Kim Philby
A short biography written by Petya Minkova, a research journalist. Mrs. Minkova is the author of the upcoming book “Kim Philby Against Hitler and Stalin: A True Story Based on Letters and Interviews“ that will be released later this year.
Harold Adrian Russell or Kim Philby (1 January 1912 – 11 May 1988) was a British intelligence officer called the Spy of the 20th Century for his work for Soviet intelligence. His main goal was to shorten the duration of World War II.
The official histories say that Philby was a double agent for the Soviet Union. Still, the book readers will find out the different points of view of his closest friends.
In 1963 he was revealed to be a member of the Cambridge Five, the most famous spy ring which had sent British secrets to the Soviets during World War II and in the first years of the Cold War. If you read the book, you will know that this ring was broader – it included people from the best UK universities. They wanted to stop Hitler and the war. That is why the small group provided Stalin with secret information.
Philby was most productive in providing secrets to the Soviets, and many experts assume he was the real 007.
Born in British India, Philby was educated at Westminster School and Trinity College, Cambridge. He worked as a journalist and was very close to the circle around Hitler – in this sense, Philby was a classic chameleon. However, Philby could play any role in achieving the great goal of stopping the war and achieving a long-term peace. He was the perfect spy, being groomed to head MI6, but an unexpected betrayal derailed his career. The friends of Philby, lords and different people from the aristocracy stood up for him.
After being exonerated, he worked as a Middle East correspondent for two newspapers, but actually, it was a cover for his real work for MI6.
A new betrayal threatened to deprive him of his beloved job, and in 1963 he decided to flee to the USSR. There, the most famous spy meets his great love.