In 1910 he was elected secretary general of the liberal Progressive People's Party (Fortschrittliche Volkspartei) of Kassel.

After World War II, Nuschke became involved in the politics of the Soviet Occupation Zone (SBZ)--what became East Germany.

After the formal establishment of the German Democratic Republic, Nuschke became Deputy Prime Minister and chief of the Church Office.

Nuschke was a loyal supporter of the SED regime, and gradually pushed out those CDU members not willing to do the Communists' bidding.

On 17 June 1953, during the East German uprising, Nuschke and his driver were kidnapped and brought to West Berlin.

In a spontaneous interview given to RIAS reporter Peter Schultze, Nuschke claimed that the East German government had popular support and that the demonstrators included West Berliners.