Exposure of Israeli Spy Eli Cohen-Part 2

Exposure of Israeli Spy Eli Cohen-Part 2

Eli Cohen

   Eli Cohen photographed the Soviet Mig-21 fighter for the first time and also reported arrival of 200 T54 tanks from the Soviet Union. Eli Cohen also delivered to Israel the detailed plan given to Syria by the Soviet military advisers. They had asked the Syrian forces to cut off Northern Israel in a surprise attack. This would have weakened the Israeli army as most of the important military posts were in that region. He also apprised Israel of the details of Jordan water-diversion scheme mooted by Syria. 

   Because of his close contact with the President, Eli Cohen alias Kamil Amin Taabes was being groomed for political office. During 1950-60, there was talk of his being appointed Information and Propaganda Minister. There were rumors that he might become deputy Minister of Defense. You can guage from this, the trust that his friend Amim Al-Hafez, President of Syria placed in him.
 

Serial Killer from the Land of Lovers-Part 3

Blue Beard: Serial Killer from the Land of Lovers-Part 3

   It was disclosed during the trial the Henri Desire Landru had been convicted seven times for fraud. He had a lot of different jobs but never had any stable occupation. He had also worked as a sub deacon in a religious establishment. His father was afireman and settled at Dordogne after his mother’s death. He came to see his son in Paris and found that he was in prison. He was so upset that he committed suicide in Bois de Boulogne. The young daughter of Landru’s cousin became his mistress and a girl was born to them in 1891. Landru later married her and he had 4 children.

   When the court asked him about the names of so many women appearing in his note book, he replied, “It is the list of a businessman, who entered the names of his clients with whom he did business.” He claimed that he bought the furniture of these women to help them during the war and intended to sell it back to them after Germans had been driven out of France.

Exposure of Israeli Spy Eli Cohen-Part 1

Exposure of Israeli Spy Eli Cohen-Part 1

   In the world of espionage, non-diplomatic spics usually have to pay a heavy price of their activities. Those who enjoy diplomatic immunity, get away from the scene as “persona non gratia”. Important spies are usually exchanged with important prisoners on the other side. But, in the struggle between Israel and Arab countries, the stakes are high and the penalty for spying is death. Eli Cohen, who was an accomplished spy, had to pay with his life when he was caught red-handed sending a message on his radio transmitter. The fact that he was a personal friend of the President of Syria could be of no avail. 

   It was after three weeks of mental conflict that President Amin Al-Hafez of Syria, signed on the death warrant of Eli Cohen alias Kamil Amin Taabes. After all Kamil was a personal friend of long standing and President Amin Al-Hafez could not imagine that he was an agent of Israel planted in Syria. In May, 1965, Eli Cohen was hanged in full view of thousands of spectators and of TV cameras in Martyr’s Square in Damascus. Curtain was rang down on one of the most effective of all Israeli spies who served his country well. A sheet of paper on which were recorded his offenses was pinned on his white shroud as a warning to others.

Serial Killer from the Land of Lovers-Part 2

Blue Beard: Serial Killer from the Land of Lover - Part 2

   Now the question is, Who was this Henri Desire Landru, who entrapped such a large number of women in his love trap? The story if this heartless murderer of France is a tale of a cheat and a clever common man who made his living by grabbing the money and property of his victims. His modus operandi was also very unique as revealed during his trail. His case opened on December 7, 1921, in the Court of Assizes in ”the Palais de Jusice” at Versailles.

   A large crowd gathered before the court to have a glimpse of the man who was charged with having relations with 283 women and murdering ten of them. After seducing them, he persuaded them to hand over their money and property for, as he gave out, safe keeping and investment. On a table were exhibited charred clothing and bones. Henry Desire Landru was a tall bearded man of 52 years. Landru used the unique method of matrimonial advertisement for getting in touch with his victims.

Tania-who worked as a spy for three countries-Part 2

Tania- The Person who worked as a spy for three countries at the same time (Part-2)

   In 1959 Tania met Che Guevara who was the President of the Government National Bank and had come to arrange a loan for the Castro Government from East Germany. The amount involved was a huge sum nearly 10,000,000 dollars. The MFS had deputed Tania to be Che’s interpreter. They both felt attracted towards each other.

   After imparting vigorous training to Tania in Moscow in 1961, she was sent to the Cuban capital, Havana, along with a troupe of Cuban ballet dancers who had come to perform in East Germany. Due to Che’s efforts she was made a cultural delegate and then given a job in the Education Ministry of Cuba. Che Guevara got her inducted into a par- military women’s organization of Cuba.

The Exposure of Noureddin Kianouri in Iran

The Exposure of Noureddin Kianouri

Noureddin Kianouri

   In 1983, Ayatollah Khomeini, the supreme spiritual leader of Iran, suddenly dissolved the Tudeh party. Iran Radio announced that the Secretary General of this party was found to be a Russian agent. Hundreds of political workers were arrested and sent to prison. Scores of them were hanged in public. This is the story of the most scandalous espionage episode in Iran, in which Iranian fundamentalists, Great Britain and Russians played their own games.

