Summary of The Spy and the Traitor by Ben Macintyre

Introduction

What is the benefit to me? Put a face to the Cold War and enjoy a nice adventure narrative.

The confrontation between the USSR and the West in the second half of the twentieth century had the potential to erupt into nuclear war at any time. It was a frightening moment to be alive. As part of the conflict, both sides built massive networks of spies and technologies to spy on each other.

Spying is, of course, a dangerous job. Spies can switch sides at any time, sometimes for money, sometimes for moral reasons. A case in point is the life of KGB operative Oleg Gordievsky. He fled to the West and worked as a double spy. His activities eventually reshaped the world as we know it, and arguably helped put the Cold War to an end. In these flashes, you’ll discover about Oleg Gordievsky’s life, how he became an intelligence officer, and how he was tempted by the West.

You’ll learn a lot along the road.

What information helped Margaret Thatcher speak better with Soviet leaders; and how the Danish Intelligence Service compares to its British and American colleagues.

Oleg Gordievsky appeared to be headed for the KGB, but he got disillusioned with communism at a young age.

Since its disintegration in 1991, the communist Soviet Union’s reputation for its terrifyingly effective state machinery has barely faded. The KGB is one term that still conjures up images of the country’s pervasive terror. The country’s major security agency was the Komitet Gosudarstvennoy Bezopasnosti, or Committee for State Security. It was, to put it mildly, ruthlessly efficient.

Anton Lavrentyevich Gordievsky, Oleg Gordievsky’s father, was a lifelong KGB member. Despite the lack of specifics, he most likely recognized many “enemies of the state” during the Great Purge of 1936-8. Hundreds of thousands of innocent individuals were killed as a result of Stalin’s state campaign. Despite never speaking of these atrocities, Gordievsky was proud of his participation in the KGB, often wearing his uniform on weekends.

On October 10, 1938, Oleg Gordievsky was born. Because of his father’s membership, it appeared that he, like his brother Vasili, was guaranteed work with the KGB. That was exactly how it worked with KGB members’ children. Gordievsky’s path to the KGB was predetermined, but his conscience was not. There were early indications that he was dissatisfied with the communist philosophy that drove the group.

Gordievsky was influenced by his mother, a gentle nonconformist who kept a peaceful distance from Soviet orthodoxy, and his grandmother. In a place where religious religion was outlawed, the latter kept her religious convictions hidden. By the time Gordievsky, then 17, entered at Russia’s most prestigious university for diplomats, politicians, and spies, the Moscow State Institute of International Relations, a shift had occurred. Following Stalin’s death in 1953, his successor, Nikita Khrushchev, began to liberalize some of the Soviet Union’s most restrictive practices, such as permitting foreign visitors and allowing previously banned journals and magazines to be published.

Gordievsky was therefore able to learn more about the West from the institute’s library’s international newspapers and journals. Even though it was still illegal, he began listening to the BBC World Service and Voice of America on his radio at night. Around this period, he met Stanislaw Kaplan, a fellow student at the institute. He, like Gordievsky, was wary about communism. They became fast friends and frequently went jogging together. Even if neither Gordievsky nor Kaplan had abandoned communism, it was evident that their friendship would affect the remainder of their lives.

Gordievsky’s first encounters outside the Soviet Union fueled his disdain for communism.

Despite Khrushchev’s reform efforts, the country’s 280 million inhabitants were still virtually living in a massive jail in the mid-1950s. The administration considered Western capitalism as an existential threat and saw it as critical to protect the public from its influence. As a result, all residents were observed by KGB agents, who numbered in the millions. Brainwashing and conspiracy theories were prevalent in the political environment. Gordievsky witnessed this, and his concerns about communism began to reemerge.

He specifically had a change of heart after finishing his studies in 1961. He was interviewed for a position with the KGB and was sent to East Berlin for six months before commencing. During this time, he observed the construction of the Berlin Wall, which appeared out of nowhere.

