Communist German spymaster dies

[stonecutter]

Mmmmm.....*** spies........


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061109/ap_on_re_eu/germany_obit_wolf

Ex-Germany spymaster Markus Wolf dies By GEIR MOULSON, Associated Press Writer
Thu Nov 9, 11:16 AM ET



BERLIN - Markus Wolf, the "man without a face" who outwitted the West as communist East Germany's long-serving spymaster, died Thursday. He was 83.

Wolf died in his apartment in Berlin, his stepdaughter Claudia Wall said in a statement. The cause of his death, on the 17th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, was not released.

He planted some 4,000 agents in the West — most famously, placing Guenter Guillaume as a top aide to West German Chancellor Willy Brandt. The agent's unmasking forced Brandt to resign in 1974.

Wolf, who said he spurned a CIA offer of a safe new life in California after the Cold War, managed to steal NATO secrets for the Soviet bloc that could have been decisive if war had broken out in Europe.

Because of his elusiveness, his rivals nicknamed him "the man without a face."

Born Jan. 19, 1923, in the southwestern town of Hechingen, Wolf and his family followed his father — a Jewish communist, doctor and writer — into exile in France in 1933 after the Nazis came to power.

The Wolfs moved to the Soviet Union in 1934, and the young Markus studied aeronautical engineering in Moscow before being sent for political training at a Communist International, or Comintern, school in the Bashkiria region.

He worked at German People's Radio in Moscow from 1943 to 1945, when he returned to Germany with a group that included Walter Ulbricht, who would become East Germany's longtime leader.

After reporting from the Nuremberg war crimes trials of Nazi leaders and returning to Moscow for a time as a counselor at the fledgling East Germany's embassy, Wolf joined the new communist state's embryonic foreign intelligence service in 1951. He became its leader the following year, and stayed in the job until his retirement in 1986.

Wolf's service was part of East Germany's all-pervasive secret police, the Stasi, which was widely loathed and feared for its huge network of domestic informants. Wolf served under Erich Mielke, the hated Stasi chief, from 1956 until the fall of the Berlin Wall.

Western agencies didn't know what the East German spy chief looked like until 1978, when he was photographed during a visit to Sweden. An East German defector, Werner Stiller, then identified Wolf to West German counterintelligence as the man in the picture.

Some also believe Wolf was the model for John Le Carre's wily communist spymaster "Karla" in his espionage novels.

The Stasi — which at home enlisted spouses and lovers to spy on their partners — sent seductive "Romeo" agents to the West to steal secrets from lonely government secretaries.

Wolf said in his memoirs that "if I go down in espionage history, it may well be for perfecting the use of *** in spying."

Wolf said his first "Romeo," an engineering student code-named Felix, started work in 1952 and operated under the cover of a traveling shampoo salesman.

He struck up a friendship with a secretary in West German Chancellor Konrad Adenauer's office at a Bonn bus stop; the relationship lasted for several years until East Berlin was tipped off that West German authorities were running a security check on the agent and hastily withdrew him.

Wolf, detailed a string of such sagas in his 1997 book "Memoirs of a Spymaster."

"It was wrong," he told reporters as he promoted the book. "Nobody has the right to spoil an innocent person's life."

Wolf emerged as a supporter of reforms as East Germans took to the streets to press for change in the fall of 1989. A few days before the Berlin Wall fell, he drew applause at a pro-democracy rally in East Berlin when he denounced violent police attacks on earlier demonstrations.

In May 1990, with German reunification approaching, Wolf said two men appeared at his dacha near Berlin with an offer from then-CIA director William Webster to work for the U.S. spy agency.

One of the two was Gardner Hathaway, who had just retired as assistant CIA director for counterintelligence, Wolf said. They offered a "seven-figure sum," a new identity and a house in California.

Wolf said he turned down the offer because he would never have betrayed his ex-agents — even though it would have put him out of the reach of German prosecutors, who were seeking him for espionage, treason and bribery.

Later in 1990, Wolf fled to Moscow. With Bonn pressing for his return, he unsuccessfully sought political asylum in Austria and then surrendered to German authorities at a rural border crossing in Bavaria.

