A ‘Gangster Act’: The Berlin Tunnel

Abstract

This chapter focuses on CIA activity in Berlin and the construction of the Berlin Tunnel with their British counterparts, also known as Operation Gold and Stopwatch. The aim was to intercept USSR communications, by digging a tunnel from the US sector of West Berlin. Bill Harvey was the central figure for the CIA. The chapter also details quite how close the US and UK were operational in this Operation, and the closeness in sharing of technology, and knowledge built upon mutual trust and recognition of expertise. The operation was betrayed. Operation Gold was compromised almost immediately by George Blake, a British intelligence officer, told the USSR. However the USSR did not use the opportunity to mislead the US and UK by sharing disinformation. Blake was too valuable. Document: The Berlin Tunnel Operation 1952-1956