The specifics of the intelligence activity is that they learn about his merits years after the end of his career, and sometimes after his death. The famous agent William Genrikhovich Fisher had many names. But to most he is known as Rudolph Abel.
early years
The future intelligence officer was born in the UK in 1903. Shortly before this, his parents, Russian Germans, were expelled from the country for revolutionary activity. Convinced Marxists, they engaged in active propaganda, introduced the Iskra newspaper to the workers, and were personally acquainted with Lenin. Parents gave their son a name in honor of Shakespeare.
From an early age, William woke up a talent for science, music and painting. The boy did not forget about childish pranks. Often, fishermen’s boats were stolen with friends, even a fear of water and an inability to swim did not stop him. As a teenager he got to the shipyard as a draftsman, and a year later he entered the university. But he didn’t have a chance to finish his studies. The October Revolution broke out in Russia, and the Fischers decided to return to their homeland.
Return to Russia
In 1920, all family members received Soviet passports. They were settled in the Kremlin along with other famous revolutionaries. Soon the family suffered grief, the oldest son of Fisher Harry drowned in the river. William survived the loss of his brother.
At first he was engaged in translations of the Comintern, then he studied at the Moscow art workshops, from there he was drafted into the army. During his service in the Moscow radiotelegraph regiment, William became an excellent radio operator, a long-standing love of technology helped. The acquired specialty influenced his further work. Fisher got a job as a radio engineer at the Air Force Research Institute.
First steps in intelligence
A new stage in his biography was the work in the foreign department of the OGPU. William came to the service not by chance. By that time, changes had taken place in the young man’s personal life, he had started a family, and his wife’s sister, who worked as a translator in this organization, recommended him to the post. He began his career as a translator, and then got a job as a radio operator.
In 1930, he returned to Britain. The government did not prevent this, especially since the Fischers retained English citizenship. Under his name, William worked as a radio operator for residency in England and Norway. An important task that the young man successfully dealt with was the order to return the Soviet physicist Pyotr Kapitsa to the USSR, which Stalin really wanted. The scout did an excellent job, especially his knowledge of physics and the ability to convince. He spent seven years in illegal intelligence and gained invaluable experience.
I had to return to my homeland after the story with Alexander Orlov, when a security officer who stole money from the NKVD cash desk emigrated to the United States. Under the "purge of ranks, " arranged by Beria, Fisher also fell on the eve of 1939. William had to work in the Chamber of Commerce as a gunman for VOKhR at an aircraft factory.
During the war
Fisher repeatedly submitted reports requesting reinstatement. He knew his job very well and had a great desire to benefit the homeland. He was able to get into service only after the outbreak of war. In 1941, the NKVD organized a unit that trained employees for work in the Nazi rear. William led the training of radio operators who went to the territories occupied by the Nazis. At that moment, a fatal acquaintance with Rudolf Abel took place, with the name of which his further biography was inextricably linked.
Work in the USA
Illegal began work in the USA in 1948. The government of the Soviet Union was very interested in the situation at the nuclear facilities of the competing side. With the passport of the Lithuanian Kayotis, he ended up in America and stayed to live in New York. Under the name of the artist, Goldfus opened a photo studio in Brooklyn. Fisher stood at the head of the Soviet intelligence, his spouses were Coen. Under the call sign "Mark, " he was actively involved in the work and took upon himself important organizational moments. The employee’s work was effective, he regularly transferred important information and documentation. Very soon, management appreciated the resident's contribution to the common cause and awarded the Order of the Red Banner. Later, six more orders and many medals were added to the first award.
Prison and Release
To help the "Mark" sent the radio operator "Vick". But the assistant turned out to be psychologically unprepared for such a job, he betrayed his leader to the American authorities and surrendered himself. In 1957, Fisher was arrested. He completely denied any involvement in intelligence and refused to cooperate with intelligence agencies in America. Then, during the arrest, he first called himself the name of his friend Rudolf Abel, thereby warning the Soviet leadership about the failure.
The scout received a considerable prison sentence of 32 years, but served in solitary confinement only part of the sentence. During this period, the intelligence of the scout remained unbroken. In the prison of Atlanta, he solved mathematical problems and remembered that he had once received an art education. During this period, he created many paintings, but the most famous is the portrait of Kennedy, which the artist personally presented to the president.
In 1962, the governments of both countries agreed on the exchange of prisoners. Rudolph Abel was exchanged for the downed American pilot Powers and detained for spying and student economist Prior. So thanks to the efforts of Soviet intelligence, Abel was again at large. Upon returning to the Union, he continued to work in intelligence, trained young specialists. And all the remaining time he devoted to creativity - he painted pictures. Abel died in 1971 from cancer in Moscow.
