[1][2] Wolfgang Schleif studied philosophy, psychology and pedagogy at the University of Leipzig.
But then he took classes at the Acting School of the Deutsches Theater in Berlin, where he was trained in directing.
Among his assignments, he was one of the editors of the propaganda films Jud Süß (1940) and Kolberg (1945).
In 1947, Schleif was joined the DEFA film studio, making his directorial debut in 1948 with the anti-capitalist production Grube Morgenrot [de].
With The Immenhof Girls 1955 he managed an extraordinary success, which laid down his work but also for years on the production of such substances.