maron (SED) | 1955–1963 | 3rd Council of Ministers |
| Ministry of the Interior | Friedrich Dickel (SED) | 1963–1989 | 4th Council of Ministers |
| Ministry of the Interior | Friedrich Dickel (SED) | 1963–1989 | 5th Council of Ministers |
| Ministry of the Interior | Friedrich Dickel (SED) | 1963–1989 | 6th Council of Ministers |
| Ministry of the Interior | Friedrich Dickel (SED) | 1963–1989 | 7th Council of Ministers |
| Ministry of the Interior | Friedrich Dickel (SED) | 1963–1989 | 8th Council of Ministers |
| Ministry of the Interior | Friedrich Dickel (SED) | 1963–1989 | 9th Council of Ministers |
| Ministry of the Interior | Lothar Ahrendt (SED-PDS) | 1989–1990 | Modrow government |
| Ministry of the Interior | Peter-Michael Diestel (DSU/CDU) | 1990 | de Maizière government |
| Ministry for State Security (1953–1955: State Secretariat for State Security; since 1989: Office for National Security) | Wilhelm Zaisser (SED) | 1950–1953 | 1st Council of Ministers |
| downgraded from minister to state secretary in the Ministry of Interior |||
| Ministry for State Security (1953–1955: State Secretariat for State Security; since 1989: Office for National Security) | Ernst Wollweber (SED) | 1953–1955 | 1st Council of Ministers |
| Ministry for State Security (1953–1955: State Secretariat for State Security; since 1989: Office for National Security) | Ernst Wollweber (SED) | 1953–1955 | 2nd Council of Ministers |
| upgraded from state secretary in the Ministry of Interior to minister |||
| Ministry for State Security (1953–1955: State Secretariat for State Security; since 1989: Office for National Security) | Ernst Wollweber (SED) | 1955–1957 | 2nd Council of Ministers |
| Ministry for State Security (1953–1955: State Secretariat for State Security; since 1989: Office for National Security) | Erich Mielke (SED) | 1957–1989 | 2nd Council of Ministers |
| Ministry for State Security (1953–1955: State Secretariat for State Security; since 1989: Office for National Security) | Erich Mielke (SED) | 1957–1989 | 3rd Council of Ministers |
| Ministry for State Security (1953–1955: State Secretariat for State Security; since 1989: Office for National Security) | Erich Mielke (SED) | 1957–1989 | 4th Council of Ministers |
| Ministry for State Security (1953–1955: State Secretariat for State Security; since 1989: Office for National Security) | Erich Mielke (SED) | 1957–1989 | 5th Council of Ministers |
| Ministry for State Security (1953–1955: State Secretariat for State Security; since 1989: Office for National Security) | Erich Mielke (SED) | 1957–1989 | 6th Council of Ministers |
| Ministry for State Security (1953–1955: State Secretariat for State Security; since 1989: Office for National Security) | Erich Mielke (SED) | 1957–1989 | 7th Council of Ministers |
| Ministry for State Security (1953–1955: State Secretariat for State Security; since 1989: Office for National Security) | Erich Mielke (SED) | 1957–1989 | 8th Council of Ministers |
| Ministry for State Security (1953–1955: State Secretariat for State Security; since 1989: Office for National Security) | Erich Mielke (SED) | 1957–1989 | 9th Council of Ministers |
| Ministry for State Security (1953–1955: State Secretariat for State Security; since 1989: Office for National Security) | Wolfgang Schwanitz (SED-PDS) | 1989–1990 | Modrow government |
| Ministry dissolved |||
| Ministry of National Defense (from 1990: Ministry of Disarmament and Defense) | Willi Stoph (SED) | 1956–1961 | 2nd Council of Ministers |
| Ministry of National Defense (from 1990: Ministry of Disarmament and Defense) | Willi Stoph (SED) | 1956–1961 | 3rd Council of Ministers |
| Ministry of National Defense (from 1990: Ministry of Disarmament and Defense) | Heinz Hoffmann (SED) | 1961–1985† | 3rd Council of Ministers |
| Ministry of National Defense (from 1990: Ministry of Disarmament and Defense) | Heinz Hoffmann (SED) | 1961–1985† | 4th Council of Ministers |