 

   Ayatollah Khomeini, the supreme leader of Iran, made a sensational announcement on the radio in May, 1983. He said, ”We have dissolved the Tudeh party. It has been found to be full of foreign agents. Its Secretary General, Noureddin Kianouri, has confessed that he was a Russian agent since 1945. All these traitors to the country have been ordered to be arrested. We shall hang all those against whom evidence is found that they were foreign spies. In the meantime, eighteen Soviet diplomats have been asked to leave within two days for spying and contacts with traitors.”

Tania-who worked as a spy for three countries-Part 1

Tania - The Person who worked as a spy for three countries at the same time - Part 1

Tania

   Tania had received her training with the Secret Service of East Germany. She was very knowledgeable in Latin American Affairs and knew many of the languages spoken there. Hence this woman spy was recommended by the Germans spy organization, MFS, to the Russian KGB. Then she started to work for Russia. She fell in love with a Cuban Guerrilla leader, Che Guevara, and she started working for him also.

   Along with Mata Hari and Cynthia, Tamara Bouqest, alias Tania, has been the most talked about “sex spy”. She was a very brilliant and successful spy who worked for three countries simultaneously. She loved Che Guevara, the most famous revolutionary leader of the time, and worked for him also. The Imperialist countries hold her responsible for the death of Che Guevara, but the communist countries respect her as a very great patriot and a Guerrilla fighter of great courage. It is said that she sacrificed herself along with Che Guevara for the sake of Guerrilla revolution.

Serial Killer from the Land of Lovers-Part 1

Blue Beard: Serial Killer from the Land of Lovers - Part 1

   This is an extraordinary story of imitation, swindling, seduction and multiple murders form the land of lovers-France. He was known as “Blue Beard” because of his distinctive beard. He was supposed to have made love to 283 women and was charged for killing at least 10 (ten) of them. This killer, Henri Desire Landru, was known as by different names to his beloved and once boasted that no woman could spurn his amorous advances. France is reputed to be a country where love is a major occupation of its people, but has no tradition of killing beloveds. But, Henri Desire Landru was a lover cast in different moulds. He killed women after depriving them of their money and worldly possessions. 

   The French police was perplexed by the disappearance of many women. One Mrs. Pelat had reported about the disappearance of her sister Anna Colomb who went to live with Monsieur Cruchet at Gambas. Another woman, Mrs. Lacoste, was enquiring about her sister Mrs. Celestine Buisson who also vanished into thin air after visiting Villa Ermitage Gambais, to see M. Fremyet. The Mayor of Gambais made enquiries and found that the above villa was occupied by a M. Dupont. Meanwhile, the French police were also investigating another disappearance, that of a genuine Mrs. Cruchet and her son Andre who had gone to live with one M. Diard in his house at Vernouillet in December, 1914. From the clues provided, the police was satisfied that Cruchet, Fremyet, Dupont and Diard were one and the same person and issued a warrant on April 10, 1919, for the arrest of the individual whose identity tallied with these persons. 

The Thaipuism Festival-Craziest Festival in the World

A Crazy Festival, Thaipusam

   There is no festival is more crazy than the one which is celebrated each year in the southern regions of India, specially in Tamil Nadu. It is known by the name of Thaipusam festival. Thaipusam is a Hindu festival which is celebrated by the Tamil people. Although this festival is also celebrated in Sri Lanka, Singapore, Malaysia and certain parts of Indonesia, but the extent to which it is given importance by the Indians is beyond your wildest dreams. The festival is always celebrated on the day of the full moon and mostly the people who attend this festival belong to the Tamil community.

Running of the Bulls festival in Spain

Running of the Bulls festival in Pamplona (Spain)

   This funny and crazy festival is held in Spain every year. The Running of the Bulls (in Spanish encierro) is a practice that involves running in front of a small group of bulls that have been let loose on a course of a sectioned-off subset of a town's streets. Spanish tradition says the true origin of the run began in north-eastern Spain during the early in 14th century. While transporting cattle in order to sell them at the market, men would try to speed the process by hurrying their cattle using tactics of fear and excitement. After years of this practice, the transportation and hurrying began to turn into a competition, as young adults would attempt to race in front of the bulls and make it safely to themselves without being overtaken. When the popularity of this practice increased and was noticed more and more by the expanding population of Spanish cities, a tradition was created and stands to this day. In Pamplona and other places, the six bulls in the event are still those that will feature in the afternoon bullfight of the same day.

Coincidences and Life

     Life and Coincidences - Part 2

   Much later in the 20th century, Dr. Paul Kammerer scientifically conducted his experiments for days and months by recording people’s talks and also noting down the details of their personality inclusive of their age, sex, dress or any other relevant characteristic thereof. Finally Dr. