After attending agricultural school, Ewald worked in his parents' farm until he was drafted into the Wehrmacht in 1943.

[1][2] From 1946 to 1949, Ewald was a farmworker and joined the Free German Youth (FDJ) and the ruling Socialist Unity Party (SED) in 1946.

[1][2] From 1953 to 1954, Ewald attended the "Karl Marx" Party Academy and then served as First Secretary of the SED in the districts of Bad Doberan and Rügen.

[1][2][3][4] Steffen had received a reprimand[5] and was demoted to First Secretary of the SED in the Lübbenau coal power plant.

[15] Immediately afterwards, the Stasi confiscated documents relating to his activities as candidate member of the Politburo of the SED Central Committee and his ministerial office from the work rooms.