Who was Alexander Orlov?
Alexander Orlov was an NKVD Rezident who defected to the US in 1938. His defection was prompted by a demand he return the Russia where he feared that he was on a list to be executed as part of a political purge by the Communist leadership. He served the Soviets in Paris, Berlin, the US, Austria, Czechoslovakia and London in various capacities. Orlov’s claims and writings are generally regarded as broadly accurate at a macro level but inaccurate when it comes to the role he may have played in events, taking credit for the accomplishments of others and subordinates. This exaggeration was a common practice and problem in Soviet hierarchies and not unique to Orlov.
Why read Handbook of Intelligence and Guerrilla Warfare?
I’m deeply interested in the history of cold war espionage from post-WW2 through the collapse of the Soviet Union. Yes, I’m a huge spy nerd. Alexander Orlov claims that this is his best attempt at recreating training materials used while he was a Rezident. Thus, this book can provide some insight into the ‘cowboy years of intelligence’ and how the Soviet intelligence operated in those early Stalinist years. Such a book likely doesn’t provide much insight into modern operations but as a tool for understanding the actions of intelligence operations of the time it should be invaluable and terribly interesting. It’s also a remarkable short read at only 187 pages. Unfortunately the book is currently out of print and used copies are selling for approximately $200 among book collectors as of October 2021. Luckily for me, I will absolutely buy any book related to espionage priced at fifty cents or lower, no questions asked. In this case my consumerist practice landed me this entertaining gem of a book.
Chapter Notes
Below are my notes on each chapter. Please be aware that I’m not and never have been an intelligence professional and that I’m very likely using terms of art (agent, recruit, spy) incorrectly and interchangeably in many cases.
- Two Doctrines
- Targets of Soviet Intelligence
- The Illegal Residentura and the New Identity
- Departure from Moscow
- The Operative’s Biography
- Entry into the Underground
- Business Cover
- Where the Operative Makes His Home
- The Apparatus
- Recruitment of “Sources”
- Clandestine Meetings, Eluding Surveillance
- Bait
- Communications
- Chinks in the Agent’s Armor
- Guerilla Warfare
- Evaluation of Information