Talk:Hede Massing
Hede Massing had married Eisler in 1919 [wrong, in 1920), in Vienna. Eisler and Massing went to Berlin early in 1921; Eisler's sister Ruth Fischer, who had been the very first member of the KPÖ (Austrian CP) already was a leader of the ultra-left fraction of the KPD (German CP) and her brother also rose in its ranks, but fell foul of the changing fortunes of his (also changing) alies in the party. Eisler was sent first to China, then to the USA as a kind of punishment/chance to prove himself, but that was nearly ten years after his marriage to Hede Massing had ended. She married Julian Gumperz in 1923 [wrong, they met in 1923, lived together from 1924, but married only in 1927, so that she would get US-citizenship], they separated around 1928 and she then lived with Paul Massing, but they married much later [in 1936].--Radh 10:04, 19 March 2010 (EDT)
- Yes, that narative sounds about right. Rob Smith 11:55, 19 March 2010 (EDT)
- There are short dense bios of both Massings and tons of other people in a two volume (German) book on Noel Field, I have another look at this later (it is on Google Books). P.S.: I have managed to get it all wrong: have changed the statement above.--Radh 12:32, 19 March 2010 (EDT)
GRU
As I understand it, Massing's failure to recruit Noel Field was because Field already worked with Alger Hiss & the GRU, while Massing was a Comintern & NKVD operative. Can we get this part correct? Rob Smith 15:11, 19 March 2010 (EDT)
- As far as I can see: The Massings recruited the Fields first, early in 1935, but had to give them up.
The Massings as Spys: Hede Gumperz was recruited in Frankfurt/Main by R. Sorge (1928(29?), but her boss and the one who worked with her and trained her in Berlin and Paris for GRU work was Ludwig (Ignaz Reiss). She did various jobs in Europe (Paris). When Paul Massing went to Moskau, she followed him in 1930/31. They went back to Berlin in the spring of 1931, Paul Massing now worked for the (even then) illegial M Division (Militär-Apparat) of the KPD and also for the GRU. Paul Massing was imprisoned by the Nazis in 1933, released at the end of the year, then fled to Paris. In the USA they were not GRU, but, as you say NKVD.
Hede Massing first met the Fields in 1934 through Marguerite Young from the Daily Worker. (Paul M. bought a farm from Nina Foot). But they were recruited for the NKWD (INO) (German Abr.) only early in 1935. In 1937/38 after the murder of Reiss and others they were ordered to Moscow, but survived (used the Fields; perhaps the US passport also helped). They were shocked by the pures, but continued to work as spies (contrary to Hede Massings later statements). Paul Massing took part in the 1943/44 Soviet infiltration of the OSS (Neumann).--Radh 18:06, 19 March 2010 (EDT)
- Sounds vaguely familiar. I'll have a look at sourcing, too. Rob Smith 15:43, 19 March 2010 (EDT)
- We have a pretty well researched synopsis of these events at Alger_Hiss#Hede_Massing_and_Noel_Field. Field worked with the Hiss/GRU group which is what Massing testified to in 1951. We reported Massing "new" Sorge in 1928; if you can cite recrutiment, I'd be interested to see that. Right now I'm trying to find Massing's book, This Deception, which I think is online. Rob Smith 16:39, 19 March 2010 (EDT)
- Massing (and Julian Gumperz) def. knew Sorge and his wife since 1923 (Erste Marxistische Arbeitswoche, Pfingsten 1923). Just saw a citation from her a German version of her autobiography where she talks about a call from Ika Sorge (1928?), but without exact dates.--Radh 16:47, 19 March 2010 (EDT)
