![]() In her FBI deposition, she also named forty-one Soviet spies and sources living and working in the United States. In 1945, she defected and confessed her involvement with the KGB to the FBI. ![]() She worked closely with Jacob Goros to manage the Communist Party USA (CPUSA) network of KGB sources and spies. The authoritative record of NPR’s programming is the audio record.Elizabeth Bentley (1908-1963) was an American communist and Soviet spy. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by an NPR contractor. Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at for further information. Lucian Kim, NPR News, Moscow.Ĭopyright © 2020 NPR. After his death, the Kremlin said Putin was in mourning for a legendary intelligence officer who had made history. Ahead of ceremonies marking the 75th anniversary of the war's end, the Kremlin is celebrating Soviet heroes like Alexei Botyan. He included Poland among the countries responsible for starting the war, and defended the Soviet Union's initial collusion with Nazi Germany. KIM: In December, Putin reminded visiting leaders of the sacrifices the Soviet Union had made during World War II. PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN: (Speaking Russian). The Kremlin is using the Soviet victory over the Nazis to instill national pride among Russians and so strengthen the regime. KIM: In 2007, Putin invited Botyan to the Kremlin and awarded him the Hero of Russia medal. Putin gained control of the Russian propaganda industry, the hero was let's call it nationalized to become a Russian big name. He says the story of a gallant Soviet spy saving Krakow is an urban legend that benefits Russian President Vladimir Putin.ĭEBSKI: After Mr. KIM: Slawomir Debski is a historian who heads the Polish Institute of International Affairs. SLAWOMIR DEBSKI: The story is a Soviet propaganda fabrication. Alexei Botyan, the great Russian hero, is unknown in Poland. They simply abandoned the city before the Red Army arrived. Polish historians say the Nazis didn't plan to destroy it. They don't believe Krakow was saved by Soviet heroes. That's about as much of the Russian story that Polish historians can agree to. The war against Nazi Germany came to an end four months after the Red Army drove the Nazis out of the city. He just wanted the war to end as soon as possible. KIM: He said he hadn't been trying to save Krakow. KIM: Russian TV ran an interview with Botyan to mark his 103rd birthday last Monday. That feat inspired a popular Soviet movie. As the Red Army approached Krakow, Botyan allegedly blew up a Nazi ammunition dump, saving the city. KIM: The TV news focused on Botyan's claim to fame, his daring mission to prevent retreating Germans from destroying Krakow, one of the most beautiful cities in Poland. After Poland capitulated, he joined Soviet military intelligence. At the start of World War II, he fought against the Nazis and the Polish army. KIM: A TV news anchor reminded Russians that Botyan was born in 1917, the same year as the communist revolution in present-day Belarus. UNIDENTIFIED NEWS ANCHOR: (Speaking Russian). LUCIAN KIM, BYLINE: On Thursday, Russians woke up to the news that one of their greatest spies, Alexei Botyan, had died overnight. It's part of a furious debate about the past between Russia and Poland. But as NPR's Lucian Kim reports from Moscow, the story is not clear-cut. Russian state media are remembering him as the man who, during World War II, stopped the Nazis from destroying the Polish city of Krakow. One of Russia's most celebrated spies has died at the age of 103.
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