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In 1920 Schabbel became a member of [[Young Communist League of Germany]] (KJVD). In the same year, she became a stenographer for a Berlin housing company before moving to work in the same position in the publishing house of the KJVD, a position she held until 1924.<ref name=”mil”/> In 1920, she met and married the Belgian communist and KJVD member Arnold Schnee who would later become the Comintern and later the [[GRU (Soviet Union)|GRU]] agent [[Henry Robinson (spy)|Henry Robinson]].<ref name=”Kochik”>{{cite news |last1=Kochik |first1=Valery Yakovlevich |title=Арнольд Шнеэ, он же Анри Робинсон |url=https://nvo.ng.ru/spforces/2006-12-22/7_robinson.html |access-date=18 August 2025 |agency=Nezavisimaya Gazeta |publisher= Konstantin Remchukov |date=22 December 2006 |location=Moscow |language=ru|trans-title=Arnold Schnee, aka Henri Robinson}}</ref> Together the couple had a son, Leo, who was born in 1922.{{efn|Sources vary. Kesaris reports that the sons name was Victor.<ref>{{cite book |editor1-last=Kesaris |editor1-first=Paul. L |title=The Rote Kapelle: the CIA’s history of Soviet intelligence and espionage networks in Western Europe, 1936–1945. |date=1979 |publisher=University Publications of America |location=Washington DC |isbn=978-0-89093-203-2 |url=https://archive.org/details/rotekapelleciOOunit|page=342}}</ref>}}<ref name=”Kochik”/> By 1920, Schabbel was now an ardent communist and was a delegate to the [[10th Congress of the Russian Communist Party (Bolsheviks)|10th Congress of the Russian Communist Party]] in March 1921.

In 1920 Schabbel became a member of [[Young Communist League of Germany]] (KJVD). In the same year, she became a stenographer for a Berlin housing company before moving to work in the same position in the publishing house of the KJVD, a position she held until 1924.<ref name=”mil”/> In 1920, she met and married the Belgian communist and KJVD member Arnold Schnee who would later become the Comintern and later the [[GRU (Soviet Union)|GRU]] agent [[Henry Robinson (spy)|Henry Robinson]].<ref name=”Kochik”>{{cite news |last1=Kochik |first1=Valery Yakovlevich |title=Арнольд Шнеэ, он же Анри Робинсон |url=https://nvo.ng.ru/spforces/2006-12-22/7_robinson.html |access-date=18 August 2025 |agency=Nezavisimaya Gazeta |publisher= Konstantin Remchukov |date=22 December 2006 |location=Moscow |language=ru|trans-title=Arnold Schnee, aka Henri Robinson}}</ref> Together the couple had a son, Leo, who was born in 1922.{{efn|Sources vary. Kesaris reports that the sons name was Victor.<ref>{{cite book |editor1-last=Kesaris |editor1-first=Paul. L |title=The Rote Kapelle: the CIA’s history of Soviet intelligence and espionage networks in Western Europe, 1936–1945. |date=1979 |publisher=University Publications of America |location=Washington DC |isbn=978-0-89093-203-2 |url=https://archive.org/details/rotekapelleciOOunit|page=342}}</ref>}}<ref name=”Kochik”/> By 1920, Schabbel was now an ardent communist and was a delegate to the [[10th Congress of the Russian Communist Party (Bolsheviks)|10th Congress of the Russian Communist Party]] in March 1921.

In 1923, Schabbel along with her husband, who worked in the KPD, conducted subversive military and political work in the [[Rhineland]] and in the [[Ruhr]] district of Germany.<ref name=”Pavlov”/> Between 1923-1924, Schabbel worked as stenographer at the [[Young Communist International]] (KIM).<ref name=”Pavlov”/> In 1924, Schabbel moved to Moscow to work at reconnaissance office of the [[Red Army]]<ref name=”Pavlov”/> and then in [[Executive Committee of the Communist International]].<ref name=”mil”/> In 1925, she was formely adopted by the [[14th Congress of the All-Union Communist Party (Bolsheviks)|14th Congress of the All-Union Communist Party]].<ref name=”mil”/>

