Wilhelm Tsaysser German communist Date of Birth: 20.06.1893 Country: Germany

1. Biography of Wilhelm Zaisser
2. Early Life and Career
3. Time in Moscow and Spain
4. Return to Germany and Political Career

Biography of Wilhelm Zaisser

Wilhelm Zaisser was a German communist and the Minister of State Security of the German Democratic Republic (GDR) from 1950 to 1953. Zaisser completed his education at a public school and a teacher's seminar.

Early Life and Career

During World War I, Zaisser served in the German army as a lieutenant. After the war, he worked as a teacher in Essen, where he joined the Spartacus League and later the Communist Party of Germany (KPG). In 1920, during the Kapp Putsch, Zaisser led the Red Ruhr Army (Rote Ruhrarmee) and was sentenced to six months of imprisonment. After his release, he worked as an editor for the communist newspaper "Rur Echo" and was involved in trade unions. Zaisser also served as a delegate at the Second Congress of the Red International of Trade Unions (Profintern) in Moscow. In 1924, he completed special military courses in Moscow and continued to lead military apparatuses. He directed sabotage operations against the French in the occupied Ruhr region. From November 1925, he was sent by Soviet intelligence to work illegally in Palestine and Syria, where he remained until the spring of 1926. Upon his return to Germany, Zaisser led illegal military courses for the Communist Party and edited its illegal journal, "October." From August 1927 to February 1930, he worked for Soviet military intelligence in Manchuria.

Time in Moscow and Spain

From 1932 to 1935, Zaisser resided in Moscow, working as an instructor for the Organizational Department of the Executive Committee of the Communist International (Comintern) and as a military instructor at the International Lenin School and the Communist University of the National Minorities of the West (KUNMZ). In 1936, under the pseudonym "Gomez," he fought as a member of the Republican forces in the Spanish Civil War, serving as the organizer and commander of the 13th International Brigade. During World War II, Zaisser stayed in the Soviet Union and worked with German prisoners of war.

Return to Germany and Political Career

In 1947, Zaisser returned to Germany and joined the Socialist Unity Party of Germany (SEPG). He became a member of the Central Committee and the Politburo of the SEPG. In 1948, he served as the Minister of Internal Affairs of Saxony. From 1949 to 1954, Zaisser was a deputy in the People's Chamber of the GDR. In 1950, he became the first Minister of State Security of the GDR. However, in 1954, he was expelled from the party and removed from all his positions due to his anti-party and factional activities. Ernst Wollweber succeeded him as the new head of the Ministry for State Security.