The relevance was obvious to Gordievsky, who was 22 at the time. The wall was nothing more than a prison wall built to keep East Germans imprisoned in the “socialist paradise” of the Moscow-backed German Democratic Republic. He witnessed East German workers digging ditches along the wall’s perimeter to prevent cars from crossing the border. Many East Germans died when they fled for freedom, scaling over the fortifications or swimming across the border canals. Despite his reservations, Gordievsky’s engrained obedience and deference to authority meant that when he was ordered to report for KGB duty in July 1962, he did so.

But he had a plan to give himself some breathing room from the Soviet dictatorship. Once his official KGB training was over, Gordievsky made it a point to look for a job outside of the Soviet Union. Because married KGB members were more likely to receive such assignments, Gordievsky married Yelena Akopian, who had her own reservations about the dictatorship. When a job at the Soviet Embassy in Copenhagen became available, the newlyweds relocated to Denmark in January 1966. Gordievsky’s job was to oversee the country’s network of covert KGB operatives.

Soon after coming, Gordievsky began to devour Western literature that was outlawed in the Soviet Union, as well as classical music. Gordievsky soon found himself at conflict with the Soviet Union and became increasingly attracted to the Western cultural ideas he’d discovered. It was only a matter of time until these thoughts became actions.

Gordievsky tried to express his displeasure to the Danish intelligence agencies, but they misinterpreted the situation.

Gordievsky had reached a turning point after two years in Denmark. What was previously simply estrangement from Soviet ideology had turned into hatred. He had made up his mind to act on this feeling.

The watershed moment occurred when Danish protestors gathered in front of the Soviet Embassy in fury that the Soviet Union had destroyed Czechoslovakia’s so-called Prague Spring in 1968, a push to liberalize and democratize the country. In response, the Soviet Union dispatched tanks.

Gordievsky was greatly embarrassed and contacted his wife from the embassy to express his displeasure with the Soviet Union’s activities. But this was no ordinary outburst; Gordievsky knew exactly what he was doing. He was well aware that the Danish Intelligence Service, Politiets Efterretningstjeneste or PET, and the Danish security service had tapped the diplomatic phone lines. His phone call was a hidden signal to Danish officials that he was ready to switch sides. Unfortunately, the PET utterly missed that particular hint.

With that said, Gordievsky was already marked. They assumed Gordievsky was a KGB agent and nicknamed him Uncle Gormsson after the infamous tenth-century Danish monarch Harald ‘Bluetooth’ Gormsson. They’d also spotted Gordievsky making the most of his freedom in the West. Gordievsky once went to Copenhagen’s red-light area and bought some homosexual pornographic publications out of curiosity, which he subsequently displayed to his wife. The PET had also bugged Gordievsky’s home and was aware that his marriage was getting increasingly strained.

The PET put two and two together and set up a honey trap for Gordievsky to blackmail him later. A young Danish man recommended that he and Gordievsky leave the diplomatic party and go to a pub. Gordievsky refused. The PET was perplexed, but they’d made an incorrect calculation. Gordievsky wasn’t gay – the magazines were just for fun, and he might not have known the young man was flirting with him.

Gordievsky had no idea the PET was following him. The ultra-efficient KGB, on the other hand, observed that something was amiss: Gordievsky was being tracked more than anyone else at the embassy. Unsure of what was going on, they decided it wasn’t worth the risk and summoned him to Moscow. The Danish Intelligence Service and Gordievsky had vanished into thin air. As we will see, the British were ultimately responsible for his capture.

Gordievsky was identified as a person of interest in 1970 and solicited by MI6 to spy for the British.

Gordievsky was no exception. No one becomes a double agent overnight. It took a long and painstaking effort to persuade him to spy on Mother Russia. Gordievsky returned to Moscow in 1970, dissatisfied that no foreign power had approached him. He had no idea that Britain’s Secret Intelligence Service, MI6, had his number.

MI6 initially came across Gordievsky’s name in a debrief made by Stanislaw Kaplan, Gordievsky’s old university friend. Kaplan had defected while on a trip to France before settling in Canada. Kaplan stated in the letter that Gordievsky shown “clear signs of political disillusionment” while the two were at university. As a result, MI6 designated Gordievsky as a “person of interest.” He was given the alias SUNBEAM.

