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Genealogical Research on Richard Erich Poster (1922–1987)

Richard Erich Poster was born 28 November 1922 in Gaschwitz, Saxony and baptized on 4 February 1923 at the Evangelisch-Lutheran parish church of Großstädteln. He died in Groitzsch in the mid-1980s (records indicate August 1986, though family sources suggest 1987). He was Protestant-Lutheran and worked as a bricklayer and later as a railway signalman (Eisenbahnarbeiter) in the Groitzsch/Gaschwitz area. He became an SED party functionary (with an office on Leipzig’s Karl-Liebknecht-Straße, the SED Bezirksleitung headquarters) and was reportedly chairman of the Borna District Farmers’ Association during the GDR era. In addition, he was involved with the West German DKP (German Communist Party) in North Rhine-Westphalia in the 1980s. Below is a comprehensive guide to vital records, residence and occupational documentation, political records, and genealogical resources relevant to researching Richard Erich Poster and his family.

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Vital Records (Birth, Baptism, Marriage, Death)

Birth (1922) – Civil registration of Richard’s birth on 28 Nov 1922 would have been recorded by the local Standesamt (civil registry) serving Gaschwitz. Gaschwitz was an independent municipality at that time, so it likely had its own Standesamt or was served by a nearby office. Since German civil birth records are subject to a 110-year privacy rule, the 1922 birth register is not yet publicly accessible. It remains with the local registry office. The Stadt Markkleeberg now administers Gaschwitz (incorporated in 1993), so inquiries can be directed to the Standesamt Markkleeberg (Raschwitzer Str. 13, 04416 Markkleeberg; Tel. +49 341 3533-140; Email: standesamt@markkleeberg.de) [5] (https://www.markkleeberg.de/buerger-rathaus/rathaus/aemter-bereiche/detail/standesamt). You can request a Geburtsurkunde (birth certificate) or Registerauszug for genealogical purposes (proof of direct relation may be required). After 110 years (in 2032), the birth record will be transferred to an archive (likely the Saxon State Archives) and become openly accessible.

Baptism (1923) – Richard was baptized on 4 Feb 1923 in the Pfarrkirche Großstädteln, the Lutheran parish church serving Gaschwitz and surrounding villages. Church registers (parish baptism, marriage, burial books) for Großstädteln up to year 1920 are held at the Kirchliches Archiv Leipzig (Church Archive in Leipzig) [2] (https://lgg-leipzig.de/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/KAL.pdf). This archive (Rudolf-Sack-Straße 10, 04229 Leipzig) holds historic church books for Leipzig and its environs. The baptism entry for 1923 would likely still be in the parish’s own books (since it’s just beyond 1920); if not already transferred, it can be requested via the current parish office. Today, Großstädteln is part of the Ev.-Luth. Parish of Markkleeberg. To obtain a copy of the baptism record, you can contact the parish or the church archive. The archive or parish can search the Taufbuch (baptism register) for 1923 and provide an official excerpt. Some German church records have been digitized on the Archion portal (a subscription site for Protestant church books), but as of now the Großstädteln records are mostly available via the archive (1800–1920). It’s worth inquiring if records post-1920 (like 1923) are accessible via Archion or only by archive request.

Marriages – Richard married twice. His first marriage (~1945) was to Lydia Irma Bilz (b. 19 July 1924 in Großdeuben). This likely took place just after WWII, possibly at a local Standesamt or church. If the marriage occurred in Großdeuben or Gaschwitz, the civil record would be at the Standesamt that served those villages (Großdeuben had its own Standesamt until it later merged into Böhlen). Since the exact date is uncertain (c.1945), it’s best to check Standesamt Markkleeberg (for Gaschwitz area) or Standesamt Böhlen (for Großdeuben, which is now part of Böhlen) for a 1945 marriage register entry. Note that 1945 falls in a turbulent period; some records may have gaps due to the war. If a church wedding occurred (less likely for an avowed communist, but not impossible), the parish registers of the bride’s or groom’s church (e.g. Großdeuben’s Lutheran parish or Gaschwitz/Großstädteln parish) could have a notice. These church marriage entries (if any) would be accessible via the church archives or parish office as well.