In the years of legal wrangling that followed, Wolf avoided lengthy prison time.

A 1993 conviction and six-year prison sentence was overturned in 1995 by an appeals court. It ruled that Wolf was acting on behalf of a sovereign country, East Germany, and could not be tried for treason against West Germany.

In a second trial, Wolf was given a two-year suspended sentence in 1997 for four kidnappings carried out by his agents during the Cold War. A stony-faced Wolf listened as the judge branded him an accomplice in "state-ordered crimes" against "helpless victims."

Wolf is survived by his wife, Andrea, three sons and his stepdaughter. Wall said he would be buried in the presence of only his closest relatives, on a date that was not released.

[redfox0035]

Markus Wolf

Rest in Peace, one of the greatest Intelligence Officers, a true man of honour.

He was an excellent writer too.

[AK74]

Rest in Peace, one of the greatest Intelligence Officers, a true man of honour.

He was an excellent writer too.

*salutes to a great man *

[Mr.K]

Will a German, be eventually called a German, not a nazi german or communist german?

[madpendos]

One of the two was Gardner Hathaway, who had just retired as assistant CIA director for counterintelligence, Wolf said. They offered a "seven-figure sum," a new identity and a house in California.

Wolf said he turned down the offer because he would never have betrayed his ex-agents — even though it would have put him out of the reach of German prosecutors, who were seeking him for espionage, treason and bribery.

Respect! RIP

[Macs.]

He directly supported/was involved in a Regime which murdered, tortured and betrayed thousands of people.

He didn't show any sorrow and thus I cannot feel sorry for someone like him.

[madpendos]

He directly supported/was involved in a Regime which murdered, tortured and betrayed thousands of people.

Ok, so USSR killed bunch of ex-nazis, cry me a river.

[Shadow]

He directly supported/was involved in a Regime which murdered, tortured and betrayed thousands of people.

He didn't show any sorrow and thus I cannot feel sorry for someone like him.

W0rd!

Please don't honor somebody you don't know.

[Count Lippe]

Ok, so USSR killed bunch of ex-nazis, cry me a river.you have no idea. Stop talking out of your ass...

[Friendly Fire]

He directly supported/was involved in a Regime which murdered, tortured and betrayed thousands of people.

He didn't show any sorrow and thus I cannot feel sorry for someone like him.


**** me...so were half of the spies of the western Block! So please before calling the kettle black again, get a look at the mirror: you're a pot!

[Quietscheentchen]

**** me...so were half of the spies of the western Block! So please before calling the kettle black again, get a look at the mirror: you're a pot!

do you compare work and methods of the stasi with the ones of west german intelligence agencies?!?

[apm]

Ok, so USSR killed bunch of ex-nazis, cry me a river.

he didnt mean the ussr but the gpr´s sed regime which is responsible for the death of thousands and the ruin of a whole society. a fact which touches some germans, imagine. :roll:

[cartman5214]

do you compare work and methods of the stasi with the ones of west german intelligence agencies?!?

The "HVA", which was led by Wolf, i would. One of the best agencies in europe. The interior methods of the STASI were not ok, but looking at the actual development...

[Friendly Fire]

do you compare work and methods of the stasi with the ones of west german intelligence agencies?!?


Off course, not only that but I compare them to all the western agencies...beggining by the CIA!

[Enduring Freedom]

He directly supported/was involved in a Regime which murdered, tortured and betrayed thousands of people.

He didn't show any sorrow and thus I cannot feel sorry for someone like him.

I couldn't agree more.

[sir-chimp]

one more dead communist is always a good thing

[Friendly Fire]

one more dead communist is always a good thing


woot uncle adolf is among us. Are you encouraging a genocide?

[asch]

one more dead communist is always a good thing
wrong forum section?

[zepic]

W0rd!

Please don't honor somebody you don't know.
X3, why should u?

[JoaMei]

woot uncle adolf is among us. Are you encouraging a genocide?


He destroyed thousands of lives, there is nothing wrong with celebrating his death.

[Jobu]

Good riddance.

