Soviet Intelligence Communications [1952]

What the FBI knew about Soviet communication methods at the peak of the Red Scare. Compare this with contemporary accounts of suspected espionage; use it to inform your reading of the McCarthy and Hollywood blacklist eras!



This 1952 study examines the communication methods employed by Soviet intelligence services, focusing on both open and clandestine channels. Open channels included enciphered cable and radio traffic transmitted through commercial facilities by Soviet diplomatic and trade establishments, as well as diplomatic couriers. Clandestine communication methods encompassed agent radio, couriers, and mail, including the use of microdots and secret writing.

The study details the procedures for handling secret communications at the Moscow headquarters of Soviet Military Intelligence (GRU), and describes the operation of "secret sections" within Soviet missions abroad, where communications were processed and secret files maintained. The use of cipher pads and code books for encrypting messages is also discussed.

The study highlights the case of the Sorge network in Japan, which relied heavily on clandestine radio operations and couriers to transmit intelligence to Moscow. Additionally, the network utilized 35mm film to convey documentary intelligence, a common practice in Soviet operations.

This study provides valuable insights into the complex and multifaceted communication methods employed by Soviet intelligence services, offering a deeper understanding of their operational techniques.



In this annotated edition, I experiment with a new package of AI abstracts that focus on helping the reader get (and share!) the gist: tldr (three words), tldr (vanilla); scientific style; as a catch phrase; and three different types of mnemonics: acronym, speakable, and signable. I might summarize these as "silly but pithy"! I continue to include tables of Notable Passages and Nutshell Summaries for each page in the document.