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”
Tag Archives: Soviet Union
1961: Communist Party Drops Plans to Nuke Moon, Expands Defensive Space Opportunities
Until 13 May 1961, the Soviet Union had officially (albeit secretly) been working on a project to built a spacecraft armed with a nuclear weapon which would be sent to be detonated on the surface of the moon. The project also called for the creation of the appropriate device to record the detonation, presumably toContinueContinue reading “1961: Communist Party Drops Plans to Nuke Moon, Expands Defensive Space Opportunities”
The Intrepid Four: Wrap-Up of the Soviet Propaganda Program to Exploit More US Vietnam War Deserters
This wraps up (for now, pending additional document releases) our short series of translations relating to the Intrepid Four and their handling for propaganda purposes by the Soviet Union. For further information, please refer to our first report in the series here. Document 8: Memorandum from KGB Chairman Yu.V. Andropov to the CPSU Central Committee, 26ContinueContinue reading “The Intrepid Four: Wrap-Up of the Soviet Propaganda Program to Exploit More US Vietnam War Deserters”
The Intrepid Four: More US Servicemen Fall into the Soviet Propaganda Machine
This continues our short series of translations relating to the Intrepid Four and their handling for propaganda purposes by the Soviet Union. For further information, please refer to our first report in the series here. Additional information on the Intrepid sailors is easily found throughout the Internet. One declassified report that offers a bit of theContinueContinue reading “The Intrepid Four: More US Servicemen Fall into the Soviet Propaganda Machine”
The Intrepid Four: US Navy Deserters Begin to Feel Moscow’s Pressure
This continues our short series of translations relating to the Intrepid Four and their handling for propaganda purposes by the Soviet Union. For further information, please refer to our first report in the series here. Document 4: A paper (from G.V. Shumeyko, head of the International Department of the CPSU Central Committee, November 22, 1967):ContinueContinue reading “The Intrepid Four: US Navy Deserters Begin to Feel Moscow’s Pressure”
The Intrepid Four: The Soviet Propaganda Campaign Exploiting US Navy Deserters During Vietnam
Desertion from war is as old as war itself. The US involvement in Vietnam saw desertion reach its newest heights, with more than half a million US service members fleeing its ranks, but it can be argued that none were so public or pronounced as that of the so-called “Intrepid Four.” On 23 October 1967,ContinueContinue reading “The Intrepid Four: The Soviet Propaganda Campaign Exploiting US Navy Deserters During Vietnam”
1940: Kickoff of Soviet Country-Wide Repressions Against Lithuanian Opposition Leaders
The following is a translation of the four-page Top Secret covert activity plan of the Lithuanian Department of State Security, dated 7 July 1940, calling for the arrest and elimination of the leadership of “anti-state” parties. This would be the first of a series of repressive activities by Soviet internal affairs and state security agenciesContinueContinue reading “1940: Kickoff of Soviet Country-Wide Repressions Against Lithuanian Opposition Leaders”
August 1941: Japan’s Threat to US “Lend-Lease” Ships Bound for Soviet Far East
The following is a translation of a Top Secret encrypted telegram dated 21 August 1941 from Tokyo. The Soviet agent filing the report states that the countries are quite possibly on the precipice of the most crucial moment in Japanese-Soviet relations: In the event that the US, as part of the lend-lease program, sends shipsContinueContinue reading “August 1941: Japan’s Threat to US “Lend-Lease” Ships Bound for Soviet Far East”
Soviet Spy in Tokyo Explains to Moscow What Will Provoke Japan to Attack America
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”
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”
Translating History 