George Blake (1922-2020) was an agent in MI6 (the British foreign intelligence service). But he was also a secret KGB agent. For 8 years (1953-1961), Blake betrayed everything: he handed the Soviets information that led to the exposure of 400 Western agents in East Berlin (Operation Gold — the famous Berlin Tunnel). 40 of these agents were executed. He revealed secrets about British spy networks in the Middle East. He was the most damaging spy to Britain since World War II. He was sentenced to 42 years in prison (a record in British legal history). But he escaped from prison after 5 years in a spectacular way (rope ladder, jumping the wall, fleeing to Moscow). He lived in Russia for 54 years as a national hero. He died in 2020 at age 98 — a convinced communist until the end.
Summary: George Blake (né George Behar, Dutch-born). Joined the Dutch resistance against the Nazis, then MI6. Captured in the Korean War (1950). Turned to communism during captivity. Spied for KGB 1953-1961. Handed Soviets information on 400 Western agents. 40 executed. Exposed the Berlin Tunnel (a massive eavesdropping operation). Sentence: 42 years (1961). Escaped from Wormwood Scrubs prison 1966. Fled to Moscow. Lived in Russia 54 years. Died 2020 (age 98).
🇰🇷 The Conversion: Why Did Blake Betray?
Blake was not born a traitor. He was a hero in his youth: fought with the Dutch resistance against the Nazis, then joined MI6. In 1950, he was sent to Korea (where war was raging). He was captured by North Korean forces. He spent 3 years in prison camps. There, he read Marx and Lenin. He witnessed the brutal American bombing of Korean villages (innocent civilians). He gradually changed. He later said: "I saw Korean children dying under American bombs. I realized that Western imperialism was evil. I decided to dedicate my life to the right side of history." In 1953, he was released. He returned to London as a hero. But he was now a secret KGB agent.
"I never felt guilty. I was a soldier in the army of peace. Everything I did, I did to prevent war."
🕳️ The Berlin Tunnel: History's Greatest Eavesdropping Operation
In 1954-1955, the CIA and MI6 planned Operation Gold: digging a tunnel from West Berlin to East Berlin to tap into Soviet communication cables. The tunnel was 450 meters long. It cost $6.7 million. It took a year to build. It was an incredible engineering and espionage achievement. But the problem: Blake was one of the officers in charge of the operation. He told the KGB everything before digging even started. The Soviets let the operation run for 11 months (to avoid exposing Blake). All the "intelligence" the CIA and MI6 got from the tunnel... was disinformation deliberately planted by the KGB. When the Soviets finally "discovered" the tunnel (1956), they turned it into a propaganda museum: "Look at the imperialists spying on us!" Blake — the man at the heart of the operation — was secretly smiling.
Hero in Moscow, Traitor in London
"In Russia, Blake was a national hero. He received the Order of Lenin (the highest Soviet honor). He lived 54 years in Moscow: an apartment overlooking the Moscow River, a generous pension, official respect. In 2012 (at age 90), he told the press: 'If I had to do it all over again, I would do the same thing. I am proud of what I did.' In Britain, his name was despised. He never regretted. He never apologized. When he died on December 26, 2020 (age 98), the Russian foreign intelligence service SVR officially mourned him: 'A legendary man. He dedicated his life to peace.' The families of the Western agents executed because of him never forgot."