The following is a translation of a Top Secret cipher telegram date 17 June 1941 from Tokyo on the preconditions and probability of Japan’s entry into war with the USA. The source of the information was redacted during the declassification process, as was the pseudonym of the Soviet agent who filed the cable itself. TOPContinueContinue reading “Soviet Spy in Tokyo Explains to Moscow What Will Provoke Japan to Attack America”
Author Archives: misterestes
English Spy Cairncross Hands Soviets British MP Reaction to Japanese-Soviet Neutrality Pact
The following is a translation of a declassified Top Secret cipher telegram (dated 21 April 1941) from Soviet resident VADIM [Anatoly Gorsky] in London, using information from Soviet-operated British spy “List” (John Cairncross) about the signing of the neutrality pact between Japan and the USSR. Cairncross had intercepted a telegram from British MP Stafford CrippsContinueContinue reading “English Spy Cairncross Hands Soviets British MP Reaction to Japanese-Soviet Neutrality Pact”
March 1941: Every Japanese Military Unit to have its own Russian Translator
The following is a declassified Top Secret cipher telegram dated 15 March 1941 from Tokyo about the training of Russian language translators to staff each of Japan’s army companies. The source of the information related in the cable was redacted during the declassification process, as was the pseudonym of Soviet agent who filed the cableContinueContinue reading “March 1941: Every Japanese Military Unit to have its own Russian Translator”
Prelude to Pearl Harbor: March 1941 – Attacks on UK, US Will Hinge on Japan-USSR Neutrality Pact
The following translation from our “Prelude to Pearl Harbor” series is from a Top Secret letter consolidating information from a series of Tokyo cipher telegrams on how potential actions against England and the USA would depend on a non-aggression pact between Japan and the USSR. The letter, sent from an unnamed Soviet agent in Tokyo,ContinueContinue reading “Prelude to Pearl Harbor: March 1941 – Attacks on UK, US Will Hinge on Japan-USSR Neutrality Pact”
Prelude to Pearl Harbor: Russian Spy Uncovers Japanese Plans to Seize Hawaii as Early as February 1941
The following is a translation of a 14 February 1941 Top Secret intelligence report from People’s Commissar of State Security [NKGB] Merkulov to Stalin, Molotov, and Beria. TOP SECRET 14 February 1941 I am forwarding to you an intelligence message received by the NKGB from Tokyo. Cipher Telegram No. 980/15 dated 12 FebruaryContinueContinue reading “Prelude to Pearl Harbor: Russian Spy Uncovers Japanese Plans to Seize Hawaii as Early as February 1941”
Russian Ministry of Defense Issues Maritime Closure Areas in Barents Sea for Special Operations, 2-7 September 2025
On 29 August 2025, the Russian Ministry of Defense issued two maritime closure areas in the Barents Sea and Motovskiy Zaliv for “special operations,” presumably involving the Russian Federation Navy (given the number of naval bases within a day’s sailing range – see images below). Note: The term “special operations” is not meant to implyContinueContinue reading “Russian Ministry of Defense Issues Maritime Closure Areas in Barents Sea for Special Operations, 2-7 September 2025”
Cambridge Five Member Provides Information on UK, US, and Chinese Efforts to Encourage the USSR to Declare War on Japan
In a post from yesterday, we reported on the West’s efforts to convince the Soviet Union to declare war against Japan after the latter’s 7 December 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor, stressing that it would offer the US a chance to make use of prime Soviet real estate in the Far East (to wit, SovietContinueContinue reading “Cambridge Five Member Provides Information on UK, US, and Chinese Efforts to Encourage the USSR to Declare War on Japan”
Vice Premier Malenkov Informed of Liberation of Auschwitz, 29 January 1945: “Heinous…”
Two days after the infamous concentration camp in Auschwitz was liberated, General Lieutenant Konstantin Kraynyukov was able to put down into a terse telegram some initial details of the camp itself and what it held. But before launching into descriptions, he felt rightly compelled to sum up his thoughts on what he had seen inContinueContinue reading “Vice Premier Malenkov Informed of Liberation of Auschwitz, 29 January 1945: “Heinous…””
Patrols Again: How Serious is Syria’s New Rapprochement with Russia? – Carnegie Politika
Another in our series of translations of timely and relevant Carnegie Politika articles. Patrols Again: How Serious is Syria’s New Rapprochement with Russia? 29 August 2025 Nikita Smagin Summary: The Al-Sharaa government is interested in establishing control over the entire territory of Syria. And over time, the Russian presence will become an obstacle to this,ContinueContinue reading “Patrols Again: How Serious is Syria’s New Rapprochement with Russia? – Carnegie Politika”
1979: More Bizarre KGB Warnings of Hostile Acts During 1980 Moscow Olympics
In 1979, the KGB continued sounding the klaxon regarding the nightmare scenarios they were busy uncovering in terms of hostile activities that would encompass the 1980 Olympic Games, doing irreparable harm to the Soviet Union’s otherwise pristine image. As we noted in our earlier post about the 1978 version of conspiracy theories, some of thisContinueContinue reading “1979: More Bizarre KGB Warnings of Hostile Acts During 1980 Moscow Olympics”
Translating History 