In 1923, Schabbel along with her husband, who worked in the KPD, conducted subversive military and political work in the [[Rhineland]] and in the [[Ruhr]] district of Germany.<ref name=”Pavlov”/> Between 1923-1924, Schabbel worked as stenographer at the [[Young Communist International]] (KIM).<ref name=”Pavlov”/> In 1924, Schabbel moved to Moscow to work at reconnaissance office of the [[Red Army]]<ref name=”Pavlov”/> and then in [[Executive Committee of the Communist International]].<ref name=”mil”/> In 1925, she was formely adopted by the [[14th Congress of the All-Union Communist Party (Bolsheviks)|14th Congress of the All-Union Communist Party]].<ref name=”mil”/>

==Arrest==

==Arrest==

Soviet intelligence officer

Clara Schabbel (born 9 August 1894 in Friedrichshain, Berlin, died 5 August 1943 in Plötzensee Prison) was a German communist and Soviet intelligence officer.[1] During the 1920’s and 1930’s, Schabbel lived with Henry Robinson, a comintern agent who ran an espionage network that operated between France, Great Britain and Switzerland.[2] Schabbel, working from a house in Hennigsdorf, became the main liaison between the German communist party (KPD) and Johann Wenzel, a radio operator who assisted and also transmitted intelligence for the KPD.[3]

Life

Clara Schabbel was the daughter of rope maker Ludwig Schabbel and his wife Emilie Pauline, née Borchert. Her birthplace was located at what was then Landsberger Straße 14 (today approximately Platz der Vereinigte Nationen [de] 26)[4] Both her parents were poltically aligned with the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD).

Career

After finishing primary school, Schabbel attended evening classes where she studied stenography, typography and business studies.[1] In 1908, she began an apprenticeship as a saleswomen for the jewellers and silversmiths Richard Lebram, selling gold, silver jewellery and watches.[1] In 1917, Schabbel began working for Telefunken company.[1]

At a relatively young age Schabbel became political active in the socialist working class youth of Berlin. In 1912 and still a child, she joined the Socialist Workers’ Youth [de]. In 1914, Schabbel now an adult, joined the centre-left SPD.[5] During World War I her political views crystalised and she joined the far-left communist Spartacus League led by Karl Liebknecht and Rosa Luxemburg.[6] Through contacts in the Spartacus League she became associated with the International Communists of Germany and then by December 1918 a founding member of the Communist Party of Germany (KPD)[7] After the war she worked for a year as a stenographer at the German workers’ and soldiers’ councils 1918–1919.[8] Between 1919 and 1920, Shabbel worked at the Western European Secretariat of the Communist International (Comintern) in Berlin.[8]

In 1920 Schabbel became a member of Young Communist League of Germany (KJVD). In the same year, she became a stenographer for a Berlin housing company before moving to work in the same position in the publishing house of the KJVD, a position she held until 1924.[1] In 1920, she met and married the Belgian communist and KJVD member Arnold Schnee who would later become the Comintern and later the GRU agent Henry Robinson.[9] Together the couple had a son, Leo, who was born in 1922.[a][9] By 1920, Schabbel was now an ardent communist and was a delegate to the 10th Congress of the Russian Communist Party in March 1921.

In 1923, Schabbel along with her husband, who worked in the KPD, conducted subversive military and political work in the Rhineland and in the Ruhr district of Germany.[8] Between 1923-1924, Schabbel worked as stenographer at the Young Communist International (KIM).[8] In 1924, Schabbel moved to Moscow to work at reconnaissance office of the Red Army[8] and then in Executive Committee of the Communist International.[1] In 1925, she was formely adopted by the 14th Congress of the All-Union Communist Party.[1] While in Moscow she lived with her son in the Hotel Luz.[1]

Arrest

In her last letter to relatives she stated

“Срок моей жизни истек. Не печальтесь, я все уже перетерпела… Я не боюсь и умираю спокойно. Оставьте мне место в вашем сердце… Будьте все здоровы… (“My life is up. Do not be sad, I have already endured everything … I am not afraid and I am dying peacefully. Leave me a place in your heart … May you all be healthy …”)[6]

Awards and honours

Odonymy

Monuments

  • Stolperstein placed in Hennigsdorf to honour Schabbel memory

    Stolperstein placed in Hennigsdorf to honour Schabbel memory

  • In 1976, a, emorial plaque to Schabbel was placed at 63 Conrad-Blenkle-Straße, Prenzlauer Berg in Berlin
    In 1976, a, emorial plaque to Schabbel was placed at 63 Conrad-Blenkle-Straße, Prenzlauer Berg in Berlin
  • Clara Schabbel's gravestone in Hennigsdorf Forest Cemetery

    Clara Schabbel’s gravestone in Hennigsdorf Forest Cemetery

  • Memorial plaque to Clara Schabbel with street sign in Hennigsdorf from the 1980s.

