John Peet (1915–1988)

John Peet (1915–1988) was a British journalist and writer who defected to East Germany in 1950 and became a prominent figure in the propaganda apparatus of the German Democratic Republic (GDR).

Born in London, Peet worked as a journalist for Reuters and the Daily Telegraph before World War II. During the war, he served in the British Army. After the war, he continued working as a journalist and became increasingly sympathetic to communist ideology.

In 1950, Peet abruptly left his wife and family in England and defected to East Berlin. He was quickly embraced by the East German authorities and given a position at the Democratic German Report, an English-language propaganda publication. He rose to become its editor-in-chief and remained in that role for nearly four decades.

Under Peet's direction, the Democratic German Report served as a mouthpiece for the East German government, disseminating propaganda and disinformation to an international audience. Peet became a skilled propagandist, adept at presenting the GDR in a positive light and denouncing the West. He was also involved in efforts to discredit Western journalists and intellectuals.

Peet's defection and subsequent role in East German propaganda made him a controversial figure in the West. He was widely condemned as a traitor and his motives were questioned. Some believed he was motivated by genuine ideological conviction, while others suspected he was motivated by personal gain or coercion.

He remained in East Germany until his death in 1988. After the fall of the Berlin Wall and the reunification of Germany, his legacy was re-evaluated, with many criticizing his role in perpetuating the communist regime's propaganda.