He was finally promoted to second in command in November 1970, when Second Secretary Horst Schumann acceded to lead the Bezirk Leipzig SED following Paul Fröhlich's death.

[2] His strategy of mediating between artists and a one-dimensional political system led to ongoing conflicts over the virtually nonexistent freedom of expression.

[2] Hoffmann maintained friendly relations with figures such as Austrian politician Fred Sinowatz and Johannes Rau, then Minister-President of North Rhine-Westphalia.

"[2][3] In the interview, Hoffmann not only expressed sympathy for Gorbachev's political approach, but also refused to call the theatre people who had left the GDR traitors.

[2] This interview led to him being summoned by Kurt Hager, the Central Committee Secretary responsible for culture and member of the Politburo, who tried to pressure him to resign.

[14][15] These letters, dating back to 1983, include responses from notable or prominent GDR residents to Hoffmann's inquiry about their reading habits and preferences.

Contributors included Waldemar Cierpinski, Peter Hacks, Sigmund Jähn, Gret Palucca, Werner Tübke, and Christa Wolf.