when he returned to the Soviet Union. He fell victim to the Great Purge: arrested by the NKVD on March 21, 1937 and held in the infamous Taganka Prison, Marcel Pauker was first interrogated over a year later, being presented with the charge of espionage in favour of Romania. Records show that he finally admitted to the charge (most likely after being subjected to torture). Consequently, he was put on trial, sentenced to death and executed by shooting. Rehabilitation Marcel Pauker was rehabilitated by Soviet authorities in 1957 (as part of the De-Stalinization process under Nikita Khrushchev). Gheorghe Gheorghiu-Dej's rejection of newer Soviet policies prevented this and other such cases from being mirrored in Communist Romania. While Gheorghiu-Dej was exercising a looser control of the society, he was not ready to question most of the Stalinist measures, as these had served to enforce his own rule during the previous decade. The case was reconsidered under Nicolae Ceauşescu's further distancing measures. Pauker's name was cleared, but mention of his activities and details of his life were kept secret. Family Largely thanks to circumstances, Ana Pauker was able to survive her husband's downfall, and she even reached the peak of her political career in the following years. They had three children together: Tanio (1921-1922) Vlad (1926-2016) Tatiana (1928-2011) Vlad moved to France. In 1931 Marcel also fathered a son named Yakov, from his relationship with fellow militant Roza Elbert. He also had lengthy affairs with Elena Filipovici and Vanda Nicolschi. Notes References Vladimir Tismăneanu, Fantoma lui Gheorghiu-Dej, Editura Univers, 1995. Dosarele Istoriei, 10/1998 Romanian communists Comintern people Executed activists Deaths by firearm in Russia Soviet rehabilitations Romanian Jews Politicians from Bucharest 1896 births 1938 deaths Great Purge victims from Romania Jews executed by the Soviet Union Jewish socialists Romanian expatriates in the Soviet Union International Lenin School alumni Executed spies Executed Romanian people Romanian Esperantists Executed communists