Gerhard Barkleit

Gerhard Barkleit studied physics at the Technical University (TU) of Dresden and earned his doctorate at the Institute for Physical Chemistry at the Freiberg Mining Academy. As an employee of the Academy of Sciences of the GDR, he conducted research in the fields of nuclear energy and microelectronics for two decades. In 1992/93, he belonged to the inner circle of founders of the Hannah Arendt Institute for Research on Totalitarianism e. V. at the TU Dresden. His research focused on the history of industry, technology, and science in the Soviet Occupation Zone (SOZ) as well as in the GDR. In numerous studies and essays, he analyzed the role of the state security service in teaching, research, and development, especially in the fields of high technologies like aircraft construction, nuclear energy, and microelectronics.
He also published a biography of the exceptional scientist Manfred von Ardenne as well as »EinBlick in zwei Welten. Das Ende der DDR als Glücksfall der Geschichte« [»A look at two worlds. The end of the GDR as a stroke of luck in history«], an autobiographical comparison of the Federal Republic of Germany and the GDR, both of which have already appeared in second editions.