The Mitrokhin archive: Cambridge Five spy ring members 'hopeless drunks'

BBC News ^ | July 6, 2014 | None listed

[GreyFriar]

Members of the Cambridge Five spy ring were regarded by their Soviet handlers as hopeless drunks incapable of keeping secrets, newly-released files suggest.

Documents from the Mitrokhin Archive have been opened to the public for the first time after being kept at a secret location for more than 20 years.

But 19 out of 33 box files containing typewritten versions of his notes, all in Russian, can be viewed by visitors to the archive centre.

[GreyFriar]

Perhaps the most valuable collection of Soviet KGB documents provided to the West during the Cold War.

These are the documents that form the basis of the book: "The Sword and the Shield: The Mitrokhin Archive and the Secret History of the KGB" by Christopher Andrew and Vasili Mitrokhin

See also: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitrokhin_Archive

[Army Air Corps]

Thanks for posting.

[vbmoneyspender]

You know these guys must have really had problems with alcohol if the Russians were complaining about their drinking.

[GreyFriar]

Something for us old Cold Warriors and also many documents on Cardinal Karol Wojtyla, the future Pope John Paul II, who was denounced as a dangerous anti-communist.

There is another article entitled: ‘The Mitrokhin Archive’ on “The Independent UK” website, but it cannot be posted due to copyright complaints it has made to FR.

[SatinDoll]

What they’re not saying here, is that all five were queer.

[2ndDivisionVet]

[jiggyboy]

LOL — the Russians probably considered them to be lightweights.

[BobL]

Not that we were perfect back then, but there sure seems to be a lot of Brits that didn’t mind being spies.

But then again, it’s not much of a stretch to go from being a supporter of the “Labor” Party to being a Soviet Spy.

[GreyFriar]

And if you look at the Communists here in the USA during the 30s, 40s, 50s, and continuing onto today, there are many who chose to back a dictatorship over a democratic republic. Read the books by Klehr & Haynes and also by Paul Kengor on the American Communist Party and folks like a certain prominent “Democrat” politician’s mentor - Frank Marshall Davis

[Tainan]

Spot on there Satin Doll.
The problem with this group, for their Soviet handlers, was with their homosexuality and the health issues it created. Their copious drinking was accepted as just another part of their life. Even among the shadowy world of tradecraft and duplicity, the 'homosexuality' issue was considered a minefield.
A known fact in the British segment as well as the Soviet. It also rubbed off a bit on the Americans in the game.
Spying was a game of deception and manipulation; and it could go both ways. Ergo the danger of homosexuality - it did have its advantages - but those could be turned very easily. As the Soviets discovered when they brought the "5" home to the motherland for their retirement.

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the ping!

[what's up]

Kim Philby was not.gay.

[zot]

Thanks for the ping. For sure, the Cambridge Five were not nice people.