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.
Frem til die Wende i efteråret 1989 var de to stedfortrædende viceformænd Werner Krolikowski og Alfred Neumann, der begge var medlemmer af politbureauet i SED.