Berthe Zimmermann

Berthe Zimmermann (27 September 1902 – 2 December 1937) (also spelled "Berta Zimmermann" and "Bertha Zimmermann"), Swiss communist and wife of Fritz Platten, headed the courier section of the Comintern's OMS (International Liaison Department) in Moscow in 1935 and was summarily executed during the Great Purge in 1937.[1]

Berthe Zimmermann
BornSeptember 27, 1902
Zurich, Switzerland
Died
Moscow
Cause of deathexecution
NationalitySwiss
Other namesBerta Zimmermann, Bertha Zimmermann
Occupation(s)Communist activist; spy (courier)
Years active1923-1927
OrganizationCommunist Party of the Soviet Union
Known forhead of courier section of Comintern's OMS (International Liaison Department)
SpouseFritz Platten

Background

Zimmermann was born in Zurich, Switzerland, in to a Protestant family on September 27, 1902.[1]

Career

In 1923, Zimmermann emigrated from Switzerland to the Soviet Union, where she worked for the Comintern. First, she worked for the Information section (1923-1930). Then (1930-1931), she worked for the Organization section. Finally (1931 to 1937), she worked for the OMS under Jacob Mirov-Abramov.

After 1935, Zimmermann became head of the OMS's Courier section of OMS. She went on OMS missions to Paris and Prague.[1]

Personal

Zimmermann was married to Fritz Platten, a fellow communist also of Switzerland.[1][2]

Death

Zimmermann was executed 2 December 1937 in Moscow.[1][2]

Platten was arrested in 1938, moved to a prison camp near Nyandoma in 1939, and shot on 22 April 1942.[3]

References
  1. Studer, Brigitte (2015). The Transnational World of the Cominternians. Palgrave Macmillan. ISBN 9781137510297.
  2. "Platten". Fonjallaz. Archived from the original on 27 May 2013. Retrieved 19 October 2015.
  3. Kevin McDermott The Comintern: A History of International Communism from Lenin to Stalin, 1996. Page 146.
  • Publications by and about Berthe Zimmermann in the catalogue Helveticat of the Swiss National Library
  • Studer, Brigitte (2015). The Transnational World of the Cominternians. London: Palgrave Macmillan.
  • Huber, Peter (1994). Stalins Schatten in der Schweiz. Schweizer Kommunisten in Moskau: Verteidiger und Gefangene der Komintern. Zürich: Chronos. ISBN 3-905311-29-1.
  • Huber, Peter (1993). Berta Zimmermann - eine Schweizer Kommunistin im Geheimapparat der Komintern. Berlin: Aufbau-Verlag. ISSN 0944-629X.
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