The Man Behind the Rosenbergs

by Alexander Feklisov

The memoirs of Alexander Feklisov provide the missing links to the mystery of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, who were to die on the electric chair in 1953. Sixty years later, the KGB officer who handled Julius Rosenberg tells his story and clears the record once and for all.

Genres: Espionage, History, Nonfiction

432 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 2001

Reviews

[Florence Buchholz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading this book gave me a curious feeling; like being on the other side of a "looking glass". The bad guys all look like good guys from the perspective of a spy from the enemy's side of the Cold War. Feklisov was an intelligence officer of the former Soviet Union. He extolls the virtue of agents he controlled such as Klaus Fuchs and Julius Rosenberg. Rosenberg, along with his wife, Ethel, was executed for providing the Soviets with secrets which enabled them to build an atom bomb. Feklisov denies this, but admits that Rosenberg was an important asset. (For the record Ethel was innocent.) We must remember that their condemnation took place in the midst of an anti-red hysteria with an American populace as politically riven as they are today. During the war years, when the information exchange took place, the USSR was an ally in the fight against Naziism. In any case, author Feklisov presents a thoughtful and surprisingly personal story of his exploits as an intelligence officer. He loved his country just as we love ours. He recognized that his government had its deficiencies, as does ours. Toward the end of his career, Feklisov provided a little known back channel for diplomacy during the Cuban Missile Crisis. It's possible he may have helped to prevent a nuclear catastrophe.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm disoriented after having spent some time in the mind of Alexander Feklisov, the former Soviet Rezident in DC during the Cuban Missile Crisis. Communism is still the ideal, WWII was the USSR alone too long against fascism, Americans spying for the Soviet Union were heroes and the KGB, passing US atomic secrets to Moscow saved the world by allowing the Sovs to counteract US hegemony. Feklisov repeatedly also refers to the morals and compassion of the KGB toward their American spies. WHAT??? He thinks of himself as a gentleman spy disdainful of spies for hire and strangely, bizarrely writes in an uncynical voice. He describes his professional motivations in terms of saving humanity from the West's monopoly on power. Some crazy shit here.

Feklisov also handled, befriended and became besotted with Julius Rosenberg. The author wants to out Rosenberg and his ilk as heroes, though they do not wish to be outed. He also wishes Rosenberg would have confessed to save his life. He thinks differently than I. Rosenberg was a "liaison" spy, therefore not deserving execution. Plus Churchill promised to share everything with Stalin during the war so Rosenberg was just abiding this promise. Rosenberg gave a real proximity fuse to Feklisov which was eventually used to shoot down Francis Gary Powers!!! Yeah, what a mensch, that Rosenberg.

The author also ran Klaus Fuchs, who ultimately proved more valuable yet less loveable. Like all the other useful idiot spies, he fought hard to be extracted to anyplacebutmoscow. Those true believers seem afraid of taking up residence in their beloved motherland! Cracks me up.

NB, Stalin was in power until 1953. The show trials were public and the Dewey Commission report came out in 1937. Hard to deny what Stalinism was about for these idiotic traitors.

Finally, Feklisov adds his perspective on the CMC. Without prior authorization, he claims to have made JFK aware that the USSR would invade W. Berlin if the US attacked Cuba over the definitely offensive-ready weapons. He also insists that Kennedy was the first to offer up a compromise but had to hide the truth due to upcoming midterms. He wants the KGB to get some credit, at the expense of the Foreign Ministry, in resolving the CMC. Niiiice.

Loved the line about Lubyanka filled with the most detailed info on unsuspected people. Drool. The intro should be the postscript. A must read.

[Erika · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an interesting book. The editor of the book pulls no punches in refuting Alexander's claims at times, which makes for awkward reading at times. In addition, the oddly hostile introduction sets a strange tone for the book.

That said, this is a FASCINATING glimpse into a volatile time in history. Espionage buffs will enjoy this one, as it's a technical breakdown of what Soviet spies were busy doing at the time. I think Alexander did a good job providing a complete view of what life was like for him at this time, including not just his day-to-day activities but also how he reacted to them.

[Steve · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book offers a good view of two famous cold war stories from the other side. His point of view is certainly different from the typical one.