| Ministry of National Defense (from 1990: Ministry of Disarmament and Defense) | Heinz Hoffmann (SED) | 1961–1985† | 5th Council of Ministers |
| Ministry of National Defense (from 1990: Ministry of Disarmament and Defense) | Heinz Hoffmann (SED) | 1961–1985† | 6th Council of Ministers |
| Ministry of National Defense (from 1990: Ministry of Disarmament and Defense) | Heinz Hoffmann (SED) | 1961–1985† | 7th Council of Ministers |
| Ministry of National Defense (from 1990: Ministry of Disarmament and Defense) | Heinz Hoffmann (SED) | 1961–1985† | 8th Council of Ministers |
| Ministry of National Defense (from 1990: Ministry of Disarmament and Defense) | Heinz Keßler (SED) | 1985–1989 | 8th Council of Ministers |
| Ministry of National Defense (from 1990: Ministry of Disarmament and Defense) | Heinz Keßler (SED) | 1985–1989 | 9th Council of Ministers |
| Ministry of National Defense (from 1990: Ministry of Disarmament and Defense) | Theodor Hoffmann (SED-PDS) | 1989–1990 | Modrow government |
| Ministry of National Defense (from 1990: Ministry of Disarmament and Defense) | Rainer Eppelmann (DA/CDU) | 1990 | De Maizière government |

### Industry ministries

In addition to the departments that are usual in every government, the Council of Ministers was characterized by a large number of industry ministries that were set up from 1950 onwards. The State Planning Commission was a central organ of the Council of Ministers ("Planning authority 1st level") to coordinate the work of the individual industry ministries ("Planning authority 2nd level"). 1958 the industrial ministries were dissolved and merged in 1961 in the newly founded People's Economic Council (VWR). The chairman of the VWR was Alfred Neumann (SED). These organizational changes occurred in the course of the introduction of the New Economic System of Planning and Management (NÖSPL). The VWR was abolished again in 1965 and individual industrial ministries were set up again. As before, these were subordinate to the State Planning Commission.
In 1972, the Ministry for the Glass and Ceramics Industry was formed from parts of the glass and fine ceramics industry of various other ministries. The next major change occurred in 1973, when the Ministry of Processing Machinery and Vehicle Construction was split into two ministries, the Ministry of General Machinery, Agricultural Machinery and Vehicle Construction and the Ministry of Tool and Processing Machine Construction.
In 1989, a far-reaching restructuring of the industry ministries took place: the ministries for Bezirk-managed industry and food industry and the glass and ceramics industry were dissolved, and the business areas were transferred to the Ministry of Light Industry on January 1, 1990. The ministries for mechanical and vehicle construction, tool and processing machine construction, heavy machinery and plant construction, and electrical engineering and electronics were transferred to a newly formed Ministry of Mechanical Engineering. Karl Grünheid (SED), previously the long-standing minister for the glass and ceramics industry, became minister. A Ministry of Heavy Industry was also newly formed, which was made up of the ministries for geology, ore mining, metallurgy and potash, chemical industry, and coal and energy. The new minister was Kurt Singhuber (SED), who had previously been the long-serving minister for ore mining, metallurgy and potash. The Ministry of Materials Management, however, was incorporated into the State Planning Commission.
In the de Maizière government the three remaining industrial ministries of light industry, heavy industry and mechanical engineering as well as the Economic Committee for the Implementation of Economic Reform, successor to the State Planning Commission, were incorporated into the Ministry of Economics, which had only been founded in 1989.