Richard’s second marriage was on 18 July 1955 in Groitzsch (to Marie Inge Kunze, 1928–1996). The civil marriage record from 1955 is held at Standesamt Groitzsch (Markt 1, 04539 Groitzsch; Tel. +49 34296 45-126) [6] (https://groitzsch.de/stadt-verwaltung/heiraten-in-groitzsch). Marriage records in Germany become public after 80 years, so this 1955 register will remain at the Standesamt until 2035. However, direct family members can request a Heiratsurkunde or an archive extract even now. To obtain it, contact Standesamt Groitzsch with the exact date. If Richard and Marie also had a church wedding, the entry would be in the Evangelical church book of Groitzsch (the local parish) – you could inquire with the Ev.-Luth. Parish of Groitzsch or the regional church archive. In practice, by 1955 many in East Germany had civil ceremonies only (especially party members), but some couples also quietly had a church blessing.

Death (1986/1987) – Richard’s death around August 1986 in Groitzsch would have been recorded by Standesamt Groitzsch as well. German death registers are public after 30 years, so his 1986 death record is now open-access. It may have already been transferred to the Saxon State Archives (if Groitzsch forwarded older death books) or it may still be in the Standesamt’s holdings – you can ask the Groitzsch Standesamt for a Sterbeurkunde. The death entry will confirm the exact date and place of death and often the last residence. Additionally, check local newspapers around Aug–Sept 1986 for an obituary. The East German press (e.g. Leipziger Volkszeitung local pages or the Borna Kreisbote) might have noted his passing if he was a prominent local figure (given his role in the farmers’ association). Some newspaper archives from the 1980s are available via the Saxon State Library’s digital collections or on microfilm at libraries. However, you may need to contact the Sächsische Landesbibliothek – Staats- und Universitätsbibliothek (SLUB) Dresden or the Stadtbibliothek Leipzig for newspaper research services, as few are online for that period.

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Family Members’ Vital Records

Since you provided details on Richard’s relatives, you may also pursue their documents:

  • Father: Louis Richard Poster, b. 29 Dec 1899 in Zehmen. Civil birth record from 1899 is now archival (beyond 110 years). Zehmen had its own Standesamt; these registers are likely kept at the Sächsisches Staatsarchiv, Leipzig (which houses the Deutsche Zentralstelle für Genealogie collection). The State Archive in Leipzig (Schongauerstraße 1) holds many pre-1900 civil registers and church book duplicates for Saxony. You could request Louis’s birth register entry from the archive [8] (https://www.staatsarchiv.sachsen.de/kontakt-3941.html). Additionally, if Louis was baptized (ca. 1900) in a local church (Zehmen’s parish or nearby Rötha), that church book might be in the Leipzig church archive or on Archion.
  • Mother: Frieda Elsa Börngen, b. 28 Sep 1901 in Leipzig. Her birth would be recorded at a Leipzig city Standesamt. The year 1901 is now public; indeed, Leipzig’s older civil registers are held at Stadtarchiv Leipzig (and/or the State Archive’s central genealogy collection). You can contact the Leipzig City Archive for a copy of her birth entry. Leipzig had multiple Standesämter, but the archive staff can locate the correct one by date and address/parents’ names. Since Frieda was born in the big city, also consider checking FamilySearch or Ancestry databases – there are indexed civil births for some German cities (it’s worth a quick search on FamilySearch’s Germany collections for her name).

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Residential and Occupational Records

Addresses & Resident Registration
The addresses you have for Richard Poster provide a timeline of his residences:

