The Sword and the Shield: The Mitrokhin Archive and the Secret History of the KGB

Based on astonishing KGB documents, this essential exposé uncovers the shadowy operations of the Soviet Union’s top intelligence organization. “The Sword and the Shield will stand as an indispensable reference work on Soviet espionage for years to come.” ―Washington Post Based on an unprecedented, top-secret archive described by the FBI as “the most complete and extensive intelligence ever achieved from any source,” The Sword and the Shield gives us by far the most complete picture we have ever had of the KGB and its operations in the United States and Europe. Vasili Mitrokhin worked for almost thirty years in the foreign intelligence archives of the KGB. In 1972 he was made responsible for moving these entire archives, including all the files on the KGB’s deep-cover operatives, to new headquarters just outside Moscow. Mitrokhin spent over a decade making notes and transcripts of these highly classified files which he smuggled daily out of the archives and kept beneath his dacha floor. Christopher Andrew has had exclusive access to both Mitrokhin and his archive. Supplementing this treasure trove of KGB secrets with extensive research in other archives, and published and unpublished sources, he has written an extraordinary book which forces us to acknowledge that there was indeed an enemy—and that he was very much in our midst.
ASIN: 0465003125
VSKU: BVV.0465003125.A
Condition: Acceptable
Author/Artist:Christopher Andrew|Vasili Mitrokhin
Binding: Paperback
Note: Any images shown are stock photographs and product may differ from what is shown.
Condition Notes: The item is very worn but is perfectly usable. Signs of wear can include aesthetic issues such as scratches, dents, worn and creased covers, folded page corners and minor liquid stains. All pages and the cover are intact, but the dust cover may be missing. Pages may include moderate to heavy amount of notes and highlighting, but the text is not obscured or unreadable. Page edges may have foxing age related spots and browning . May NOT include discs, access code or other supplemental materials.