In the year following his return, Gordievsky began to quickly ascend through the ranks, allowing him to return to Denmark. MI6 would finally be able to contact him there, and they knew exactly who to use for the job.

Kaplan personally showed up to Gordievsky’s house in November 1973. Kaplan regaled Gordievsky with stories about his defection and his adventures in Czechoslovakia as they ate lunch together. Gordievsky expressed sympathy but did not suggest that he intended to inform the KGB about Kaplan’s unexpected visit. Richard Bromhead, Denmark’s MI6 station chief, decided to contact Gordievsky during his routine morning badminton session.

Gordievsky and Bromhead agreed to meet secretly three days later for lunch. Gordievsky was convinced Bromhead was spying for MI6. The meeting went well, and then nothing happened. Bromhead had been absent from the badminton court for eight months; perhaps another meeting was in order?

They met again at the bar of the new SAS hotel. Gordievsky was more open to telling his narrative. He responded directly to Bromhead’s questioning about who was in charge of obtaining political intelligence in Gordievsky’s area. To Bromhead’s surprise, Gordievsky not only gave him the name, but also revealed who it was! Gordievsky also said that he had not told the KGB about their previous contact. They then arranged to meet again in a secure area. This meeting at the SAS hotel essentially reinforced MI6’s suspicions that Gordievsky was willing to turn. SUNBEAM was raring to go.

Gordievsky began his career as an MI6 double agent while also having a love affair.

Gordievsky’s double life at the embassy soon became supplemented by a similar arrangement in his personal life. Gordievsky arranged to see his MI6 case officer twice a month for up to two hours in an apartment on the other side of Copenhagen, far from the Soviet Embassy.

Gordievsky’s new KGB position entailed gathering intelligence and attempting to “undermine Western institutions.” This is exactly what the MI6 was looking for. They were aware that the USSR was attempting to undermine Western institutions, but they had no idea how. And they wanted to fortify themselves against it. As a result of his training as an intelligence officer, there could not have been a greater double agent for this mission than Gordievsky.

Gordievsky quickly became a source of delicious information for his handlers, including the KGB’s procedures for planting spies all over the world.

Gordievsky also began slipping reels of microfilm out of the Soviet embassy for MI6 to duplicate. To put it simply, MI6 had hit gold. No other double agent has Gordievsky’s KGB experience. They handed Gordievsky a thank you note from the head of MI6 personally, knowing that this relationship would benefit from a human touch.

Despite his acceptance of Western cultural norms, Gordievsky remained a traditionalist. When his wife Yelena refused to cook for him or have children, his marriage suffered. Divorce, on the other hand, did not sit well with communist doctrine and was bound to harm his career at the KGB.

In an unrelated occurrence, the Soviet ambassador’s wife introduced Gordievsky to Leila Aliyeva shortly after he began meeting with his MI6 case officer. Leila was 28 years old and had recently relocated to Denmark to work for the World Health Organization. She happened to be the daughter of a KGB general. She and Gordievsky instantly fell in love. But Gordievsky realized he had to keep his double life hidden. Whatever he wanted to tell Leila, there was no way he could risk revealing such sensitive information with her. Unfortunately, such secrets would eventually harm the relationship.

Despite MI6’s readiness to facilitate his escape in the Soviet Union, Gordievsky devised a route to London.

Gordievsky’s time in Denmark was drawing to an end in the spring of 1978. Knowing that meeting Gordievsky in Moscow would be too perilous, MI6 devised an escape strategy for him. Veronica Price, a specialist in emergency escape preparations for undercover personnel, designed the PIMLICO plan.

Gordievsky was spotted lurking near a bakery in Moscow, with a British Safeway plastic grocery bag. He’d be dressed in a grey cap and slacks.

An MI6 officer would walk past him with an obviously recognized green bag from Harrods – the renowned luxury department store in London – while munching into a KitKat or Mars bar to demonstrate that the Moscow-based division of MI6 had received the signal.

