Jochen Erler

The Telegram to Stalin Jochen Erler

Filled with intrigue and suspicion, this political memoir takes the reader through Jochen Erler's experiences across three political systems in Germany. Troubles for Jochen begin during his youth in Hitler's Germany and lead to his forced attendance in a Nazi boarding school. As a high school student in Russian-occupied East Germany, he becomes instrumental in an incident involving a telegram to Stalin. Soon after, his contacts with the West lead to his conviction to six years in a penitentiary. After surviving these two oppressive regimes in Germany, Jochen comes again under surveillance. This time it is the secret service of the West because his best friend from childhood is unmasked as a Russian military spy. In the book's epilogue, the author describes the fallout following the reunification of Germany during which time he gains access to his files from the former East German secret service, the infamous Stasi.