writer and photographer for the party’s district chapter newspaper,
Guillaume became so involved that within a year the cover of manag-
ing the small shop was dropped. A series of various party positions
followed, culminating in his election to the Frankfurt city council in
- During this same period, as a secretary to a SPD Bundestag
deputy and member of the party leadership, Wilhelm Birkelbach,
Christel was acquiring far more valuable information, notably the
description and evaluation of two different North Atlantic Treaty
Organization (NATO) and Group North military exercises.
In a display of his organizational skills, Guillaume directed the
successful 1969 political campaign of the conservative SPD Bund-
estag deputy, Georg Leber. This election also marked the SPD’s
first victory in a national election. As the new chancellor, Willy
Brandt, began to assemble his government, the name of Guillaume
was enthusiastically advanced by Leber (who became labor minister
and later defense minister). Despite opposition from the Bonn per-
sonnel office regarding his lack of qualifications and questions by
the Bundesamt für Verfassungsschutz (BfV) about his security
credentials, Guillaume became an assistant in Brandt’s office, deal-
ing with the trade unions and political organizations. Exceptionally
eager and hardworking, yet also possessing a jovial down-to-earth
demeanor, he emerged after Brandt’s reelection in 1972 as one
of three aides directly responsible to the chancellor. Present at all
departmental meetings in the chancellor’s office and at the party
headquarters, Guillaume remained in close proximity to Brandt on
a daily basis. Their relationship also developed strong personal ties,
and the two families were known to socialize together. Guillaume
usually conveyed information verbally to two couriers (code names
arno and nora), whose identities are still unknown, during meet-
ings in local restaurants, hotels, and automobiles. The high point of
his espionage career took place during Brandt’s vacation in Norway
in June 1973, when all of the chancellor’s correspondence passed
through Guillaume’s hands and some classified material—including
a confidential letter from President Richard Nixon regarding NATO
nuclear strategy—was photocopied by an MfS colleague.
BfV head Günther Nollau had informed Interior Minister Hans-
Dieter Genscher that Guillaume was under suspicion of espion-
age, but because the evidence appeared inconclusive—intercepted
GUILLAUME, GÜNTER • 153