  • Gaschwitz, Thälmannstraße 27 (1946) – Immediately post-WWII, he lived at Thälmannstr. (a street likely renamed in GDR years, possibly formerly Bahnhofstr. or similar). In 1946, formal address directories were scarce due to the aftermath of war. However, local Einwohnermeldeamt (residents’ registration) records could exist. Many German towns kept Meldekarten or registration forms for each inhabitant, noting their address changes. The Stadtverwaltung Groitzsch or the Landratsamt Landkreis Leipzig (which encompasses Groitzsch and Markkleeberg now) might hold historical residence registers from the 1940s–1980s. An inquiry to the Stadtarchiv Groitzsch (if one exists) or the county archive could locate Richard’s registration cards, confirming dates he moved in/out of addresses.
  • Groitzsch, Am Bahnhof 99 (1955) – This address in 1955 suggests he was in Groitzsch by the mid-1950s (indeed he married there in 1955). “Am Bahnhof” indicates a railway station vicinity; possibly related to his work as a railway signalman. To document his residence here, check if any address books or phone books from the 1950s list Groitzsch inhabitants. While East Germany did not publish city directories as regularly as pre-war, some historical address books exist. For example, Groitzsch had an address book in 1896 [12] (https://wiki.genealogy.net/Kategorie:Adressbuch_f%C3%BCr_Groitzsch), and larger towns like Leipzig/Borna have directories into the 1940s. By the 1950s, the tradition waned, but occasionally internal directories or lists were kept by local authorities. The Saxorum portal by SLUB Dresden provides digitized Saxon address books – primarily up to the 1930s, but it’s worth a search in case any mid-century data was preserved. If you cannot find a published directory for 1955, rely on the Meldewesen records as above.
  • Gaschwitz, Oststraße (after 1955) – Oststraße in Gaschwitz could refer to a new address when he moved back to Gaschwitz sometime after 1955. To verify this move, again the municipal registration records would be key. Also, land records or housing files might exist: in the GDR, housing was often state-controlled, and local councils kept files on who was allocated which apartment. The Kreisarchiv (county archive) for the Borna district might have housing administration records from the 1960s that mention names of tenants for state-owned buildings on Oststraße. These are offline archival materials; a researcher at Staatsarchiv Leipzig could help identify if such collections exist for Gaschwitz/Markkleeberg.
  • Groitzsch, Kurt-Schubert-Straße (after 1960) and Groitzsch, Marie-Curie-Straße (by 1986) – These addresses reflect later years, likely after he took on the Farmers’ Association leadership (which was centered in Borna district, of which Groitzsch is a part). Kurt-Schubert-Str. and Marie-Curie-Str. are typical GDR-era street names in Groitzsch. To find documentation, look for late 1960s–1980s address lists. The DDR phone directory (Fernsprechbuch) for Leipzig district in the 1980s might list Richard Poster if he had a telephone. The Deutsche Telekom archives or online scans (some enthusiasts have digitized old phone books) could be checked for his name around 1980s in Groitzsch. Additionally, local historical voter lists or party membership lists (for SED elections, etc.) in archives might inadvertently serve as address sources.

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Occupational Records

Richard’s early occupation was bricklayer (Maurer), later a railway signalman in Groitzsch and Gaschwitz, and eventually a functionary (full-time official).

  • Railway employment: The Deutsche Reichsbahn (East German Railways) personnel files might have information if he was formally employed as a signalman (Weichensteller or Blockwärter). The Reichsbahn’s archives post-reunification mostly went to the Deutsche Bahn AG Archiv. The DB Archive has a location in Leipzig and Berlin for historical records. Lower-level employee files may or may not survive; often only higher officials or special cases were archived. You could contact the Deutsche Bahn Archiv in Leipzig to inquire if any personnel registers for the regional railway offices (Betriebswerke) exist from the 1940s/50s. If known, provide his name, birth date, and the locations (Groitzsch/Gaschwitz stations). Even if his individual file is unavailable, you might find his name in staff lists or seniority lists of railway employees. Another angle: the Leipzig Railway Museum or the Bundesbahn Sozialwerk might guide on historical Reichsbahn personnel records.
  • Farmers’ Association: As chairman of the Kreisbauernverband Borna (likely the GDR-era VdgB – Vereinigung der gegenseitigen Bauernhilfe – or later the formal Farmers’ Association), Richard would have been a known figure in local agricultural administration. The Saxon State Archives (Staatsarchiv Leipzig) holds records of GDR-era organizations at the district and county level. Look for files of the VdgB or Bauernverband Borna in the archive’s catalog. For example, the Rat des Kreises Borna and the SED Kreisleitung Borna files (held by Staatsarchiv Leipzig) might contain references to the Farmers’ Association and its leadership. These archival fonds could include meeting minutes, correspondence, or reports mentioning him by name. You may need to visit the reading room or hire a researcher to sift through files from the 1970s–80s related to agriculture in Borna district.
  • Karl-Liebknecht-Straße Office: This address in Leipzig (Karl-Liebknecht-Str. 143) was the seat of the SED-Bezirksleitung Leipzig (SED district headquarters) [4] (https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karl-Liebknecht-Stra%C3%9Fe_(Leipzig)). Richard’s “office” there suggests he was a member of either the Bezirksleitung staff or a liaison (perhaps representing the Farmers’ Association or a party working group). If he attended Bezirk meetings, his name could appear in SED Bezirk documents. The SED Bezirksleitung Leipzig archives are preserved and accessible. In fact, the Saxon State Archive’s Leipzig branch inherited a large collection of SED Bezirk Leipzig records (reports, personnel lists, etc.). You can search the archive’s online catalog or contact them referencing the SED-Bezirksleitung Leipzig collection. Any personnel file for him (if one exists) would likely be in the SED Kreisleitung Borna sub-collections or potentially in the personnel dossiers of SED functionaries at Bezirk level (which might be at the Bundesarchiv – see below).

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Political and Party Involvement Records

SED Membership and Roles
Richard Poster’s involvement with the Sozialistische Einheitspartei Deutschlands (SED) in the GDR can be traced through party archives. There are several avenues to explore:

  • Party archives (East Germany): The Federal Archives of Germany (Bundesarchiv) in Berlin-Lichterfelde houses the SAPMO (Stiftung Archiv der Parteien und Massenorganisationen der DDR) collections. These include central SED files as well as some regional records. A key collection is DY 30 (SED Central Committee files). If Richard had any interactions with the SED Central Committee (e.g., attending a conference or being noted as a delegate), he could appear in those files [13] (https://www.bundesarchiv.de/im-archiv-recherchieren/stasi-unterlagen-einsehen/akteneinsicht-fuer-privatpersonen/). More directly, the SED Bezirksleitung Leipzig archive (often cited as IV B files) and SED Kreisleitung Borna files might contain his name. You can request research at the Bundesarchiv SAPMO for any mention of Richard Poster in SED records – they have finding aids and can do a name search across their GDR holdings.
  • Local State Archives (Saxony): As noted, the Staatsarchiv Leipzig holds SED records for Bezirk Leipzig and likely for Kreis Borna. For instance, correspondences between SED Kreisleitung Borna and SED Bezirk Leipzig from the 1960s show up in academic references [14] (https://www.rivisteweb.it/translation/en/pdf/10.1412/30897?rwSearchIds=[...]). This indicates those files exist. Contact the state archive and inquire about Kreisleitung Borna records in the 1950s–80s. They may have documents like membership lists of the Kreisleitung, minutes of SED district (Kreis) conferences listing who chaired certain mass organizations (like the VdgB). As a Kreis-level functionary, Richard might be listed in those. The archive staff can guide you to specific file signatures if you provide his full name, dates, and roles.
  • Stasi (MfS) Records: Given Richard’s political roles and possible West contacts (via DKP), the Ministerium für Staatssicherheit (Stasi) may have maintained a file on him – either as a subject of interest or as a trusted functionary. With his SED position, it’s unlikely he was a surveillance target, but if he traveled or corresponded with West Germany (DKP activities), there could be a HA XX (Main Department XX – domestic affairs) or HA II (who handled connections to West communist organizations) file referencing him. To check this, you can file a request with the Stasi Records Archive (BStU, now part of Bundesarchiv) to see if there are any personal files or mentions of Richard Erich Poster [15] (https://www.bundesarchiv.de/im-archiv-recherchieren/stasi-unterlagen-einsehen/akteneinsicht-fuer-privatpersonen/). As a family member (if you are), you may request information on deceased relatives. Any found Stasi documents might shed light on his political activities and travels.