Gordievsky would next board a sleeper train to Leningrad three days later. He’d make his way to a rendezvous spot near the Finnish border. A British diplomatic car would pick him up in Moscow and sneak him across the border to Finland, stuffed in the trunk. Gordievsky was not the only one who thought the approach was way too hazardous. Fortunately, Gordievsky found his own route to the UK, making the scheme obsolete.

Gordievsky divorced Yelena in 1979, which, as he had predicted, led to a career slump. He was demoted to the KGB’s personnel branch, where he wrote history of Soviet espionage. Obviously, there was no easy way to learn about current KGB operations in this position. That same year, however, he married again, this time to Leila.

Gordievsky took full advantage of his job lull and enrolled in a KGB English course. Gordievsky had qualified for a British posting by 1981. As a result, when a place for a KGB officer became available at the Soviet embassy in London, Gordievsky greased palms until the position was his.

While waiting for permission to depart the Soviet Union, Gordievsky intelligently used his time at KGB headquarters to browse over files and learn about the KGB’s operations in Britain. This was the type of information Gordievsky’s MI6 handlers were looking for.

Gordievsky, Leila, and their two kids finally boarded a flight to London on June 28, 1982.

Gordievsky played a pivotal role in the Cold War by offering psychological insight into the minds of Soviet leaders.

Although it may sound romantic, most spies aren’t very successful in their work. Gordievsky was an exception to this. His work with MI6 played a pivotal role in shaping the dynamics of the Cold War. Gordievsky gave MI6 more than a list of names. In fact, he was able to offer an understanding of the psychology that influenced the Soviet leaders in the KGB and administration.

The belief held by many in the KGB that the West would launch a nuclear attack first was one of the most important pieces of information that Gordievsky provided. The leaders of the Soviet Union were actually afraid of it. They put the KGB in charge of deciphering potential indicators of an impending attack starting in 1981. The biggest Soviet intelligence operation of the Cold War was called Operation Ryan.

America had become more belligerent in its rhetoric during this phase of the war. Even more, President Reagan denounced the USSR as a “evil empire.” Therefore, the West considered it imperative to determine the precise level of Soviet concern regarding Western aggression. After all, the USSR might theoretically launch a defence strike first if it was too great. While maintaining source anonymity, MI6 provided the US’s intelligence agency, the CIA, with information about Soviet psychology. Consequently, the Americans came to the realisation that in order to avert the potential of a nuclear attack by the Soviet Union, they would need to significantly reduce their rhetoric.

Furthermore, by demonstrating to both sides the means of communication, Gordievsky helped to bring an end to the Cold War. Similar to their meddling in the US presidential election of 2016, the Soviet Union attempted to clear the way for the socialist Labour Party to become the government of Great Britain in 1983. They believed it would be difficult to obtain support in the Conservative Party of Margaret Thatcher. On the other hand, Thatcher triumphed handily in the general election in that year. Gordievsky was the one who gave her instructions on how to interact with the Soviets.

In particular, he counselled her to be more amiable in her public depictions of Soviet officials. He knew they could be easily angered and would instinctively become protective.

In parallel, Gordievsky was receiving intelligence from MI6 to present himself to Moscow as an accomplished agent in his reports. Discussion topics with British politicians were covered, along with personal insights into the characters of British politicians.

Gordievsky changed the way that the Soviet Union and the West perceived one another and how communication routes functioned. It is important to remember his influence on the development of human history.

After Gordievsky’s cover was compromised by a CIA double agent, he was returned to Moscow.

There are big stakes in being a double agent. At times, it could seem more sensible to give up, defect, and leave immediately. Sometimes it’s best to simply keep using those cards.

In order to guarantee Gordievsky’s promotion inside the KGB, MI6 had been providing him with intelligence. The plan was to stealthily remove obstacles to his accomplishment while also making an impression on the KGB. For example, they drove out Gordievsky’s supervisor at the Soviet embassy, Arkadi Guk, from Britain.

Then something unexpected happened very quickly. Gordievsky received a briefing in May 1985, shortly after he was elevated to the highest diplomatic status of residenz, stating that an expeditious return from London to Moscow was required. The Soviets’ desire for him to return raised serious suspicions; maybe they had discovered his disloyalty. Still, he chose to take the chance of travelling to Moscow instead of turning Western.