[Friendly Fire]

He destroyed thousands of lives, there is nothing wrong with celebrating his death.


So did a **** load of people that are commonly referred as heroes today! You get my drift?

If you don't feel in the mood of respecting the man in his death, please just don't post here. After all he was part of "our team"!

[Macs.]

If you don't feel in the mood of respecting the man in his death, please just don't post here. After all he was part of "our team"!

"Our team" ? Are you a communist ?

[Friendly Fire]

"Our team" ? Are you a communist ?


Unfortunately for your, yes.

[sir-chimp]

If you don't feel in the mood of respecting the man in his death, please just don't post here. After all he was part of "our team"!

I have no respect for utter scum and will not with hold my opinion just to satisfy your silly and misplaced hero worship

[Friendly Fire]

I have no respect for utter scum and will not with hold my opinion just to satisfy your silly and misplaced hero worship

Why was he a scum? Just show me he did something your guys didn't during the CW and then i'll say Halleiluiah.

It's your opinion, and this is mine.

[Macs.]

-----------------------

[Friendly Fire]

-----------------------


Yes speechless indeed.

[Macs.]

Unfortunately for your, yes.

So you are a communist ?

Or in cleartype, someone who believes in a system which murders innocent people who try to cross a people, a system which murders/tortures/jails people who questions their goverment and thatfor massivly spied on the general population, ruined the economy etc etc.

I know it sounds like heaven while sitting in a capitalistic country. :)

[Friendly Fire]

So you are a communist ?

Or in cleartype, someone who believes in a system which murders innocent people who try to cross a people, a system which murders/tortures/jails people who questions their goverment and thatfor massivly spied on the general population, ruined the economy etc etc.

I know it sounds like heaven while sitting in a capitalistic country. :)


Government and Communism are oxymorons, you're confonding me with fascists. Please read the Commie Manifesto.

I could argue with you for twoyears to come and it still wouldn't be enough to convince you're wrong.

What I should list any thing you're "non communist" government may have done wrong?

Edit: Given your location I 'll pass that one, just no to open your "non-communist wounds".

[Macs.]

Government and Communism are oxymorons, you're confonding me with fascists. Please read the Commie Manifesto.


No I am not. You were backing the communistic East-German goverment when you wrote:



If you don't feel in the mood of respecting the man in his death, please just don't post here. After all he was part of "our team"!

[Friendly Fire]

No I am not. You were backing the communistic East-German goverment when you wrote:
It was a socialist government (SED).

Yes I was backing the other part of the cold war, the same way there are stars in Langley. People fought those wars, not machines. If you feel these people were monstrous, it's your right but they are the same people.

[Kilgor]

Government and Communism are oxymorons, you're confonding me with fascists. Please read the Commie Manifesto.

I could argue with you for twoyears to come and it still wouldn't be enough to convince you're wrong.

What I should list any thing you're "non communist" government may have done wrong?

Edit: Given your location I 'll pass that one, just no to open your "non-communist wounds".

You know friendly fire, "fascists" and "communists" have alot in common. Im sure once you guys worked this out you could kiss and make up. Here is a list. Im sure you can pick out the points of similarity.


The 14 Defining
Characteristics Of Fascism
by Dr. Lawrence Britt

Dr. Lawrence Britt has examined the fascist regimes of Hitler (Germany), Mussolini (Italy), Franco (Spain), Suharto (Indonesia) and several Latin American regimes. Britt found 14-defining characteristics common to each:

1. Powerful and Continuing Nationalism -
Fascist regimes tend to make constant use of patriotic mottos, slogans, symbols, songs, and other paraphernalia. Flags are seen everywhere, as are flag symbols on clothing and in public displays. TOP

2. Disdain for
the Recognition of Human Rights -
Because of fear of enemies and the need for security, the people in fascist regimes are persuaded that human rights can be ignored in certain cases because of "need." The people tend to look the other way or even approve of torture, summary executions, assassinations, long incarcerations of prisoners, etc. TOP

