The meeting with GRU chief Yan Berzin that sent him into Moscow's orbit

A decorated German veteran meets GRU chief Yan Berzin in Moscow and chooses a secret life - how does loyalty end in betrayal? The meeting with GRU chief Yan Berzin that sent him into Moscow's orbit In this episode, we follow the moment Hans Kippenberger crossed from German militant to Soviet asset and trace the choices that built his clandestine career. What did that Moscow meeting set in motion, and how far did his networks reach before the world he served turned on him? Person: Hans Kippenberger Date: October 3, 1937 Location: Moscow, Soviet Union Event: Meeting with GRU chief Yan Berzin; recruitment into Soviet intelligence Case Status: Executed by NKVD; posthumously rehabilitated September 30, 1957 - He survived the Western Front, won the Iron Cross First Class, and became a full-time Communist Party operative by 1922. - Kippenberger built and ran the KPD’s most sophisticated underground intelligence apparatus, moving money, weapons, and agents across borders. - On October 1923 in Hamburg he led combat groups and ordered a disciplined withdrawal that preserved the apparatus and caught Moscow’s attention. - General Yan Berzin, chief of the GRU, personally recruited Kippenberger in Moscow, marking his formal tie to Soviet military intelligence. - He ordered the Bülowplatz assassination on August 9, 1931, and later operated networks that infiltrated the German police and Reichswehr. To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com. © 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved. This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: [email protected].