Operation Gold
From KB42
Operation Gold
| Project Name : | Operation Gold |
|---|
Fears and anxiety over potential nuclear war served as the impetus for Operation Gold in 1954, thanks in part to aggressive nuclear testing by the Soviet Union. Operation Gold was a joint venture between the CIA and MI6 in the U.K., and consisted of a tunnel dug beneath occupied Soviet territory in Germany. Agents from both countries were able to tap into conversations conducted by the Soviet Union, although the latter admittedly were made aware of the Operation Gold tunnel almost immediately. This was due to a mole planted within MI6’s ranks, a Communist and double agent named George Blake. He was discovered and imprisoned in 1961, but escaped to Moscow, living as a Soviet hero until his death on December 26th, 2020.
