In 1948, Riewe and fellow scientist, Dr. Renger, went on strike for reasons of their work conditions or hoping to be sent back to Germany after their two-year contracts expired. As their actions where while working on a defense project, they were accused of being ring-leaders of sabotage and imprisoned. Riewe received a sentence of 25 years in the Soviet Gulag and disappeared. Soviet detainee, Tamara Andryushchenko, recalled hearing that Riewe had been executed for sabotage.