Boom, Christel (1927–2004)

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Boom, Christel (1927–2004)

East German spy. Born Oct 6, 1927; died of heart failure, Mar 20, 2004; m. Günter Guillaume (spy, div.); children: 1.

One of East Germany's elite spies, played a major role in penetrating the inner circle of Willy Brandt, chancellor of Germany (1969–74); with husband Günter Guillaume, pretended to be a refugee to infiltrate the Social Democratic Party (SPD); opened a coffee shop in Frankfurt (1956) and was soon relaying NATO documents and SPD policy papers to the Stasi, East Germany's secret police (Günter became policy aide to Brandt in 1969); arrested wtih Guillaume (April 24, 1974), was tried and sentenced; released (1981). Their work caused the resignation of Brandt (May 6, 1974).