3. Identification of Enemies/Scapegoats
as a Unifying Cause -
The people are rallied into a unifying patriotic frenzy over the need to eliminate a perceived common threat or foe: racial , ethnic or religious minorities; liberals; communists; socialists, terrorists, etc. TOP

4. Supremacy of the Military -
Even when there are widespread domestic problems, the military is given a disproportionate amount of government funding, and the domestic agenda is neglected. Soldiers and military service are glamorized. TOP

5. Rampant Sexism -
The governments of fascist nations tend to be almost exclusively male-dominated. Under fascist regimes, traditional gender roles are made more rigid. Divorce, abortion and homo******ity are suppressed and the state is represented as the ultimate guardian of the family institution. TOP

6. Controlled Mass Media -
Sometimes to media is directly controlled by the government, but in other cases, the media is indirectly controlled by government regulation, or sympathetic media spokespeople and executives. Censorship, especially in war time, is very common. TOP

7. Obsession with National Security -
Fear is used as a motivational tool by the government over the masses. TOP

8. Religion and Government are Intertwined -
Governments in fascist nations tend to use the most common religion in the nation as a tool to manipulate public opinion. Religious rhetoric and terminology is common from government leaders, even when the major tenets of the religion are diametrically opposed to the government's policies or actions. TOP

9. Corporate Power is Protected -
The industrial and business aristocracy of a fascist nation often are the ones who put the government leaders into power, creating a mutually beneficial business/government relationship and power elite. TOP

10. Labor Power is Suppressed -
Because the organizing power of labor is the only real threat to a fascist government, labor unions are either eliminated entirely, or are severely suppressed. TOP

11. Disdain for Intellectuals and the Arts -
Fascist nations tend to promote and tolerate open hostility to higher education, and academia. It is not uncommon for professors and other academics to be censored or even arrested. Free expression in the arts and letters is openly attacked. TOP

12. Obsession with Crime and Punishment -
Under fascist regimes, the police are given almost limitless power to enforce laws. The people are often willing to overlook police abuses and even forego civil liberties in the name of patriotism. There is often a national police force with virtually unlimited power in fascist nations.

13. Rampant Cronyism and Corruption -
Fascist regimes almost always are governed by groups of friends and associates who appoint each other to government positions and use governmental power and authority to protect their friends from accountability. It is not uncommon in fascist regimes for national resources and even treasures to be appropriated or even outright stolen by government leaders. TOP

14. Fraudulent Elections -
Sometimes elections in fascist nations are a complete sham. Other times elections are manipulated by smear campaigns against or even assassination of opposition candidates, use of legislation to control voting numbers or political district boundaries, and manipulation of the media. Fascist nations also typically use their judiciaries to manipulate or control elections.

How many of these can be applied to communism too ? Nearly all :)

[Freibier]

lol, how many can be applied to neoconismrofl

[Jobu]

lol, how many can be applied to neoconismrofl

Only a couple really.

[Flamming_Python]

lol, how many can be applied to neoconismrofl

rofl rofl rofl rofl rofl

[Friendly Fire]

You know friendly fire, "fascists" and "communists" have alot in common. Im sure once you guys worked this out you could kiss and make up. Here is a list. Im sure you can pick out the points of similarity.


The 14 Defining
Characteristics Of Fascism
by Dr. Lawrence Britt

Dr. Lawrence Britt has examined the fascist regimes of Hitler (Germany), Mussolini (Italy), Franco (Spain), Suharto (Indonesia) and several Latin American regimes. Britt found 14-defining characteristics common to each:

1. Powerful and Continuing Nationalism -
Fascist regimes tend to make constant use of patriotic mottos, slogans, symbols, songs, and other paraphernalia. Flags are seen everywhere, as are flag symbols on clothing and in public displays. TOP

2. Disdain for
the Recognition of Human Rights -
Because of fear of enemies and the need for security, the people in fascist regimes are persuaded that human rights can be ignored in certain cases because of "need." The people tend to look the other way or even approve of torture, summary executions, assassinations, long incarcerations of prisoners, etc. TOP

