Emil Schnell

Emil Schnell (born 10 November 1953) is a German physicist and former politician of the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD).

He served as the GDR's last minister for post and telecommunications in the cabinet of Lothar de Maizière.

Life and career Early career From 1960 to 1968, Schnell attended the Polytechnic Secondary School, followed by completing his Abitur (university entrance qualification) in 1972. From 1972 to 1975, he served in the National People's Army (NVA).

He studied physics at the Technical University of Magdeburg from 1975 to 1980, earning a degree as a graduate physicist (Dipl.-Phys.).

de Maizière Government During the Peaceful Revolution, in October 1989, Schnell joined the newly reconstituted Social Democratic Party in the GDR.

In August 1990, Schnell and all other SPD ministers resigned in the aftermath of de Maizière's dismissal of SPD finance minister Walter Romberg. Hans-Jürgen Niehof, one of Schnell's state secretaries, served as acting minister until German reunification.

Reunified Germany Schnell was one of 144 Volkskammer members co-opted to the Bundestag following German reunification on 3 October 1990. He remained a member of the Bundestag until the end of the 14th legislative period in October 2002, retiring from politics. In the 1990, 1994, and 1998 federal elections, he won the direct mandate in the Potsdam constituency.

Schnell now lives as a freelance physicist in Potsdam. He is married and has two children.