The Sword and the Shield: The Mitrokhin Archive and the Secret History of the KGB

by Andrew, Christopher and Mitrokhin, Vasili

Description

New York: Basic Books, 1999 16 pgs of b+w illustrations, photographs, etc.. 700 pgs. Nice copy, small stain on front cover. A more detailed description available via email upon request w/ ditigal photo if asked. Shipping to be determined at time of purchase. . Hard Cover. Good +/Good +. 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall.

Book summary

This book is based on secret documents (reportedly about 6 trunks' worth) which were smuggled out of Russia by Vasili Mitrokhin, who worked in the KGB archive. Historian and intelligence expert Christopher Andrew tells of Mitrokhin's disenchantment with the KGB and his effort to to build his own secret archive of information, which he smuggled out each day in his shoes and which he stored in the basement of his dacha.These high-level documents are revealing of the range of KGB operations in Europe and the United States over decades, including intelligence interception and covert operations. Andrew evaluates the importance and impact of the material smuggled to the West by Mitrokhin.