    Memorial plaque to Clara Schabbel with street sign in Hennigsdorf from the 1980s.

Note

  1. ^ Sources vary. Kesaris reports that the sons name was Victor.[10]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Rumyantsev, Vyacheslav (2012). “Шаббель Клара”. In Alekseev, M.A.; Kolpakidi, A.I.; Kochik, V.Y (eds.). Энциклопедия военной разведки [Encyclopedia of military intelligence.] (in Russian). Кучково поле. p. 838.
  2. ^ Kesaris, Paul L, ed. (1979). The Rote Kapelle: the CIA’s history of Soviet intelligence and espionage networks in Western Europe, 1936–1945 (pdf). Washington DC: University Publications of America. pp. 341–342. ISBN 978-0-89093-203-2.
  3. ^ Bourgeois, Guillaume (24 September 2015). La véritable histoire de l’orchestre rouge (in French). Paris: Nouveau Monde Editions. p. 325. ISBN 978-2-36942-069-9.
  4. ^ Geburtsregister StA Berlin VIII Nr. 1652/1894.
  5. ^ “Klara Schabbel”. Gedenkstätte Deutscher Widerstand (in German). Berlin: Stiftung Gedenkstätte Deutscher Widerstand. Retrieved 30 September 2025.
  6. ^ a b Shlyakhterman, Vladimir (4 May 2014). “Резидент № 1?”. Lehaim (in Russian). Книжники (Knizhniki). Retrieved 14 August 2025.
  7. ^ a b “Klara-Schabbel-Straße”. Kauperts. Berlin: Zepter and Krone, Luisenstädtischer Bildungsverein. Retrieved 5 October 2025.
  8. ^ a b c d e Павлов, Виталы (2003). Женское лицо разведки [The Female Face of Intelligence] (in Russian). ОЛМА Медиа Групп. p. 376. ISBN 978-5-94849-088-5.
  9. ^ a b Kochik, Valery Yakovlevich (22 December 2006). “Арнольд Шнеэ, он же Анри Робинсон” [Arnold Schnee, aka Henri Robinson] (in Russian). Moscow: Konstantin Remchukov. Nezavisimaya Gazeta. Retrieved 18 August 2025.
  10. ^ Kesaris, Paul. L, ed. (1979). The Rote Kapelle: the CIA’s history of Soviet intelligence and espionage networks in Western Europe, 1936–1945. Washington DC: University Publications of America. p. 342. ISBN 978-0-89093-203-2.
  11. ^ Kirillovich, Gladkov Theodor (2002). Лифт в разведку. «Король нелегалов» Александр Коротков [Elevator to reconnaissance. Alexander Korotkov, the “King of Illegals”] (in Russian). Олма-Пресс. p. 80. ISBN 9785224034154. OCLC 51050686.

Further reading

  • Deutsche Widerstandskämpfer 1933-1945: Biographien und Briefe [German resistance fighters 1933-1945: Biographies and letters] (in German). Vol. 2. Berlin: Dietz-Verlag. 1970. p. 135.
  • Biernat, Karl Heinz; Kraushaar, Luise (1970). Die Schulze-Boysen/Harnack-Organisation im antifaschistischen Kampf [The Schulze-Boysen/Harnack Organization in the anti-fascist struggle] (in German). Berlin: Dietz-Verlag. pp. 135–137. OCLC 1067931249.
  • Rosiejka, Gert (1985). Die Rote Kapelle : “Landesverrat” als antifaschist. Widerstand [The Red Orchestra: “treason” as anti-fascist. resistance] (in German) (1. Aufl ed.). Hamburg: Ergebnisse-Verl. ISBN 978-3-925622-16-8. OCLC 233677199.
  • Perrault, Gilles (1969). The Red Orchestra. New York: Schocken Books. ISBN 0-8052-0952-2. OCLC 797147560.
  • Trepper, Léopold (1995). Die Wahrheit: Autobiographie des “Grand Chef” der Roten Kapelle [The Truth: Autobiography of the “Grand Chef” of the Red Orchestra] (in German). Ahriman-Verlag GmbH. ISBN 978-3-89484-554-4. OCLC 34026904.

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