Nuschke was a loyal supporter of the SED regime, and gradually pushed out those CDU members not willing to do the Communists' bidding. This culminated in the party's 1952 conference, at which the CDU formally declared itself a socialist party. On 17 June 1953, during the East German uprising, Nuschke and his driver were kidnapped and brought to West Berlin. Some American military recognised him and saved him from the angry masses. He and his driver were brought to a police station, but released on 19 June. After that Nuschke and his driver returned to East Berlin. In a spontaneous interview given to RIAS reporter Peter Schultze, Nuschke claimed that the East German government had popular support and that the demonstrators included West Berliners. In 1954 he received the Patriotic Order of the GDR and in 1955 he received an honorary degree. See also German Democratic Republic Christian Democratic Union (East Germany) References External links 1883 births 1957 deaths People from Leipzig (district) People from the Kingdom of Saxony German Lutherans National-Social Association politicians Free-minded Union politicians Progressive People's Party (Germany) politicians German Democratic Party politicians Christian Democratic Union (East Germany) politicians Government ministers of East Germany Members of the Weimar National Assembly Members of the Provisional Volkskammer Members of the 1st Volkskammer Members of the 2nd Volkskammer Reichsbanner Schwarz-Rot-Gold members German Peace Society members Lutheran pacifists Recipients of the Patriotic Order of Merit 20th-century Lutherans