DKP Involvement (West Germany)
Richard’s activity in the Deutsche Kommunistische Partei (DKP) in North Rhine-Westphalia is intriguing. This suggests that perhaps in his later years (after retirement in the 1980s) he spent time in West Germany or at least collaborated across the border. The DKP was legal in the West and often had ties to East German communists. For research on this:

  • DKP Archives: The DKP’s own archives are not centrally published, but you could contact the DKP party headquarters or their archive committee. The DKP’s newspaper “Unsere Zeit” (UZ) might have articles or obituaries. Check UZ issues around late 1987 to see if a death notice or tribute appears for Richard Poster (if he was indeed a member or contributor, the party paper often acknowledged comrades’ passings). The UZ archives might be accessible via the Bundesarchiv or possibly through the FES Archiv (Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung), which holds some collections of materials from German parties (primarily SPD, but sometimes they have other left archives). Also, the Archiv der Arbeiterbewegung in Bonn or the IISG in Amsterdam may hold some DKP collections [16] (https://www.archivportal-d.de/item/WE5A2CYOESBM3ZE6EVU4IZAZKQWHKXX3).
  • Landesarchiv NRW: If Richard lived or worked in NRW for the DKP, the State Archive of North Rhine-Westphalia might have records on surveillance of DKP members (the West German authorities monitored the DKP). For example, files of the Verfassungsschutz or legal proceedings involving DKP in NRW (if any) might mention him. The Landesarchiv NRW has an online search; you could look for “DKP” or his name, though privacy restrictions apply if records are not yet declassified. As an alternative, regional communist historians or the DKP’s historians might have compiled biographies of active members.

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Oral Histories

Since DKP activity was often under the radar, consider reaching out to contemporary witnesses. The DKP still exists; their regional chapter in NRW might be able to confirm if Richard Poster was involved and what role he played. They may have internal memorial notes or can connect you to older members who knew him. While this is not an “archive” per se, it can yield leads and even personal documents (photos, letters) that families or comrades kept.

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Digital Resources for Genealogical Research

When researching German ancestors like Richard Poster, it’s useful to leverage online databases and digitized sources:

  • GEDBAS (Genealogisches Datenbank-System) – This is a user-contributed family history database. In fact, Richard Erich Poster appears in a GEDBAS entry (submitted by a researcher, possibly a relative) which confirms his birth/baptism dates, death in Groitzsch, and marriage to Marie Inge Kunze [1] (https://gedbas.de/person/show/1243415140). The GEDBAS record provides an overview of his vital data, religion and occupation. Use case: GEDBAS can be searched for surnames; in this case, it yielded Richard and even names of relatives. The same GEDBAS tree includes his family. It’s a great starting point to see if someone has already compiled parts of your family tree. The site is hosted by the Verein für Computergenealogie (CompGen).
  • FamilySearch – The LDS Church’s FamilySearch is free and has a vast collection of German records and user-contributed family trees. While many civil records for Saxony are not yet indexed there, FamilySearch has microfilmed some church books and civil registers. Search the FamilySearch Catalog for places like Gaschwitz, Großstädteln, Groitzsch, Zehmen, Leipzig. For example, FamilySearch might list Lutheran parish registers of Großstädteln or Standesamt registers of Saxon towns if they were microfilmed pre-WWII. Some records might be viewable at Family History Centers or affiliate libraries. Also, check user trees on FamilySearch; someone researching the Poster family might have shared info.
  • Ancestry.de – Ancestry has been digitizing German records in collaboration with archives. Notably, they have collections like “Saxony, Germany, Lutheran Baptisms, Marriages, and Burials, 1760–1890” and civil registration indexes for some regions. Saxony-specific civil records on Ancestry are limited, but worth a look for Leipzig or Borna – e.g., Ancestry has some Leipzig birth/marriage registers up to early 1900s and military draft lists. Since Richard’s timeline is 1920s–80s, Ancestry may not have direct records of him (those would be too recent to be online), but it could have earlier generations (his parents/grandparents). Also, Ancestry’s newspapers collection could have West German news if he was mentioned in an article in the 1980s (perhaps in a local NRW paper).
  • Archion.de – Archion is the portal for Protestant church books in Germany. Many Saxony church books (especially older ones up to 1875) are available there. For post-1875 baptisms like Richard’s in 1923, it’s hit-or-miss: some archives upload books up to the early 1900s if privacy allows. Check Archion’s catalog for Kirchgemeinde Großstädteln or Markkleeberg. If the 1923 baptism is not online, you might find earlier Poster family baptisms (for instance, if Louis Poster [1899] was baptized in Zehmen’s church, that might be on Archion if the church books are included). Note: Archion requires a paid pass to view records, but you can search the site for free to see what’s available for each parish.
  • CompGen’s Meta-Suche and GenWiki – The Verein für Computergenealogie provides a Meta Search engine that scans multiple databases (including GEDBAS, the GOV place database, and others) for your query. Try searching surnames or places there (e.g., “Poster Groitzsch”). The GenWiki pages have information on many localities. For example, the GenWiki pages for Markkleeberg (which covers Gaschwitz, Großstädteln) list the known church jurisdictions and archive holdings [7] (https://wiki.genealogy.net/Markkleeberg). GenWiki might also have user-contributed Zufallsfunde (random finds) where researchers posted tidbits from records – sometimes you get lucky if someone posted about the Poster family. Check GenWiki for Groitzsch, Gaschwitz, Zehmen etc., which might provide archival references or historical context.

