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The Spy Who

The Spy Who Started the Cold War | Fallout | 3

Oct 1, 2024
Klaus Fuchs, a physicist and notorious spy, shares thrilling insights into his role in the Cold War's early nuclear tensions. He reflects on the betrayal experienced during the Manhattan Project and the shift from collaboration to suspicion. The conversation dives into his precarious relationships with Soviet handlers and the ethical dilemmas of espionage. As American intelligence closes in on him, Fuchs navigates a web of romance and danger, revealing a historic struggle filled with intrigue and paranoia.
38:28

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Klaus Fuchs' deep involvement in espionage illustrates the heightened paranoia and tension surrounding nuclear secrets during the early Cold War era.
  • The Royal Canadian Mounted Police's investigation of Israel Halperin highlights the intricate networks of espionage and the scrutiny faced by suspected communists.

Deep dives

The Arrest of Israel Halperin

In September 1945, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police detain Israel Halperin, a mathematics professor and known communist, amidst the discovery of a Soviet spy ring in Canada. Halperin, who denies any involvement in espionage, faces questioning about his connections to other arrested individuals, including scientists linked to atomic secrets. Despite his claims of innocence and his focus on mathematics over politics, his extensive address book—containing names of confirmed spies—raises suspicion. The interrogation highlights the precarious nature of Cold War tensions and paranoia surrounding Soviet infiltration.

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