Kim Philby

Harold Adrian Russell "Kim" Philby also H. A. R. Philby (January 1, 1912 – May 11, 1988) was a high ranking member of British intelligence who led a lifelong career as a spy for the Soviet Union.

Espionage

After leaving Westminster School in 1928 at the age of 16, Philby went on to Trinity College, Cambridge, where he was introduced to and became a admirer of the ideals of Communism.

Related Topics:
Westminster School - 1928 - Trinity College, Cambridge - Communism

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Philby was not recruited into espionage, rather he volunteered. He asked one of his tutors, Maurice Dobb, how he could serve the Communist movement. Perhaps ignorant of the possible consequences, Dobb referred him to a Communist front organisation, which passed Philby in turn to the Comintern underground in Vienna. The front organisation was the World Federation for the Relief of the Victims of German Fascism in Paris, France. The World Federation was one of the innumerable front organisations operated by the German Communist Willi Münzenberg, who was one of the leading Soviet agents in the West. The Soviet intelligence service itself (at that time known as the OGPU) recruited him on the strength of his work for the Comintern. Anatoli Gromov, the London Resident, was his case officer.

Related Topics:
Espionage - Volunteer - Maurice Dobb - Communist - Comintern - Vienna - Paris - France - World Federation - Willi Münzenberg - West - OGPU - Anatoli Gromov

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After working as a journalist in Austria and Spain, the latter during the Spanish Civil War, Philby was recruited by Valentine "Vee Vee" Vivian of the British Secret Intelligence Service (MI6) in 1940, later becoming part of the Special Operations Executive, and coming into contact with Office of Strategic Services agents. Immediately after World War II Philby was assigned to Istanbul.

Related Topics:
Journalist - Secret Intelligence Service - 1940 - Special Operations Executive - Office of Strategic Services - World War II - Istanbul

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