<ARTICLE> 5
<CIK> 0000037008
<NAME> FIRST UNION REAL ESTATE EQUITY AND MORTGAGE INVESTMENTS
<MULTIPLIER> 1
<CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLARS
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1996
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                      1
<CASH>                                       7,403,000
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                7,962,000
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0
<INVENTORY>                                          0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                            15,365,000
<PP&E>                                     447,138,000
<DEPRECIATION>                           (106,828,000)
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                             406,832,000
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                       14,044,000
<BONDS>                                    275,502,000
<COMMON>                                    98,796,000
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<OTHER-SE>                                           0
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>               406,832,000
<SALES>                                              0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                            39,260,000
<CGS>                                                0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                               17,242,000
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                            10,289,000
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                          11,633,000
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                      0
<INCOME-TAX>                                         0
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             96,000
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<NET-INCOME>                                    96,000
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .01
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .01