 In 1937, Kurella became Soviet citizen and in 1943 was involved in the activity of the antinazi Committee for Free Germany.His brother, Heinrich Kurella, also in exile in the Soviet Union, was arrested by the NKVD during the Great Purge and was executed.In 1954, Kurella returned to East Germany and became a member of the ideological committee of the ruling Socialist Unity Party of Germany (SED).