The year 1971 was drastic for the SED: In May, the forced resignation of Walter Ulbricht took place, the only change of power in the GDR before the fall of the dictatorship in 1989. Under the new General Secretary Erich Honecker, State Security Minister Mielke was promoted to the Politburo. The MfS reports were intended to secure the rule of the new SED leadership as well: mood reports warned of growing dissatisfaction with the supply situation, and Mielke presented a top-secret assessment of Honecker's election. Deficiencies in the prestige projects of the GDR economy and blatant difficulties in the energy supply made it clear that the restructuring of the GDR economy desired by Honecker would be difficult. Last but not least, the SED leadership had to realize that ten years after the border was closed, spectacular escapes were the order of the day. At the same time, it became apparent that the four-power agreement on Berlin and the transit agreement would crack the first holes in the wall.
