As a child growing up in the Soviet Union his family had known fellow exile Wilhelm Pieck , who in 1949 had become the president of the German Democratic Republic .
Personal contacts were important in Mahlow 's career .
As a child growing up in the Soviet Union Mahlow 's family had known fellow exile Wilhelm Pieck , who in 1949 had become the president of the German Democratic Republic .
Personal contacts were important in Mahlow 's career .