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Digital Archives and Libraries

A lot of historical documents from Saxony are digitized:

  • Saxon State Archives (archiv.sachsen.de) – Offers some digitized collections and finding aids online. While you typically won’t find a birth certificate just by browsing, you might find scanned historical documents like address books, maps, or photos of places Richard lived.
  • Leipzig City Archive image collection – May have photographs of Gaschwitz station or Groitzsch in GDR times, which provide context to his life environment.
  • Deutsche Digitale Bibliothek and Archivportal-D – National platforms that index archival material and sometimes provide scans. A quick search for “Groitzsch” or “Borna SED” can yield leads. For example, Archivportal-D might list a file concerning DKP or SED in Borna [22] (https://www.archivportal-d.de/item/GYGFXY6SJ3R3VMZYM5743RMQADT5FNQH?).
  • SLUB Dresden’s digital collections – Includes the Historical Address Books database and old newspapers/journals. If Richard or family were mentioned in public notices (e.g., 1946 newspaper welcoming back railway workers, or a 1987 death notice), SLUB’s repository or the ZEFYS newspaper portal (hosted by Berlin State Library) might have it.
  • Gravestone Databases – The CompGen Grabstein-Projekt indexes cemeteries. Search https://grabsteine.genealogy.net for Groitzsch or Gaschwitz. If volunteers documented tombstones in those towns, you might find Richard Poster’s grave (if it had a marker) and possibly those of relatives. No specific entry for him currently, but the database is expanding. Other platforms like FindAGrave or BillionGraves occasionally include German graves. Keep in mind many East German graves from the 1980s may no longer exist due to limited-term grave plots (20–30 years unless renewed).

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Offline Archives and Institutions to Contact

Much of the detailed information for someone like Richard Poster will be found in physical archives and civil/church offices.

Civil Registry Offices (Standesämter)

When writing to a Standesamt, provide as much detail as possible: full name, exact date, location, and names of parents/spouse. They may charge fees for certificates or excerpts. International requests are common and often accepted via bank transfer or third-party services.

Church Archives

  • Kirchliches Archiv Leipzig – Regional Protestant archive for Leipzig and surrounding villages (e.g. Gaschwitz, Großstädteln). Holds church books and may have confirmation, family, or community registers.
    Contact: Tel. +49 341 47917310
    [2] (https://lgg-leipzig.de/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/KAL.pdf)
  • Ev.-Luth. Landeskirchliches Archiv Sachsen (Dresden) – Central Saxon Lutheran church archive. May have administrative records (e.g. Kirchenaustritt or reentry documentation).
  • Local Parish Offices – Pastors or parish secretaries at churches in Markkleeberg or Groitzsch might share community chronicle entries or funeral records for local notables like Richard.

Staatsarchiv Leipzig

The Sächsisches Staatsarchiv – Leipzig Branch is essential for this research. It houses:

  • Deutsche Zentralstelle für Genealogie (DZfG) microfilms and civil registers.
  • Church book duplicates (Sekundärbücher).
  • Government records from Kreis Borna and Bezirk Leipzig.
  • SED and Farmers’ Association records.
  • Potential mentions in council minutes, award registers, or SED documents.

