Betrayal by a Spy Catcher Turned Spy
Russian intelligence learned of Redl’s homosexuality, entrapped him in a compromising position, caught it on camera, and blackmailed him into betrayal of his country. The extortion was sweetened with the offer of money in exchange for secrets. Redl accepted, and in his first major act of treason, he gave the Russians Austria-Hungary’s war plans in 1902. When word reached the Austrians that the Russians had a copy of their war plans, General von Geisl ordered Redl to find the traitor. To cover his tracks, Redl unmasked minor Russian agents who were fed him by his tsarist sypmasters. He also framed innocent Austro-Hungarian officers with falsified evidence. That enhanced his reputation within the Austro-Hungarian establishment as a brilliant head of counterintelligence. Over the next 11 years, he sold the Russians Austria-Hungary’s ciphers, codes, army orders, mobilization plans, maps, reports on road and rail conditions, and other secrets.
Redl’s career of betrayal finally came to an end because of sloppiness by his Russian handlers. In 1912, Redl’s mentor, von Geisl, was promoted to head an army corps and took Redl with him as his chief of staff. Postal censors employed by Redl’s successor in counterintelligence intercepted envelopes stuffed with cash. They had registration receipts that were traced back to foreign addresses known to be used by Russian and French intelligence. A sting operation was set up, the envelopes were delivered under surveillance, and Redl eventually showed up to claim them. Arrested, he confessed to treason, and requested that he be left alone with a revolver. His request was granted, and after writing brief letters to his brother and to von Geisl, he committed suicide.