| Name of the ministry | Minister (party) | Term of office | Cabinet |
| Ore Mining, Metallurgy and Potash (1950 to 1955: Metallurgy and Ore Mining; 1955 to 1958: Mining and Metallurgy) | Fritz Selbmann (SED) | 1950–1955 | 1st Council of Ministers |
| Ore Mining, Metallurgy and Potash (1950 to 1955: Metallurgy and Ore Mining; 1955 to 1958: Mining and Metallurgy) | Fritz Selbmann (SED) | 1950–1955 | 2nd Council of Ministers |
| Ore Mining, Metallurgy and Potash (1950 to 1955: Metallurgy and Ore Mining; 1955 to 1958: Mining and Metallurgy) | Rudolf Steinwand (SED) | 1955–1958 | 2nd Council of Ministers |
| Ore Mining, Metallurgy and Potash (1950 to 1955: Metallurgy and Ore Mining; 1955 to 1958: Mining and Metallurgy) | Ministry dissolved | 1958–1965 | 3rd Council of Ministers |
| Ore Mining, Metallurgy and Potash (1950 to 1955: Metallurgy and Ore Mining; 1955 to 1958: Mining and Metallurgy) | Ministry dissolved | 1958–1965 | 4th Council of Ministers |
| Ore Mining, Metallurgy and Potash (1950 to 1955: Metallurgy and Ore Mining; 1955 to 1958: Mining and Metallurgy) | Kurt Fichtner (SED) | 1965–1967 | 4th Council of Ministers |
| Ore Mining, Metallurgy and Potash (1950 to 1955: Metallurgy and Ore Mining; 1955 to 1958: Mining and Metallurgy) | Kurt Singhuber (SED) | 1967–1989 | 5th Council of Ministers |
| Ore Mining, Metallurgy and Potash (1950 to 1955: Metallurgy and Ore Mining; 1955 to 1958: Mining and Metallurgy) | Kurt Singhuber (SED) | 1967–1989 | 6th Council of Ministers |
| Ore Mining, Metallurgy and Potash (1950 to 1955: Metallurgy and Ore Mining; 1955 to 1958: Mining and Metallurgy) | Kurt Singhuber (SED) | 1967–1989 | 7th Council of Ministers |
| Ore Mining, Metallurgy and Potash (1950 to 1955: Metallurgy and Ore Mining; 1955 to 1958: Mining and Metallurgy) | Kurt Singhuber (SED) | 1967–1989 | 8th Council of Ministers |
| Ore Mining, Metallurgy and Potash (1950 to 1955: Metallurgy and Ore Mining; 1955 to 1958: Mining and Metallurgy) | Kurt Singhuber (SED) | 1967–1989 | 9th Council of Ministers |
| dissolved to new Ministry of Heavy Industry |||
| Electrical Engineering and Electronics | Otfried Steger (SED) | 1965–1982 | 4th Council of Ministers |
| Electrical Engineering and Electronics | Otfried Steger (SED) | 1965–1982 | 5th Council of Ministers |
| Electrical Engineering and Electronics | Otfried Steger (SED) | 1965–1982 | 6th Council of Ministers |
| Electrical Engineering and Electronics | Otfried Steger (SED) | 1965–1982 | 7th Council of Ministers |
| Electrical Engineering and Electronics | Otfried Steger (SED) | 1965–1982 | 8th Council of Ministers |
| Electrical Engineering and Electronics | Felix Meier (SED) | 1982–1989 | 8th Council of Ministers |
| Electrical Engineering and Electronics | Felix Meier (SED) | 1982–1989 | 9th Council of Ministers |
| dissolved to new Ministry of Mechanical Engineering |||
| Coal and Energy (1965 to 1971: Basic Industries) | Richard Goschütz (SED) | 1956–1958 | 2nd Council of Ministers |
| Coal and Energy (1965 to 1971: Basic Industries) | Ministry dissolved | 1958–1965 | 3rd Council of Ministers |
| Coal and Energy (1965 to 1971: Basic Industries) | Ministry dissolved | 1958–1965 | 4th Council of Ministers |
| Coal and Energy (1965 to 1971: Basic Industries) | Klaus Siebold (SED) | 1965–1979 | 4th Council of Ministers |
| Coal and Energy (1965 to 1971: Basic Industries) | Klaus Siebold (SED) | 1965–1979 | 5th Council of Ministers |
| Coal and Energy (1965 to 1971: Basic Industries) | Klaus Siebold (SED) | 1965–1979 | 6th Council of Ministers |
| Coal and Energy (1965 to 1971: Basic Industries) | Klaus Siebold (SED) | 1965–1979 | 7th Council of Ministers |
| Coal and Energy (1965 to 1971: Basic Industries) | Wolfgang Mitzinger (SED) | 1979–1989 | 7th Council of Ministers |
| Coal and Energy (1965 to 1971: Basic Industries) | Wolfgang Mitzinger (SED) | 1979–1989 | 8th Council of Ministers |
