The Sword and the Shield: The Mitrokhin Archive and the Secret History of the KGB

Additional The Sword and the Shield: The Mitrokhin Archive and the Secret History of the KGB Information

The Sword and the Shield is based on one of the most extraordinary intelligence coups of recent times: a secret archive of top-level KGB documents smuggled out of the Soviet Union which the FBI has described, after close examination, as the "most complete and extensive intelligence ever received from any source." Its presence in the West represents a catastrophic hemorrhage of the KGB's secrets and reveals for the first time the full extent of its worldwide network.

Vasili Mitrokhin, a secret dissident who worked in the KGB archive, smuggled out copies of its most highly classified files every day for twelve years. In 1992, a U.S. ally succeeded in exfiltrating the KGB officer and his entire archive out of Moscow. The archive covers the entire period from the Bolshevik Revolution to the 1980s and includes revelations concerning almost every country in the world. But the KGB's main target, of course, was the United States.

Though there is top-secret material on almost every country in the world, the United States is at the top of the list. As well as containing many fascinating revelations, this is a major contribution to the secret history of the twentieth century.

Among the topics and revelations explored are:

The KGB's covert operations in the United States and throughout the West, some of which remain dangerous today.

KGB files on Oswald and the JFK assassination that Boris Yeltsin almost certainly has no intention of showing President Clinton.

The KGB's attempts to discredit civil rights leader in the 1960s, including its infiltration of the inner circle of a key leader.

The KGB's use of radio intercept posts in New York and Washington, D.C., in the 1970s to intercept high-level U.S. government communications.

The KGB's attempts to steal technological secrets from major U.S. aerospace and technology corporations.

KGB covert operations against former President Ronald Reagan, which began five years before he became president.

KGB spies who successfully posed as U.S. citizens under a series of ingenious disguises, including several who attained access to the upper echelons of New York society.

What Customers Say About The Sword and the Shield: The Mitrokhin Archive and the Secret History of the KGB:

An amazing story - be sure to get the second book "The World was Going Our Way." It is just as fascinating, but even more readable.

This book of Professor Christopher Andrew is an outstanding contribution in the study of the history of the Soviet State Security system - great enemy for the democratic world. Levan Z. This book - "The Sword and the Shield: The Mitrokhin Archive and the Secret History of the KGB" is very important, scrupulous and unique scientific-research work on the history of the KGB. With kind regards,Dr. Urushadze,Scientific Co-ordinator of the Museumof the Soviet Occupation of the GeorgianNational Museum, a Fellow of the WorldAcademy of Art and Science (WAAS)Tbilisi, August 29, 2008 It is based primarily on significant and top secret archival material. This monograph will become a valuable reference work for professional historians and for those, who are interested in the secret history of the KGB.

Christopher Andrew uses a ridiculous amount of information to create a vivid picture of Soviet operations, policies and views during the Cold War era.Andrew has a gift. He is neither an apologist nor an attacker. This book is an amazing addition to any history or spy buff's library. Soviet fears, goals, problems and strengths are all covered without bias.

Andrew finds a narrative voice that helps push the true story of history forward. He is a chronicler.The portions covering the Majestic 5, a British spy ring that reached deep into British foreign and intelligence agencies, is gripping. Andrew presents a coherent and engaging tale about people sitting around worrying. This book is good, very good. That is no small task.There are many histories of this sort that are boring and dry. He takes boring documents and weaves them into a tapestry that is worth reading.

The Soviet Union seems almost paralyzed by its own success, unable to trust the very people handing them the keys to the kingdom.The late chapters dealing with Poland and the Pope John Paul II are also striking. I highly reccomend it. There is no more definitive or realistic look of Soviet espionage available. Andrew has no agenda in this book.

Much political information transferred to the USSR was not believed by political leaders that wanted to stick to their conspiracy theories. An interesting aspect involves the motivation of these recruits to betray their country and live a double life with great risks. A revealing exposition of KGB practices from an insider. Scientific and technological espionage benefitted the military, but not the larger economy. Ideological conviction seemed to have prevailed in the early years, but was surpassed by greed at a later date. The book indicates that Western intelligence was much less developed before than after World War II,when several spies at high positions in US and UK agencies were exposed. The book evokes the idea that political espionage was not very productive.

Just hope it is true. For someone who grew up in the former Soviet Union it is an interesting read - learning parts of Soviet history omitted from textbooks.