2. Espionage was a major activity during the Cold War
During World War II, the United States and the Soviet Union, distrustful Allies at best, operated extensive espionage groups within each other’s borders. Great Britain spied on both, and they returned the attention. The numbers of active agents of the OSS/CIA (USA), MI-6/MI-5 (Great Britain), and KGB/GRU who conducted espionage activities remain classified in the three nations. So does many of the operations they undertook, supported by other intelligence agencies, military operations, diplomatic missions, and other activities. Foreign nationals were recruited to act as information conduits. Military officers and civilian contractors were approached and turned. Often they did it for patriotic reasons, often for revenge, and often for money. When caught most disappeared into the Soviet gulags, or British or American prisons. Many others were simply executed, often after interrogation and torture.
Among the most famous caught and executed by the United States were Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, who sent the Soviets information on American nuclear weapons development. Less well known is the fact they also sold the Soviets information on American sonar, critical in anti-submarine warfare, and other classified military data. Apologists for the pair continue to assert their innocence, but evidence released subsequent to their 1953 execution in New York clearly establishes their guilt. They were but two of hundreds of individuals who conducted espionage during the Cold War who paid for their activities with their lives. Some were guilty of treason, some were patriots who were caught. All were victims of the time, and became casualties of the Cold War. In many cases, other than by their families, they are completely forgotten in history.
Read More: Soviet Union Spies Stationed in the United States Who Did Serious Damage.