Spying during the Cold War - 1002 Words

On the gloomy Friday night of June 19, 1953, a man named Julius Rosenberg was led into a room containing an electric chair; he was strapped in and then executed. After his body was removed, his wife suffered the same fate. This marked the end of one of the biggest espionage cases from World War II and the Cold War. This fascinating and complex couple were double agents, who worked for both the American and Russian governments. During the mid 20th century, it was not uncommon for American and British citizens to become enamored and sympathetic with communist ideals. However, only a few wanted them so badly that they turned against their own countries. Some of the most famous spies during this time included, the Rosenbergs, David Greenglass, and the Cambridge Five. Each decided to undermine the democratic and capitalist ideals of their countries and work for the Soviet Union. A spy’s role during World War II and throughout the Cold War was to gather information from the opposing side, and during this time, that information mostly related to weapon developments. Initially, the United States used people to spy and gather information, similar to the Russians. However as the Cold War progressed, the United States decided to go a step further and use technology to carry out their espionage. Spying played a critical role in the nuclear arms race which took place throughout World War II and the Cold War. The actions of American and British double agents contributed to tensions andShow MoreRelatedThe Politics of Spying Essay1177 Words   |  5 Pagesessay will consider the politics of spying. It will discuss examples of espionage as well as its necessity. The paper will also debate upon whether spying is an invasion of privacy and there for rights, or not. The essay begins by defining espionage. 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