Spying on science : Western intelligence in divided Germany 1945-1961 / Paul Maddrell.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Maddrell, Paul.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Intelligence service--Germany--History--20th century.

Intelligence service.

Espionage--Germany--History--20th century.

Espionage.

Science--Germany--History--20th century.

Science.

Technology transfer--Germany--History--20th century.

Technology transfer.

History.

Germany.

Physical Description:

xi, 330 pages ; 24 cm

Place of Publication:

Oxford ; New York : Oxford University Press, 2006.

Summary:

The years 1945-61 saw the greatest transformation in weaponry that has ever taken place, as atomic and thermonuclear bombs, intercontinental ballistic missiles, and chemical and biological weapons were developed by the superpowers. It was also a distinct era in Western intelligence collection. These were the years of the Germans. Mass interrogation in West Germany and spying in East Germany were until the mid-1950s the most important sources of intelligence on Soviet war-related science, weapons development, and military capability; they continued to be key sources until 1961. This intelligence fuelled the arms race and influenced Western scientific research, weapons development, and intelligence collection.

Using intelligence and policy documents held in British and US archives and records of the Ministry of State Security (MfS) of the former German Democratic Republic (GDR), this book is the most penetrating study of the scientific intelligence-gathering and subversive operations of the British, US, and West German intelligence services in the period to date. East Germany's scientific potential was contained by inducing leading scientists and engineers to defect to the West, and Paul Maddrell shows that the US Government's policy of 'containment' was more aggressive than has hitherto been accepted. He also demonstrates that the Western secret services' espionage in the GDR was very successful, even though the MfS and KGB achieved triumphs against them. George Blake twice did appalling damage to MI6's spy networks. The book reveals the identity of the most distinguished scientist to spy for the CIA as yet uncovered.

Contents:

1 The Soviet Exploitation of German Science and the Origins of Scientific Containment 17

2 Refugees and Defectors 53

3 Other Key Sources of Intelligence 82

4 The Prisoners-of-war Come Home 103

5 Mass Espionage: Western Spying in Germany 1945-61 119

6 The Scientific and Military Spy Networks 148

7 The Inducement of Defection 176

8 Operation 'Dragon Return' 205

9 The Western Secret Services and the Wall 236

10 The Uses of the Intelligence Gathered 271

Conclusion: The Years of the Germans 289.

Notes:

Originally presented as the author's thesis (doctoral).

Includes bibliographical references (pages [304]-314) and index.

ISBN:

0199267502

OCLC:

62381253

Publisher Number:

9780199267507

Online:

Publisher description