3. Identification of Enemies/Scapegoats
as a Unifying Cause -
The people are rallied into a unifying patriotic frenzy over the need to eliminate a perceived common threat or foe: racial , ethnic or religious minorities; liberals; communists; socialists, terrorists, etc. TOP

4. Supremacy of the Military -
Even when there are widespread domestic problems, the military is given a disproportionate amount of government funding, and the domestic agenda is neglected. Soldiers and military service are glamorized. TOP

5. Rampant Sexism -
The governments of fascist nations tend to be almost exclusively male-dominated. Under fascist regimes, traditional gender roles are made more rigid. Divorce, abortion and homo******ity are suppressed and the state is represented as the ultimate guardian of the family institution. TOP

6. Controlled Mass Media -
Sometimes to media is directly controlled by the government, but in other cases, the media is indirectly controlled by government regulation, or sympathetic media spokespeople and executives. Censorship, especially in war time, is very common. TOP

7. Obsession with National Security -
Fear is used as a motivational tool by the government over the masses. TOP

8. Religion and Government are Intertwined -
Governments in fascist nations tend to use the most common religion in the nation as a tool to manipulate public opinion. Religious rhetoric and terminology is common from government leaders, even when the major tenets of the religion are diametrically opposed to the government's policies or actions. TOP

9. Corporate Power is Protected -
The industrial and business aristocracy of a fascist nation often are the ones who put the government leaders into power, creating a mutually beneficial business/government relationship and power elite. TOP

10. Labor Power is Suppressed -
Because the organizing power of labor is the only real threat to a fascist government, labor unions are either eliminated entirely, or are severely suppressed. TOP

11. Disdain for Intellectuals and the Arts -
Fascist nations tend to promote and tolerate open hostility to higher education, and academia. It is not uncommon for professors and other academics to be censored or even arrested. Free expression in the arts and letters is openly attacked. TOP

12. Obsession with Crime and Punishment -
Under fascist regimes, the police are given almost limitless power to enforce laws. The people are often willing to overlook police abuses and even forego civil liberties in the name of patriotism. There is often a national police force with virtually unlimited power in fascist nations.

13. Rampant Cronyism and Corruption -
Fascist regimes almost always are governed by groups of friends and associates who appoint each other to government positions and use governmental power and authority to protect their friends from accountability. It is not uncommon in fascist regimes for national resources and even treasures to be appropriated or even outright stolen by government leaders. TOP

14. Fraudulent Elections -
Sometimes elections in fascist nations are a complete sham. Other times elections are manipulated by smear campaigns against or even assassination of opposition candidates, use of legislation to control voting numbers or political district boundaries, and manipulation of the media. Fascist nations also typically use their judiciaries to manipulate or control elections.

How many of these can be applied to communism too ? Nearly all :)


1. Nationalism and USSR...with the russians being only 55% of the whole population you fail. Communism being essentially internationalist, you fail again. How ever the USSR was a Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. They imposed the Russian as vehicular language, and Russians took over key positions...no as post Communist Baltic states showed...

2. The polarizing issue. I don't know of such Human Rights being incompatible with the Communist system ( a part for religiuos and faith related rights). How ever the Soviet constitution of 1977 is legally binding...and it recognised the right of free association. Religius groups could overtly practice their faith. Thy only had to label it as a "recreational activity". The chinese govt however (technically "communist" following the USA standarts) is pretty liberal on faith. This answers part of point 8 and 10. GWOT and CW comes in mind.

3. Common to all forms governments, GWOT/CW/Maccarthysm! Political cancer.

4. Research has disproven that point. While militaristic postures have been often underscored among former "communist" regimes, peace posters/movies/manifestations have been as much a real hindrance of these claims as a proof of the defensive role the USSR has always given to it's army. Militarization of the society should not be confonded with militantism. That is rampant in the West. Hence just look around this very Forum.:hug:

5. Lol While the women had teh right to divorce vote and drive cars in the USSR the "free women" were put in golden cages named...marriages. relatively high percentages of women have been found working in "Communist Countries" (up to 85% DDR/GDR). Their right to abortion has been enshrined till the very beggining of the USSR and communist regimes often against the "freedom loving CIA sponsored association" like the Church in Poland. Up To 25% of women were members of the Polit Bureau and Supreme Soviet.

