Abstract

The essay reconstructs the stages of the trial against the political leaders of SED ("Sozialistische Einheitspartei Deutschlands"/"Socialist Unit Party of Germany") after the fall of the "Berlin Wall" and the collapse of the DDR ("Deutsche Demokratische Republik"/"German Democratic Republic"). In narrating the events of the process, within the social and political context of those years, the author carries out a series of reflections in the light of his personal experience as President of the Court, pointing out that this legal response to the State crimes made by the political class of the DDR was very important, especially considering the particular historical moment that Germany was living in the years of reunification.