1956 was a difficult year for the Soviet Union. February saw Khrushchev’s Secret Speech, and within months, the Warsaw Pact nations were made aware of Stalin’s overall shabby behavior, to put it lightly. Poland was particularly vocal through its media in badmouthing Soviet culture, fashion, and life in particular. On 26 September 1956, Soviet EmbassyContinueContinue reading “1956: Soviet Embassy in Poland Alerts CPSU to Rising Anti-Soviet Sentiments in Polish Press”
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Two German Spies Alert the Soviets to Germany’s War Preparations: Alta, Ariyets, and Barbarossa
On December 29, 1940, a decrypted report from Berlin landed on Stalin’s desk. “Meteor,” a resident of the intelligence directorate of the Red Army General Staff reported from Berlin: “‘Alta’ has reported that Hitler gave the order (learned from ‘Ariyets’ in highly informed circles) on preparations for war with the USSR, which is planned toContinueContinue reading “Two German Spies Alert the Soviets to Germany’s War Preparations: Alta, Ariyets, and Barbarossa”
Korean War, 1951: The North is Hesitant to Continue, but Stalin Finds the Conflict Too Useful to Allow it to End
Translating History continues its look at the early days of the Korean War with a new translation of a declassified Top Secret document from 1951, Document 5 in our series. Stalin’s position, as well as that of his entourage, regarding the Korean issue in the winter of 1951 is revealed by secret instructions from theContinueContinue reading “Korean War, 1951: The North is Hesitant to Continue, but Stalin Finds the Conflict Too Useful to Allow it to End”
Russian FSB Declassifies and Publishes Materials from Potsdam Conference Preparations
To mark the 80th anniversary of the 16 July 1945 kick-off of the Potsdam Conference between the leaders of the Soviet Union, United States, and Great Britain, the Russian Federation Federal Security Service (FSB) has published a handful of materials, freshly declassified for the occasion. The following was translated from information cobbled together from aContinueContinue reading “Russian FSB Declassifies and Publishes Materials from Potsdam Conference Preparations”
Declassified KGB Report on President Jimmy Carter’s “Dangerous Game” with US-Soviet Relations
Last month saw the publication of a newly declassified report submitted by then-KGB Director Yuri Andropov to the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union based on “confidential” conversations with US business and political leaders regarding the dangerous direction led by US President Jimmy Carter. The initial text below, from the FSBContinueContinue reading “Declassified KGB Report on President Jimmy Carter’s “Dangerous Game” with US-Soviet Relations”
DETI: Red Army Officer Interrogated for Role Supporting Germans in Training Soviet Youths to Commit Sabotage in Soviet Union
Nine documents were declassified and published on the Russian FSB (Federal Security Service) website on 1 June 2024, the International Day for the Protection of Children. This is Part One the first in a series of three separate interrogations conducted of Yu.N. Yevtukhovich. Yevtukhovich, a deserter from the Soviet Red Army as a Lieutenant, detailsContinueContinue reading “DETI: Red Army Officer Interrogated for Role Supporting Germans in Training Soviet Youths to Commit Sabotage in Soviet Union”
DETI: NKVD Investigates Soviet Orphans Exploited by Germans to Sabotage Soviet Sites, 1941
Nine documents were declassified and published on the Russian FSB (Federal Security Service) website on 1 June 2024, the International Day for the Protection of Children. This is the first of the documents translated; the rest will be translated and published on this site over the coming weeks. This is a “Special Message,” marked TOPContinueContinue reading “DETI: NKVD Investigates Soviet Orphans Exploited by Germans to Sabotage Soviet Sites, 1941”
RUSSIAN FSB PUBLISHES DECLASSIFIED WW2 DOCUMENTS ON GERMAN TRAINING OF ORPHANED SOVIET CHILDREN TO CONDUCT ACTS OF SABOTAGE
Nine documents were declassified and published on the Russian FSB (Federal Security Service) website on 1 June 2024, the International Day for the Protection of Children. The documents will be translated and published on this site over the coming weeks. The following is a translation of the introductory FSB article. Subsequent translated documents will beContinueContinue reading “RUSSIAN FSB PUBLISHES DECLASSIFIED WW2 DOCUMENTS ON GERMAN TRAINING OF ORPHANED SOVIET CHILDREN TO CONDUCT ACTS OF SABOTAGE”
Translating History 