| Coal and Energy (1965 to 1971: Basic Industries) | Wolfgang Mitzinger (SED) | 1979–1989 | 9th Council of Ministers |
| dissolved to new Ministry of Heavy Industry |||
| Chemical Industry (1951–1953 State Secretariat for Chemistry, Minerals and Earth; 1953–1955 State Secretariat for Chemistry) | Dirk van Rickelen (SED) | 1951–1953 | 1st Council of Ministers |
| Chemical Industry (1951–1953 State Secretariat for Chemistry, Minerals and Earth; 1953–1955 State Secretariat for Chemistry) | Werner Winkler (SED) | 1953–1955 | 1st Council of Ministers |
| Chemical Industry (1951–1953 State Secretariat for Chemistry, Minerals and Earth; 1953–1955 State Secretariat for Chemistry) | Werner Winkler (SED) | 1953–1955 | 2nd Council of Ministers |
| upgraded from state secretary to minister |||
| Chemical Industry (1951–1953 State Secretariat for Chemistry, Minerals and Earth; 1953–1955 State Secretariat for Chemistry) | Werner Winkler (SED) | 1955–1958 | 2nd Council of Ministers |
| Chemical Industry (1951–1953 State Secretariat for Chemistry, Minerals and Earth; 1953–1955 State Secretariat for Chemistry) | Ministry dissolved | 1958–1965 | 3rd Council of Ministers |
| Chemical Industry (1951–1953 State Secretariat for Chemistry, Minerals and Earth; 1953–1955 State Secretariat for Chemistry) | Ministry dissolved | 1958–1965 | 4th Council of Ministers |
| Chemical Industry (1951–1953 State Secretariat for Chemistry, Minerals and Earth; 1953–1955 State Secretariat for Chemistry) | Siegbert Löschau (SED) | 1965–1966 | 4th Council of Ministers |
| Chemical Industry (1951–1953 State Secretariat for Chemistry, Minerals and Earth; 1953–1955 State Secretariat for Chemistry) | Günther Wyschofsky (SED) | 1966–1989 | 4th Council of Ministers |
| Chemical Industry (1951–1953 State Secretariat for Chemistry, Minerals and Earth; 1953–1955 State Secretariat for Chemistry) | Günther Wyschofsky (SED) | 1966–1989 | 5th Council of Ministers |
| Chemical Industry (1951–1953 State Secretariat for Chemistry, Minerals and Earth; 1953–1955 State Secretariat for Chemistry) | Günther Wyschofsky (SED) | 1966–1989 | 6th Council of Ministers |
| Chemical Industry (1951–1953 State Secretariat for Chemistry, Minerals and Earth; 1953–1955 State Secretariat for Chemistry) | Günther Wyschofsky (SED) | 1966–1989 | 7th Council of Ministers |
| Chemical Industry (1951–1953 State Secretariat for Chemistry, Minerals and Earth; 1953–1955 State Secretariat for Chemistry) | Günther Wyschofsky (SED) | 1966–1989 | 8th Council of Ministers |
| Chemical Industry (1951–1953 State Secretariat for Chemistry, Minerals and Earth; 1953–1955 State Secretariat for Chemistry) | Günther Wyschofsky (SED) | 1966–1989 | 9th Council of Ministers |
| dissolved to new Ministry of Heavy Industry |||
| Glass and Ceramics Industry | Karl Bettin (SED) | 1971–1972 | 6th Council of Ministers |
| Glass and Ceramics Industry | Werner Greiner-Petter (SED) | 1972–1983 | 6th Council of Ministers |
| Glass and Ceramics Industry | Werner Greiner-Petter (SED) | 1972–1983 | 7th Council of Ministers |
| Glass and Ceramics Industry | Werner Greiner-Petter (SED) | 1972–1983 | 8th Council of Ministers |
| Glass and Ceramics Industry | Karl Grünheid (SED) | 1983–1989 | 8th Council of Ministers |
| Glass and Ceramics Industry | Karl Grünheid (SED) | 1983–1989 | 9th Council of Ministers |
| dissolved to Ministry of Light Industry |||
| Materials Management (1950–1952 State Secretariat for Materials Supply; 1952–1953 State Administration for Materials Supply; 1953–1954 State Committee for Materials Supply) | Erwin Kerber (SED) | 1950–1952 | 1st Council of Ministers |
| Materials Management (1950–1952 State Secretariat for Materials Supply; 1952–1953 State Administration for Materials Supply; 1953–1954 State Committee for Materials Supply) | State Secretariat dissolved | 1952–1965 | 1st Council of Ministers |
| Materials Management (1950–1952 State Secretariat for Materials Supply; 1952–1953 State Administration for Materials Supply; 1953–1954 State Committee for Materials Supply) | State Secretariat dissolved | 1952–1965 | 2nd Council of Ministers |
| Materials Management (1950–1952 State Secretariat for Materials Supply; 1952–1953 State Administration for Materials Supply; 1953–1954 State Committee for Materials Supply) | State Secretariat dissolved | 1952–1965 | 3rd Council of Ministers |
| Materials Management (1950–1952 State Secretariat for Materials Supply; 1952–1953 State Administration for Materials Supply; 1953–1954 State Committee for Materials Supply) | State Secretariat dissolved | 1952–1965 | 4th Council of Ministers |
| Materials Management (1950–1952 State Secretariat for Materials Supply; 1952–1953 State Administration for Materials Supply; 1953–1954 State Committee for Materials Supply) | Alfred Neumann (SED) | 1965–1968 | 4th Council of Ministers |
| Materials Management (1950–1952 State Secretariat for Materials Supply; 1952–1953 State Administration for Materials Supply; 1953–1954 State Committee for Materials Supply) | Alfred Neumann (SED) | 1965–1968 | 5th Council of Ministers |
| Materials Management (1950–1952 State Secretariat for Materials Supply; 1952–1953 State Administration for Materials Supply; 1953–1954 State Committee for Materials Supply) | Erich Haase (SED) | 1968–1971 | 5th Council of Ministers |
| Materials Management (1950–1952 State Secretariat for Materials Supply; 1952–1953 State Administration for Materials Supply; 1953–1954 State Committee for Materials Supply) | Manfred Flegel (NDPD) | 1971–1974 | 6th Council of Ministers |
| Materials Management (1950–1952 State Secretariat for Materials Supply; 1952–1953 State Administration for Materials Supply; 1953–1954 State Committee for Materials Supply) | Wolfgang Rauchfuß (SED) | 1974–1989 | 6th Council of Ministers |
| Materials Management (1950–1952 State Secretariat for Materials Supply; 1952–1953 State Administration for Materials Supply; 1953–1954 State Committee for Materials Supply) | Wolfgang Rauchfuß (SED) | 1974–1989 | 7th Council of Ministers |
| Materials Management (1950–1952 State Secretariat for Materials Supply; 1952–1953 State Administration for Materials Supply; 1953–1954 State Committee for Materials Supply) | Wolfgang Rauchfuß (SED) | 1974–1989 | 8th Council of Ministers |
| Materials Management (1950–1952 State Secretariat for Materials Supply; 1952–1953 State Administration for Materials Supply; 1953–1954 State Committee for Materials Supply) | Wolfgang Rauchfuß (SED) | 1974–1989 | 9th Council of Ministers |
| dissolved to State Planning Commission |||
| Machine Tools and Processing Machine Construction (1965 to 1973: Machine Tools and Vehicle Construction) | Rudi Georgi (SED) | 1965–1973 | 4th Council of Ministers |
| Machine Tools and Processing Machine Construction (1965 to 1973: Machine Tools and Vehicle Construction) | Rudi Georgi (SED) | 1965–1973 | 5th Council of Ministers |
| Machine Tools and Processing Machine Construction (1965 to 1973: Machine Tools and Vehicle Construction) | Rudi Georgi (SED) | 1965–1973 | 6th Council of Ministers |
| split into Ministry of General Mechanical Engineering, Agricultural Machinery and Vehicle Construction and Ministry of Machine Tools and Processing Machine Construction |||
| Machine Tools and Processing Machine Construction (1965 to 1973: Machine Tools and Vehicle Construction) | Rudi Georgi (SED) | 1973–1989 | 6th Council of Ministers |
| Machine Tools and Processing Machine Construction (1965 to 1973: Machine Tools and Vehicle Construction) | Rudi Georgi (SED) | 1973–1989 | 7th Council of Ministers |
| Machine Tools and Processing Machine Construction (1965 to 1973: Machine Tools and Vehicle Construction) | Rudi Georgi (SED) | 1973–1989 | 8th Council of Ministers |
