German Politician. She was an early member of the Communist Party in Germany, joining in 1925. She worked first as an assistant to Ernst Thälmann, the head of the party and then for the Comintern under Georgi Dimitrov as a forger. When he was arrested after the Reichstag Fire in 1933, she fled Germany, ending up in Russia, where she worked during the war for Wilhelm Pieck, future President of East Germany. She returned to Germany in June 1945 and held a number of important posts in the Socialist Unity Party (SED), the ruling party of East Germany, including the Head of Personnel Policy of the Central Committee and the Director of Department of International Relations of the Central Committee of the SED. In 1959, she married Klaus Fuchs, a nuclear physicist and spy in the Manhattan Project who gave atomic secrets to the Soviets. She then worked in the Ministry for Foreign Affairs until retirement. Among her awards were the Patriotic Order of Merit in silver and gold, the Banner of Labour, and the Star of People's Friendship.
German Politician. She was an early member of the Communist Party in Germany, joining in 1925. She worked first as an assistant to Ernst Thälmann, the head of the party and then for the Comintern under Georgi Dimitrov as a forger. When he was arrested after the Reichstag Fire in 1933, she fled Germany, ending up in Russia, where she worked during the war for Wilhelm Pieck, future President of East Germany. She returned to Germany in June 1945 and held a number of important posts in the Socialist Unity Party (SED), the ruling party of East Germany, including the Head of Personnel Policy of the Central Committee and the Director of Department of International Relations of the Central Committee of the SED. In 1959, she married Klaus Fuchs, a nuclear physicist and spy in the Manhattan Project who gave atomic secrets to the Soviets. She then worked in the Ministry for Foreign Affairs until retirement. Among her awards were the Patriotic Order of Merit in silver and gold, the Banner of Labour, and the Star of People's Friendship.
Bio by: Kenneth Gilbert
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