History Daily 1236: The Execution of Soviet Spy Richard Sorge
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Nov 7, 2025 Explore the thrilling life of Richard Sorge, a daring spy who infiltrated the Nazi Party and predicted key military events. Discover his radical journey from WWI injuries to Soviet recruitment, and his espionage escapades in Japan. Uncover the tension as Sorge's vital intelligence, warning of German and Japanese maneuvers, is ignored by Stalin. His dramatic arrest and execution reveal the harsh realities of espionage, culminating in posthumous recognition as a Soviet hero. Delve into a gripping tale of loyalty, betrayal, and the price of secrecy.
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From Wounded Soldier To Soviet Operative
- Richard Sorge was wounded in WWI, converted to communism by a doctor, and later became a Soviet intelligence operative.
- His early experiences and education set him on a path from journalist to international spy for the USSR.
Journalism As A Cover For Infiltration
- Richard used journalism and party activity to gain access to communist and later Nazi circles as cover for spying work.
- He moved to Moscow, then reported from London and returned to infiltrate the Nazi Party in Germany for Soviet intelligence.
Building A Spy Network In Asia
- Sorge was reassigned from Germany to China and then to Japan to monitor nationalist and imperial military activity.
- He cultivated contacts, seduced a military attaché's wife, and recruited fellow reporters to gather intelligence.