| Machine Tools and Processing Machine Construction (1965 to 1973: Machine Tools and Vehicle Construction) | Rudi Georgi (SED) | 1973–1989 | 9th Council of Ministers |
| dissolved to new Ministry of Mechanical Engineering |||
| General Mechanical Engineering, Agricultural Machinery and Vehicle Construction | split from Ministry of Machine Tools and Vehicle Construction | split from Ministry of Machine Tools and Vehicle Construction | split from Ministry of Machine Tools and Vehicle Construction |
| General Mechanical Engineering, Agricultural Machinery and Vehicle Construction | Günther Kleiber (SED) | 1973–1986 | 6th Council of Ministers |
| General Mechanical Engineering, Agricultural Machinery and Vehicle Construction | Günther Kleiber (SED) | 1973–1986 | 7th Council of Ministers |
| General Mechanical Engineering, Agricultural Machinery and Vehicle Construction | Günther Kleiber (SED) | 1973–1986 | 8th Council of Ministers |
| General Mechanical Engineering, Agricultural Machinery and Vehicle Construction | Gerhard Tautenhahn (SED) | 1986–1989 | 9th Council of Ministers |
| dissolved to new Ministry of Mechanical Engineering |||
| Heavy Machinery and Plant Engineering | Gerhard Zimmermann (SED) | 1965–1981 | 4th Council of Ministers |
| Heavy Machinery and Plant Engineering | Gerhard Zimmermann (SED) | 1965–1981 | 5th Council of Ministers |
| Heavy Machinery and Plant Engineering | Gerhard Zimmermann (SED) | 1965–1981 | 6th Council of Ministers |
| Heavy Machinery and Plant Engineering | Gerhard Zimmermann (SED) | 1965–1981 | 7th Council of Ministers |
| Heavy Machinery and Plant Engineering | Rolf Kersten (SED) | 1981–1986 | 8th Council of Ministers |
| Heavy Machinery and Plant Engineering | Hans-Joachim Lauck (SED) | 1986–1989 | 9th Council of Ministers |
| dissolved to new Ministry of Mechanical Engineering |||
| Light Industry | Wilhelm Feldmann (NDPD) | 1950–1958 | 1st Council of Ministers |
| Light Industry | Wilhelm Feldmann (NDPD) | 1950–1958 | 2nd Council of Ministers |
| Light Industry | Ministry dissolved | 1958–1965 | 3rd Council of Ministers |
| Light Industry | Ministry dissolved | 1958–1965 | 4th Council of Ministers |
| Light Industry | Johann Wittik (SED) | 1965–1972 | 4th Council of Ministers |
| Light Industry | Johann Wittik (SED) | 1965–1972 | 5th Council of Ministers |
| Light Industry | Johann Wittik (SED) | 1965–1972 | 6th Council of Ministers |
| Light Industry | Karl Bettin (SED) | 1972–1978 | 6th Council of Ministers |
| Light Industry | Karl Bettin (SED) | 1972–1978 | 7th Council of Ministers |
| Light Industry | Werner Buschmann (SED) | 1978–1989 | 7th Council of Ministers |
| Light Industry | Werner Buschmann (SED) | 1978–1989 | 8th Council of Ministers |
| Light Industry | Werner Buschmann (SED) | 1978–1989 | 9th Council of Ministers |
| Light Industry | Gunter Halm (NDPD) | 1989–1990 | Modrow government |
| dissolved to Ministry of Economy |||
| Bezirk-managed Industry and Food Industry (1953 to 1958: Food Industry) | Kurt Westphal (SED) | 1953–1958 | 1st Council of Ministers |
| Bezirk-managed Industry and Food Industry (1953 to 1958: Food Industry) | Kurt Westphal (SED) | 1953–1958 | 2nd Council of Ministers |
| Bezirk-managed Industry and Food Industry (1953 to 1958: Food Industry) | Ministry dissolved | 1958–1965 | 3rd Council of Ministers |
| Bezirk-managed Industry and Food Industry (1953 to 1958: Food Industry) | Ministry dissolved | 1958–1965 | 4th Council of Ministers |
| Bezirk-managed Industry and Food Industry (1953 to 1958: Food Industry) | Erhard Krack (SED) | 1965–1974 | 4th Council of Ministers |
| Bezirk-managed Industry and Food Industry (1953 to 1958: Food Industry) | Erhard Krack (SED) | 1965–1974 | 5th Council of Ministers |
