Stalin's Spy: Richard Sorge and the Tokyo Espionage Ring

by Robert Whymant

Provides a compelling study of the life and career of Richard Sorge, who entered Soviet intelligence in 1920 and led a life of espionage for the Russians in the Tokyo Spy Ring, where he was embraced by the Germans as a Nazi journalist.

Genres: History, Biography, Russia, Espionage, Nonfiction, Japan, World War II

368 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1996

Reviews

[Greg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great bio on Richard Sorge who was a Russian spy in Japan. He impacted WWII by assuring the Russians that the Japanese would not attack which allowed the Russians to pull troops away and use against the Germans which turned the tide of the war. He was eventually caught by the Japanese secret police

[AC · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sorge was a fascinating character, but the author is a bit amateurish and mediocre. After an interesting introduction (Parts I-II), he great bulk of this book (Part III) deals, in minute detail, with the specifics of Sorge’s activities in 1941, and the Part IV with his arrest, interrogation, and execution. A richer treatment would have been better received by this reader

[Ed · Rating 5 out of 5]

An extraordinary real life spy story about the German Soviet Agent in Tokyo 1934-1941 who penetrated both the German embassy to the ambassador level and the Japanese political and military establishment. He gave clear detailed, precise warning of the impending attack on the Soviet Union by Germany on June 22 1941. This data along with reports from Soviet agents in Europe, Churchill's personal warning (using Enigma intercepts) as well as the undoubted signal intelligence (Soviet strength) of 190 divisions just over the border was overruled by Stalin who was convinced the Germans would not attack.

I read the book partly because I am interested in data denial by leadership, of which we have plenty of examples recently: Paul Wolfowitz comes to mind.

Before his unmasking by the Japanese, he also provided convincing evidence to the Soviets that the Japanese would attack south and fight the US and Britain rather than attack the Soviet Union in Siberia. This allowed the Soviets to move 10 divisions from the Far East in time for the attack on Moscow that was defeated. Sorge may therefore have saved his country from defeat. (His mother was Russian).

Nevertheless, when he was captured and sentenced to death by the Japanese, the Soviets did nothing to save him, refusing to acknowledge he was their agent or exchange him for Japanese agents. He was executed and only became a hero after 1964 and de-Stalinization. Moreover, the book suggests that had he returned to Moscow as ordered in 1938 he would have been executed as part of the purges and his service to his country would not have happened.

This is a well researched, gripping and well written account using newly opened Russian archives and interviews with survivors. He gives a very detailed account of Sorge's complex personality, his heavy drinking, womanizing and the amazing way that while joining the Nazi party, he managed to lecture the Germans in the embassy, including his close friend the Ambassador on communism, the evils of the Nazis and the certainty that Russia would beat Germany. He was a Soviet agent almost hiding in plain sight. And in a way, he also acted as a German agent in that he kept his position with the embassy by sharing what he found out via his network about Japanese intentions. His exposure profoundly damaged German-Japanese relations that never recovered.

Regretably the author Robert Whymant was killed by the 2004 Tsunami in Sri Lanka. This book is a fitting memorial.

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite compelling. A real rascal this fellow.

[Dave · Rating 3 out of 5]

The spy Richard Sorge was definitely a unique individual whose intelligence that he transmitted to Russia was key in leading it to transfer huge numbers of soldiers and matériel from the East to the West. This decision was instrumental in defeating the Nazis and preventing the capture of Moscow. Stalin refused to believe though the reports from Sorge tipping him off that Germany was going to violate the Non Aggression Pact it signed with Russia and invade it. Ironically, it was this devotion to duty of Sorge that made him a threat to Stalin rather than a hero worthy of saving from prison. I rated the book 3 stars because the author labored in providing such detail of Sorge’s life as a spy that it bogged down the reader and stunted some of the interest in the story. The book was meticulously researched but the story plodded along in most parts because of the plethora of minute details embedded throughout it.

[Dan Cohen · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting book about an interesting character, although the title seems misleading as Stalin apparently distrusted Sorge for most of his career. The book covers Sorge's background, involvement in Communist politics, and career as a spy, particularly in Japan. It's a slightly depressing read because we know it doesn't end well. Also, Sorge himself seems to have been a deeply flawed individual, with drink one of his major problems.

Worth a read.

[Ivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A magnificent study of a largely-mythical, but unknown Russian figure. It dispels many false assumption and propaganda linked to Sorge's name in Russian school curricula, while adding a human side and helping understand why such a man would sincerely help his Soviet Union masters, most of whom couldn't measure up to him. It also shows that troubled times make strange bedfellows.

[Ian Racey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Somewhat dry, and suffers a bit from copy editing errors. Nazi acronyms seem a particular challenge, for whatever reason: the RSHA is called the RHSA, while the Nazi Party is repeatedly the NSAPD. But it's an extremely comprehensive look at Sorge's character and relationships, and an exacting chronicle of exactly what his spy ring did and did not accomplish.

[Rick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stunning, riveting, brilliantly written, captivating, true.

[A.J. Bryant · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written. Kind of hard to follow sometimes, but a truly remarkable story. A real life "James Bond," even with the prerequisite martini. Recommended highly.

[Polly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this for Conversational Club. It's a fine book. I'm just not very interested in the topic of Russian spies.

[Cecily · Rating 4 out of 5]

A clear, detailed history of the Sorge Spy Ring.

[Liviu Duta]

intresting and captivating

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Richard Sorge is my Great Grandfathers Brother. My Grandmother would tell me stories about him when I was little. It was interesting reading about him and learning about my family

[Vlade]

ok