The Sword and the Shield

1. The Mitrokhin Archive: A KGB Insider's Forbidden Record

The contents of the cases have since been described by the American FBI as “the most complete and extensive intelligence ever received from any source.”

Unprecedented Access. This book unveils the secret world of the KGB's foreign intelligence arm through the meticulous notes of Vasili Mitrokhin, a KGB archivist who secretly documented top-secret files for twelve years. This archive, smuggled out of Russia in 1992, provides an unparalleled look into Soviet espionage operations from the October Revolution to the Gorbachev era.

Sensational Revelations. The archive contains details on thousands of Soviet agents and intelligence officers worldwide, including "illegals" living under deep cover. It exposes the inner workings of the KGB, its rivalries with other Soviet agencies, and its relentless pursuit of both real and imagined enemies. The sheer scale of the archive, dismissed as "absolute nonsense" by the SVR, reveals the extent of Soviet espionage activities.

Mitrokhin's Motivation. Mitrokhin, a British citizen since 1992, was driven by a desire to reveal the truth about the KGB's secret history, believing that the Russian people had a right to know. His archive is not just a collection of names and dates, but a testament to the human cost of the Cold War and the lengths to which the Soviet regime went to maintain its power.

2. From Cheka to OGPU: The Evolution of Soviet Intelligence

The Cheka’s success in penetrating its opponents derived in large part from its imitation of the techniques employed by Malinovsky and other Tsarist agents.

Origins in Tsarist Okhrana. The Cheka, the first Soviet security and intelligence agency, founded in 1917, drew heavily on the techniques of the Tsarist Okhrana, including the use of penetration agents and agents provocateurs. This continuity highlights the pragmatic approach of the Bolsheviks, who were willing to learn from their enemies.

Domestic Focus and Red Terror. The Cheka's initial focus was overwhelmingly domestic, targeting "counter-revolutionaries" and "class enemies" during the Russian Civil War. The Red Terror, a period of intense violence and repression, saw the Cheka claim to have uncovered and defeated numerous conspiracies, often using brutal methods and agents provocateurs.

Emergence of Foreign Intelligence. As the Soviet regime consolidated power, the Cheka's foreign intelligence operations expanded, leading to the creation of the Innostranyi Otdel (INO) in 1920. This marked the beginning of a more systematic approach to espionage beyond Soviet borders, relying heavily on "illegals" operating under deep cover.

3. The Great Illegals: Masters of Deception and Penetration

The files showed that before the Second World War the greatest foreign successes had been achieved by a legendary group of intelligence officers, often referred to as the “Great Illegals.”

Unconventional Talent. The "Great Illegals" were a diverse group of individuals, often cosmopolitan Central Europeans, who combined ideological commitment with remarkable skills in deception and penetration. They operated with greater freedom and initiative than their post-war counterparts, exploiting the lax security of interwar Western governments.

Cipher Acquisition and Agent Recruitment. The Great Illegals achieved major successes in acquiring diplomatic ciphers and recruiting agents, often motivated by money, sex, or ideology. Dmitri Bystroletov, for example, was known for his ability to seduce female staff with access to classified documents. Arnold Deutsch, on the other hand, focused on recruiting young, talented, ideological agents at Cambridge University.

Early Penetration of Western Services. The Great Illegals made significant inroads into Western intelligence and diplomatic services, including the British Foreign Office and the British embassy in Rome. These early penetrations provided the Soviet Union with valuable insights into Western policy and intentions.

4. Stalin's Terror and the Hunt for "Enemies of the People"

The main influence on the evolution of the OGPU and its successors during the Stalinist era was the change in the nature of the Soviet state.

Stalin's Paranoia. Stalin's increasing paranoia and obsession with internal opposition led to the use of the OGPU (the successor to the Cheka) to stifle dissent and pursue vendettas against real and imagined enemies. The hunt for "enemies of the people" became a central feature of Soviet intelligence operations.

Targeting Trotsky and White Guards. The OGPU focused on neutralizing Leon Trotsky and his supporters, as well as émigré White Guards, using elaborate deception operations like SINDIKAT and TREST. These operations involved agents provocateurs and the creation of bogus anti-Bolshevik undergrounds.

Shift to "Special Tasks." As Stalin's paranoia intensified, the OGPU's focus shifted from intelligence collection to "special tasks," including sabotage, abduction, and assassination. The kidnapping of General Kutepov in Paris in 1930 set a precedent for future operations against "enemies of the people" abroad.

5. The KGB's War on Dissent: From Prague to Afghanistan

The destruction of Czechoslovak “socialism with a human face” proved, he believed, that the Soviet system was unreformable.

Prague Spring and its Aftermath. The Prague Spring of 1968 was a turning point for Mitrokhin, who saw the Soviet invasion as proof that the system was unreformable. The KGB, under Andropov, intensified its efforts to combat "ideological subversion" both at home and abroad.

Andropov's Obsession. Andropov, who became KGB chairman in 1967, was obsessed with the destruction of dissent and saw the struggle for human rights as part of an imperialist plot to undermine the Soviet state. He issued KGB Chairman's Order No. 0051, calling for greater aggression against dissidents.

Afghanistan and Internal Criticism. The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979 further disillusioned Mitrokhin and led to open criticism of Soviet policy by some of his colleagues. The war highlighted the moral bankruptcy of the Soviet system and its inability to tolerate dissent.

6. The Cold War's Secret Battles: Espionage and Active Measures

The Soviet propensity to conspiracy theory derived both from the nature of the one-party state and from its Marxist-Leninist ideology.

Conspiracy Theories and Ideology. The Soviet Union's propensity for conspiracy theories stemmed from its one-party state and Marxist-Leninist ideology, which viewed all opposition as illegitimate and part of a capitalist plot. This worldview shaped Soviet intelligence operations throughout the Cold War.

Active Measures and Disinformation. The KGB engaged in a wide range of "active measures," including disinformation campaigns, forgeries, and the manipulation of media outlets. These operations were designed to discredit the West, sow discord among its allies, and promote Soviet interests.

The Struggle for Influence. The KGB sought to influence public opinion and policy in the West through a variety of means, including the cultivation of agents of influence in politics, journalism, and academia. These operations were often based on a distorted understanding of Western societies and their political systems.

7. The Fragile Grand Alliance: Espionage and Misunderstanding

The Soviet capacity to understand the political and diplomatic intelligence it collected, however, never approached its ability to collect that intelligence in the first place.

Intelligence Collection vs. Analysis. While Soviet intelligence was highly effective at collecting information, it often struggled to interpret it accurately. The Centre's tendency to prioritize conspiracy theories over pragmatic analysis led to a distorted understanding of Western intentions.

Stalin's Influence. Stalin's personal beliefs and paranoia heavily influenced Soviet intelligence assessments. He demanded evidence of Western plots against the Soviet Union, often ignoring or dismissing information that contradicted his preconceived notions.

The Limits of Espionage. Despite its successes in penetrating Western governments and intelligence agencies, Soviet espionage failed to prevent the collapse of the Soviet Union. The system's inherent flaws and its inability to adapt to changing circumstances ultimately proved more powerful than any secret intelligence operation.

Last updated: January 28, 2025