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Digital Archive International History Declassified

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Intelligence Operations in the Cold War

This is a collection of primary source documents that discuss intelligence issues during the Cold War. The documents come from archives in many different Soviet bloc countries. They are mainly decision memorandums, descriptions, agreements, and reports. The collection includes mainly bilateral agreements for cooperation between Communist countries and domestic intelligence reports from Bulgaria. See also the Mitrokhin Archive and the Vassiliev Notebooks. (Image, KGB symbol)

  • September 04, 1930

    Imre Nagy’s OGPU (Unified State Political Directorate) Enlistment

    Certificate signed by Imre Nagy upon enlistment in the OGPU secret police (later the NKVD).

  • March 10, 1938

    Report on Imre Nagy’s Arrest by the NKVD (Commissariat of Internal Affairs)

    Matusov and Altman report on Nagy's arrest on 4/5 March 1938 and subsequent release on 8 March, and describe some of his work.

  • June, 1941

    Report from the People’s Committee of Internal Affairs to the Central Committee of the Hungarian Communist Party, about Agent "Volodya" (Imre Nagy)

    Sverdlov provides a brief overview of agent "Volodya" (Imre Nagy) and his work.

  • October 26, 1945

    Defense Ministry Intelligence Report on the Domestic Political Situation in Bulgaria

    A Defense Ministry intelligence report on the domestic political developments for the month of September, 1945. The report presents the activities of the Fatherland Front government, the efforts of the opposition to discredit Fatherland Front’s policies; the acts of industrial sabotage of armed resistance groups; the work of foreign propaganda and the latest incidents in the armed forces.

  • November 28, 1945

    Kurchatov’s Evaluation of Niels Bohr's Questioning

    Evaluation by the scientific director of the Soviet nuclear project, Igor Kurchatov, of the interview with Niels Bohr

  • November 28, 1945

    The Interrogation of Niels Bohr

    Interrogation of nuclear physicist Niels Bohr about the scientific processes by which the atomic bomb is created and operated

  • November 28, 1945

    Beria’s Cover Memo to Stalin on Niels Bohr

    Memo to Stalin discussing Beria’s efforts to obtain information from physicist Niels Bohr about development of the atomic bomb

  • July 04, 1946

    Report from DS Chief in Sliven Region on Disclosed Military Conspiracy

    A report on the investigation of a political conspiracy, said to be organized by Metodiy Chavdarov, a colonel at the Sliven garrison. The arrested colonel and his accomplices allegedly conspired to overthrow the Fatherland Front government, once the Soviet troops leave the country.

  • October 31, 1946

    Report from Bulgarian Intelligence on the Situation in Austria, Switzerland, Italy, and France

    A report on the political climate in Western Europe and the activities of the Bulgarian communities abroad. The author concludes that since a new war seems imminent, the diplomatic and intelligence apparatus needs to be overhauled and old cadres dissmissed.

  • January 26, 1948

    Letter from Assen Georgiev to Bulgarian Foreign Minister V. Kolarov re: Bulgarian Intelligence activity in France

    The head of the Bulgarian legation in Paris Asen Georgiev shares his observations for the inefficiencies in the Bulgarian intelligence apparatus. He recommends a number of measures that will potentially improve the intelligence operations abroad. As a first step he suggests sweeping personnel changes.

  • February 10, 1949

    Proposal for Counter-Intelligence Operation ''Traitor'' Against Yugoslav Agents

    A proposal for the measures against the Yugoslav agents and their collaborators who, on Tito’s behalf, were allegedly working for the annexation of the Pirin Region by the Yugoslav Federation.

  • April 26, 1949

    Secret Daily Information Bulletin for the Prime Minister Georgi Dimitrov, communicated from Sofia to Moscow

    The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of the Internal Affairs create an informational bulletin on the domestic political developments.

  • April 01, 1951

    Plans for the counterintelligence work in the Nessebar military site

    Measures for improving the counterintelligence work at the ''Nessebar'' military site.

  • January 21, 1953

    VGU Information on Activities of the Swiss, Belgian, Dutch and Swedish Intelligences Services

    Report on the intelligence activities of some Western governments in Sofia. The report identifies the main areas of interest of the foreign intelligence services, names of some agents and names of collaborators.

  • June 19, 1953

    Polish Ministry of State Security Action Memoranda, to Regional Branches Outlining Steps to be Taken to Limit Spillover of Events in East Germany

    The Polish Ministry of State Security orders all district heads to take measures to limit spill-over effects of the East German uprising. Regional offices are instructed to increase surveillance of ethnic Germans and “revisionist” elements.

  • June 19, 1953

    National Security Council Report, NSC 158, "United States Objectives and Actions to Exploit the Unrest in the Satellite States"

    Recommendations adopted by the National Security Council at the suggestion of the Psychological Strategy Board on covert actions to be undertaken in the Soviet Satellite States. Authorized by the National Security Council, NSC 158 envisaged aggressive psychological warfare to exploit and heighten the unrest behind the Iron Curtain. The policy was endorsed by President Eisenhower on June 26, 1953.

  • February 19, 1954

    Plan GELENA - Agent-Operational Measures on German Intelligence

    Detailed plan and timetable for the activities to expose intelligence operatives who have previously worked for Gestapo.

  • July 01, 1954

    Report about VKR successes in the period 1944-1954

    The report elaborates on the achievements of the army counter-intelligence services over a ten-year period—the eradication of reactionary officers conspiracy groups, the training of new recruits, etc.

  • March 25, 1955

    Information on Turkish Intelligence Interest on the Uranium Mine Buhovo

    Turkish intelligence agents are trying to gather information on the uranium mining in southwest Bulgaria. They believe that the extracted deposits are shipped to the Soviet Union for further processing and production of nuclear bombs.

  • March 29, 1955

    CC BCP Politburo Resolution B Regarding DS Intelligence Directorate work.

    BCP CC’s First Secretary, Vulko Chervenkov, approves Interior Minister Georgi Tsankov’s recommendations for improving the performance of the intelligence and counter-intelligence services.