| Bezirk-managed Industry and Food Industry (1953 to 1958: Food Industry) | Erhard Krack (SED) | 1965–1974 | 6th Council of Ministers |
| Bezirk-managed Industry and Food Industry (1953 to 1958: Food Industry) | Udo-Dieter Wange (SED) | 1974–1989 | 6th Council of Ministers |
| Bezirk-managed Industry and Food Industry (1953 to 1958: Food Industry) | Udo-Dieter Wange (SED) | 1974–1989 | 7th Council of Ministers |
| Bezirk-managed Industry and Food Industry (1953 to 1958: Food Industry) | Udo-Dieter Wange (SED) | 1974–1989 | 8th Council of Ministers |
| Bezirk-managed Industry and Food Industry (1953 to 1958: Food Industry) | Udo-Dieter Wange (SED) | 1974–1989 | 9th Council of Ministers |
| dissolved to Ministry of Light Industry |||

### Commissions and offices equivalent to ministries

| Name of the position in the Council of Ministers | Minister (party) | Term of office | Cabinet |
| State Planning Commission (until 1950: Ministry of Planning; from 1990: Economic Committee for the Implementation of Economic Reform) | Heinrich Rau (SED) | 1949–1952 | Provisional Government of the GDR |
| State Planning Commission (until 1950: Ministry of Planning; from 1990: Economic Committee for the Implementation of Economic Reform) | Heinrich Rau (SED) | 1949–1952 | 1st Council of Ministers |
| State Planning Commission (until 1950: Ministry of Planning; from 1990: Economic Committee for the Implementation of Economic Reform) | Bruno Leuschner (SED) | 1952–1961 | 1st Council of Ministers |
| State Planning Commission (until 1950: Ministry of Planning; from 1990: Economic Committee for the Implementation of Economic Reform) | Bruno Leuschner (SED) | 1952–1961 | 2nd Council of Ministers |
| State Planning Commission (until 1950: Ministry of Planning; from 1990: Economic Committee for the Implementation of Economic Reform) | Bruno Leuschner (SED) | 1952–1961 | 3rd Council of Ministers |
| State Planning Commission (until 1950: Ministry of Planning; from 1990: Economic Committee for the Implementation of Economic Reform) | Karl Mewis (SED) | 1961–1963 | 3rd Council of Ministers |
| State Planning Commission (until 1950: Ministry of Planning; from 1990: Economic Committee for the Implementation of Economic Reform) | Erich Apel (SED) | 1963–1965† | 4th Council of Ministers |
| State Planning Commission (until 1950: Ministry of Planning; from 1990: Economic Committee for the Implementation of Economic Reform) | Gerhard Schürer (SED) | 1965–1990 | 4th Council of Ministers |
| State Planning Commission (until 1950: Ministry of Planning; from 1990: Economic Committee for the Implementation of Economic Reform) | Gerhard Schürer (SED) | 1965–1990 | 5th Council of Ministers |
| State Planning Commission (until 1950: Ministry of Planning; from 1990: Economic Committee for the Implementation of Economic Reform) | Gerhard Schürer (SED) | 1965–1990 | 6th Council of Ministers |
| State Planning Commission (until 1950: Ministry of Planning; from 1990: Economic Committee for the Implementation of Economic Reform) | Gerhard Schürer (SED) | 1965–1990 | 7th Council of Ministers |
| State Planning Commission (until 1950: Ministry of Planning; from 1990: Economic Committee for the Implementation of Economic Reform) | Gerhard Schürer (SED) | 1965–1990 | 8th Council of Ministers |
| State Planning Commission (until 1950: Ministry of Planning; from 1990: Economic Committee for the Implementation of Economic Reform) | Gerhard Schürer (SED) | 1965–1990 | 9th Council of Ministers |
| State Planning Commission (until 1950: Ministry of Planning; from 1990: Economic Committee for the Implementation of Economic Reform) | Gerhard Schürer (SED) | 1965–1990 | Modrow government |
| State Planning Commission (until 1950: Ministry of Planning; from 1990: Economic Committee for the Implementation of Economic Reform) | Karl Grünheid (SED) | 1990 | Modrow government |
| dissolved to Ministry of Economy |||