Gordievsky was taken to a KGB base a few weeks after arriving in Moscow, where he was given drugs and pressured to admit that he was spying for the British. The fact that Gordievsky would not confess let his captors down. After that, he was demoted and freed. It was presumably the intention to keep an eye on him and apprehend him while he was spying for the British. He was denied the chance to depart the USSR.

Nobody outside of the KGB knew the sequence of events leading up to Gordievsky’s arrest until several years later. As it happened, there had been a CIA informant. The events had been initiated by the CIA itself.

The goal of the CIA was to identify the prize informant for MI6. Officer Aldrich Ames was given this assignment by them. Unfortunately, Ames was working as a double agent for the Soviet Union, giving his handler access to everything he knew. However, Ames was driven solely by money and did not share Gordievsky’s class of motivation. It had nothing to do with ideology. In reality, while providing information to the Soviet Union, it is estimated that he made $4.6 million.

Gordievsky was getting more and more nervous that one day the KGB would come looking for him. All he could do was try to convince Leila of his innocence while feeling grateful for his continued existence.

Gordievsky was able to flee the Soviet Union, but he had to leave his family behind.

The question was straightforward for both MI6 and Gordievsky. Could PIMLICO, the complicated plan to get him out of the Soviet Union, work? MI6 didn’t know where their man was. He’d gone missing someplace behind the Iron Curtain. Then, a few weeks after his KGB interview, Gordievsky realised he had no choice but to risk making an escape, even if it meant leaving his family behind.

MI6 hadn’t seen him in weeks and had no idea if he was still alive. On July 16, 1985, however, a man wearing a grey cap and carrying a Safeway bag was sighted in front of a bakery. Gordievsky was the name. MI6 agents in Moscow sprang into action.

The wife of one British diplomat, who was also an MI6 agent, feigned to have a sudden attack of back pain, fully aware that they were all tapped by the KGB. They stated they had no choice but to drive to Finland for competent medical attention. Of course, they made certain that the listening KBG bugs were not made aware that the plan was a ploy to smuggle Gordievsky and his family across the border.

Gordievsky had his own work to do – he needed to know Leila could be trusted. He asked her on their balcony, beyond the KGB microphones, whether she wanted to flee to Britain with their children. She dismissed the notion, much to his dismay. As a result, he came to the tragic conclusion that Leila and his daughters were too dangerous. They had no choice but to stay.

So, three days later, Gordievsky arrived at the Finnish border, as planned with MI6. His KGB training was used against them when he managed to lose his trailers en way. The MI6 agents were able to intercept Gordievsky at the rendezvous point while the KGB was unaware. They’d even brought along another couple with a baby to make it appear to be a family outing.

Gordievsky, who was now in the trunk, was still in danger. Border crossing dogs could scent him. To divert their attention, one of the agents threw some rancid British potato chips out the car window. Then inspiration struck, and the baby was delivered. It was diapered on the trunk, slightly above Gordievsky. These two performances almost certainly saved his life.

Finally, the all-clear was granted after crossing the border. The main theme from Finlandia, the most famous composition by Finnish musician Jean Sibelius, resounded through the car. It was an unmatched display of bravery, not least on the side of the baby. In reality, few Russians today believe MI6 would use a baby as cover during an exfiltration mission.

Gordievsky sought refuge in the London suburbs, where he was safeguarded by MI6.

Gordievsky’s story is intriguing, but not all stories have happy endings. Although he was safe in London, sadness soon set in. Leila and the children were also having difficulties. The KGB effectively held Gordievsky’s family captive in the Soviet Union, embarrassed by his duplicity. It was heinous retaliation. MI6’s operation HETMAN attempted to reunite the family for years later. When Margaret Thatcher visited with Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, she advocated for their extradition.

Needless to say, while confined in the Soviet Union, Leila was outraged with her husband, especially because he kept up the fiction that he was merely a good, loyal KGB man. Of course, she’d already deduced the truth. Vadim Bakatin, the KGB’s new and final leader, was determined to make his first act symbolic. There would be no more dread linked with the agency. As a result, the family was ultimately reunited in London on September 6, 1991, only three months before the Soviet Union itself disintegrated. However, there was far too much to forgive. The couple divorced in 1993.