6. Mass Media was brought up by the USSR. Being a Militant State the USSR had militant "Media".A Media pool how ever is higly impossible in the USSR since it would have to be independent, pretty much impossible when the State is the Labor Market and thus Labor Pourveyor. However Here the Media is not way more free given the Financial Control multinationals have on them. Money is now teh mein objective, not truth. Hell this very Forum is filled with ditrust towards your "free Media".

7. GWOT, MCC, CW, Communism. Common to all forms of government.

8. See point 2. Communism is by essence atheistic. However the personality cult could make you think about a transubstantiation of faith into political power. Common to all forms of organisations just watch an electoral campaign; it's all about opinions.

9. See point 2 and 6 there is no Corporate Protection and Labor associations were brought up and made legal by the very Socialist Regimes since usually they were lagging behind in terms of Industrialisation and when you look at the USSR history, you could hardly defend that point. Work was G.I. No privately owned businesses (although the law changed in 1977). Hw ever you could argue China is doeing that. Well it's the contrary, Political officials are becoming the new corporate bosses in China! And as for that just look at the definition of a Ploutocracy and get a look at your political history in the West (Belgium is a Case Study).
Common to all Political systems (except Soviet Socialism). Plus even when regarding nazism you can argue that POV, but I won't.

10. See Point 9, the USSR brought up the Unions, and enshrined them. But the Labor Unions were hardly hit by Ronnie Reagan and Maggie Thaetcher. Fascist leaders? Either way Nazis never Suppressed the Labor Unions, they doctrinally Modified them by calling them Guilds or Corporations as in the Middle ages.

11. Soviet avant-garde, Italian Futurism are the quintessence of their ideological doxa. Plus yor point is hardly defendable given the massive academic education "Communist" regimes distributed to their populations.
Nazism is an exception, however countered by their achievings in science... Fascism...Pinochet worked with the most prominent intellectuals of his time (Milton Friedman being one of them).

12. That's a Dostoievski book!!!!rofl (to our ex-soviet friends). Compare your system during the CW with theirs...Now The average Soviet Cop (Dankorofl ) had very limited power and their police forces were really discrete.

13. Common to all forms of government.

14. Ehem no elections in fascist states. But well in Socialist ones....every Four to five years. Whohoo you got a point.

See you're wrong.

[Count Lippe]

Election in socialist states? You've got to be kidding me...:roll:

Do you know how it was? They only asked you if you approve the list of "represantatives" they've put together for you. If the majority didn't, well, too bad... The decision has already been taken anyway...

[Shadow]

Election in socialist states? You've got to be kidding me...:roll:

Do you know how it was? They only asked you if you approve the list of "represantatives" they've put together for you. If the majority didn't, well, too bad... The dicision has already been taken anyway...

Do you want the SED to stay in Power?

____|YES|NO|
YES |___|___|
NO. |_X_|___|

This is how "elections" in socialist states work

[Count Lippe]

Of course there wer other parties in the DDR. The CDU for example, but it was just a mere puppet for the socialist leadership to maintain a certain degree of "Democracy" to fool the west and its own people... All the CDU did was filling up the seats in the people's chamber and give standing ovations to everything the SED leaders said.:roll:

[Friendly Fire]

Election in socialist states? You've got to be kidding me...:roll:

Do you know how it was? They only asked you if you approve the list of "represantatives" they've put together for you. If the majority didn't, well, too bad... The decision has already been taken anyway...


Read the thread! See that's the problem with you people. The articla Kilgor quoted said there were fraudulent elections in "Socialist countries". I said yes there were fraudulent elections in "Socialist Countries" but not in fascist ones.

As an Albanian I know what elections meant at Socialist times. But I loved the way you made your evident lack of attention worth of a good laugh.

As for the candidature approval comitees well the same is true in every regime. If for a reason of another the Central Electoral comission rejects a specific candidature, you can't do **** about it. It's called legal positivism. Common to every state that enshrines it's rule of law into a constitutionnal text.