Stadtarchiv Leipzig

Relevant because of Richard’s mother (Frieda Börngen) and his office address:

  • Bürgerkartei (citizen cards): If he ever lived or worked in Leipzig, his registration may be on file.
  • Newspapers, political events, or SED visits to Leipzig may be recorded.
  • Civil registers for Leipzig (births, marriages, deaths) that have exited Standesamt custody.

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Local Historical Societies and Museums

  • Groitzsch City Museum or Local History Society – May have information on notable local figures. As chairman of the Farmers’ Association, Richard could be mentioned in a local chronicle. Some towns kept Heimatbücher (community histories) with yearly entries and key figures.
  • Borna Museum/Archive – Since Borna was the district capital, its museum or archive might have collections on agricultural cooperatives or SED district leadership. They may have photos, programs, or conference documentation from local events.
  • NRW Archives (West Germany) – If Richard was active in DKP in North Rhine-Westphalia, try archives in Essen or Düsseldorf. The Archiv für soziale Bewegungen in Essen focuses on labor and social movements and may hold DKP records or personal papers of party members.

Contact Information:

Staatsarchiv Leipzig: Schongauerstr. 1, 04328 Leipzig, Germany. Email: poststelle-l@sta.smi.sachsen.de. (The archive’s Contact & Hours page provides updated info. They are generally open weekdays with late hours Tue/Wed.)
[8] (https://www.staatsarchiv.sachsen.de/kontakt-3941.html)

Bundesarchiv (SAPMO): Finckensteinallee 63, 12205 Berlin, Germany. Email: berlin@bundesarchiv.de. (Reference the SAPMO collections in your query.)

BStU (Stasi Archive): Use the Bundesarchiv’s online form for Stasi records requests or email: stasi@bundesarchiv.de.
[15] (https://www.bundesarchiv.de/im-archiv-recherchieren/stasi-unterlagen-einsehen/akteneinsicht-fuer-privatpersonen/)

Kirchliches Archiv Leipzig: Rudolf-Sack-Str. 10, 04229 Leipzig, Germany. (Often, inquiries go through the Ev.-Luth. Landeskirche Sachsens archive contact. Phone +49 341 30 13 74 43 as per church directory, or email the Landeskirche – they forward to the archive.)
[2] (https://lgg-leipzig.de/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/KAL.pdf)

Standesämter:
Markkleeberg Standesamt – Tel. +49 341 3533-140.
Groitzsch Standesamt – Tel. +49 34296 45-126.
Böhlen Standesamt – Tel. +49 34206 70300 (Böhlen Town Hall).
[5] (https://www.markkleeberg.de/buerger-rathaus/rathaus/aemter-bereiche/detail/standesamt)
[6] (https://groitzsch.de/stadt-verwaltung/heiraten-in-groitzsch)

Always email or call ahead to understand their process. Many allow you to request certificates online or via forms, but international requests might require snail mail for payment.

Local archives: Groitzsch doesn’t list an archive separately, but you can contact the Stadtverwaltung Groitzsch (Markt 1, 04539 Groitzsch) and ask if they have an Archiv or who manages historical records. The Landkreis Leipzig’s archive (if one exists) might be reachable via the Landratsamt in Borna or via the Saxon archives system.

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Finally, consider reaching out on genealogy forums (such as the Ahnenforschung.org or the CompGen Discourse forum). Posting a query about Richard Poster’s family in a German forum may connect you with other researchers or even relatives (for example, the GEDBAS submitter Sebastian Poster might be contactable – his email is on the GEDBAS page). Networking with others can often unearth documents or insights that formal archives might not readily provide. Given Richard Poster’s unique political background bridging East and West, you might also find interest from local historians; for instance, the Bundesstiftung zur Aufarbeitung der SED-Diktatur (Federal Foundation for Communist Dictatorship Studies) sometimes collects personal stories – they or a regional history journal might have information if he was involved in notable events.
[24] (https://www.zauv.bund.de/SharedDocs/Beratungsstellen/StaatlicheInstitutionen/berlin_bundesarchiv.html)
[25] (https://wiki.genealogy.net/images/1/12/Stoye_Band_47.pdf)

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Sources

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