Gordievsky’s existence in exile may readily be described as lonely. However, he has been praised for his efforts and received great personal recognition. He even travelled the world, explaining the inner workings of the KGB and meeting Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan along the way. In 2007, the Queen made him a Companion of the Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George in recognition of his service.

He’s also kept himself busy by co-authoring a slew of books on Soviet espionage. Gordievsky lives in a quiet grey London suburb, still under MI6 protection. His efforts transformed the world as we know it, yet even his closest neighbours may not recognise him.

Discussion Questions

1. Macintyre depicts Gordievsky in a multifaceted perspective, revealing his motivations for spying for MI6. Do you agree with his choices? Was his Soviet Union betrayal justified?
2. The book delves into the inner aspects of Cold War spy activities. What startled you the most about the procedures and risks? How did these facts differ from your expectations?
3. Macintyre underlines the personal toll that espionage exacts on those who engage in it. Discuss the emotional and psychological toll Gordievsky and his family had to bear. How does this component of the tale strike a chord with you?
4. The KGB is portrayed as a formidable and pervasive threat in the novel. How did this representation shape your perception of the Cold War era and the pervasive dread of betrayal?
5. Macintyre constructs his tale using a variety of sources, including interviews and declassified papers. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of relying on such different resources. What effect does this have on the book’s objectivity and dependability?
6. The story emphasizes the need of trust and loyalty in espionage. Consider how these ideas are tested and reinterpreted throughout the novel. What are the ethical ramifications of working in a morally ambiguous environment?
7. Contrast Gordievsky’s activities with those of other well-known Cold War spies. In terms of influence and significance, how does his case stand out?
8. Macintyre investigates the technological advances employed in espionage during this time period. What technological achievements piqued your interest? How have they changed in modern espionage?
9. The book’s conclusion comments on the Cold War’s legacy and the lessons learnt. What do you believe are the most important historical takeaways? How does it influence our current understanding of international relations?
10. Assume you’re composing a fictional story based on “The Spy and the Traitor.” Describe your story’s premise, setting, and main characters. How would you include elements of the book’s real-life incidents and themes?

Reflection Essays 

1. Before reading this book, consider your personal understanding of the Cold War. Did “The Spy and the Traitor” change your mind or disclose fresh knowledge to you? How has it influenced your overall understanding of the era?
2. Examine the role of technology in your daily life and contrast it with its application in Cold War espionage. Discuss the hazards and benefits of technological breakthroughs in terms of national security and personal privacy.
3. Consider yourself in charge of hiring and training a modern-day spy. Describe the attributes and talents you believe are necessary for success in this perilous job. How would your method vary from those employed during the Cold War?
4. Investigate the topic of moral quandaries in the field of espionage. Share a hypothetical scenario in which a spy must make a difficult moral decision. How would you handle this situation? What criteria would you consider when making your decision?
5. Consider your personal definitions of loyalty and treachery. Is your viewpoint different when it comes to national security and espionage? How would you handle a situation in which your loyalties appeared to be at odds?
6. The novel dives into the psychological complexities of leading two lives. Examine the internal problems and emotional challenges that a spy like Gordievsky faces. How would you handle such stress and uncertainty?
7. Assume you had the opportunity to interview Oleg Gordievsky. What would your questions be to him regarding his experiences, motivations, and regrets? What do you want to learn from such a discussion?
8. Talk about the historical significance of “The Spy and the Traitor.” What contribution does this book make to our understanding of the Cold War and its continuing impact on the globe today?
9. Consider the ethical concerns of writing a book about actual spies. How do you strike a balance between the desire for dramatic storytelling and the obligation to authentically portray historical events and people? What potential difficulties can this task present?
10. Write a letter to Ben Macintyre in which you express your ideas and feelings about “The Spy and the Traitor.” Express your appreciation for specific sections of the book, raise any unsolved issues, and explain how the story has affected you.