[Bubba Ho-Tep]

A spy revealed that the Japanese would not attack Russia. Stalin sent his troops to Stalingrad on skis and turned the tide. The spy's fate? Years later he wound up in a purge. When someone reminded Stalin of the key role the spy had played, Stalin said "Gratitude is a disease for the dogs" and had him killed on schedule.

Great story. Completely untrue. Richard Sorge was the Soviet spy, operating as a German journalist in Tokyo. He sent the information that the Japanese would not attack the USSR, as well as information tipping Stalin of the impending German invasion. He was arrested by the Japanese in late 1941 and confessed under torture. The Japanese offered to trade him to Russia for one of their spies, but Stalin refused, perhaps embarrassed that Sorge's warnings were ignored. The Japanese hanged him in 1944.

[MattinNJ]

Ahh. Yes. I stand corrected. Did the Soviets tell Stalin they should save him and Stalin refused saying Gratitude was a disease for the dogs?