| Minister and Chairman of the Committee of the Workers' and Farmers' Inspection | Heinz Matthes (SED) | 1963–1977 | 4th Council of Ministers |
| Minister and Chairman of the Committee of the Workers' and Farmers' Inspection | Heinz Matthes (SED) | 1963–1977 | 5th Council of Ministers |
| Minister and Chairman of the Committee of the Workers' and Farmers' Inspection | Heinz Matthes (SED) | 1963–1977 | 6th Council of Ministers |
| Minister and Chairman of the Committee of the Workers' and Farmers' Inspection | Heinz Matthes (SED) | 1963–1977 | 7th Council of Ministers |
| Minister and Chairman of the Committee of the Workers' and Farmers' Inspection | Albert Stief (SED) | 1977–1989 | 7th Council of Ministers |
| Minister and Chairman of the Committee of the Workers' and Farmers' Inspection | Albert Stief (SED) | 1977–1989 | 8th Council of Ministers |
| Minister and Chairman of the Committee of the Workers' and Farmers' Inspection | Albert Stief (SED) | 1977–1989 | 9th Council of Ministers |
| ABI dissolved |||
| Minister and Head of the Office for Prices | Walter Halbritter (SED) | 1965–1989 | 4th Council of Ministers |
| Minister and Head of the Office for Prices | Walter Halbritter (SED) | 1965–1989 | 5th Council of Ministers |
| Minister and Head of the Office for Prices | Walter Halbritter (SED) | 1965–1989 | 6th Council of Ministers |
| Minister and Head of the Office for Prices | Walter Halbritter (SED) | 1965–1989 | 7th Council of Ministers |
| Minister and Head of the Office for Prices | Walter Halbritter (SED) | 1965–1989 | 7th Council of Ministers |
| Minister and Head of the Office for Prices | Walter Halbritter (SED) | 1965–1989 | 8th Council of Ministers |
| Minister and Head of the Office for Prices | Walter Halbritter (SED) | 1965–1989 | 9th Council of Ministers |
| dissolved to new Ministry of Finance and Prices |||
| Head of the Press Office | Fritz Beyling (SED) | 1953–1958 | 1st Council of Ministers |
| Head of the Press Office | Fritz Beyling (SED) | 1953–1958 | 2nd Council of Ministers |
| Head of the Press Office | Kurt Blecha (SED) | 1958–1989 | 3rd Council of Ministers |
| Head of the Press Office | Kurt Blecha (SED) | 1958–1989 | 4th Council of Ministers |
| Head of the Press Office | Kurt Blecha (SED) | 1958–1989 | 5th Council of Ministers |
| Head of the Press Office | Kurt Blecha (SED) | 1958–1989 | 6th Council of Ministers |
| Head of the Press Office | Kurt Blecha (SED) | 1958–1989 | 7th Council of Ministers |
| Head of the Press Office | Kurt Blecha (SED) | 1958–1989 | 8th Council of Ministers |
| Head of the Press Office | Kurt Blecha (SED) | 1958–1989 | 9th Council of Ministers |
| Head of the Press Office | Wolfgang Meyer (SED) | 1989–1990 | Modrow government |
| demoted to state secretary in the Minister-President's Office |||
| Head of the Press Office | Matthias Gehler (CDU) | 1990 | de Maizière government |

### Other government offices of the Council of Ministers

In addition, independent state secretariats and central offices were directly subordinate to the Council of Ministers, including
* the State Secretariat for Labor and Wages: Hellmuth Geyer from 1965
* the State Secretariat for Church Affairs: Werner Eggerath, Hans Seigewasser, Klaus Gysi, Kurt Löffler
* the State Committee for Physical Culture and Sport
* the State Central Administration for Statistics (SZS): Arno Donda from 1963
* the Office for Standardization, Metrology and Product Testing (ASMW)
* the Office for Industrial Design (AiF): Martin Kelm from 1972
* the Office for Youth Affairs (including Johannes Keusch)
* the State Secretariat for Vocational Training (from 1970, previously from 1966 State Office for Vocational Training): Bodo Weidemann from 1968
* the State Office for Nuclear Safety and Radiation Protection (SAAS)
In some cases, their heads acted as members of the Council of Ministers.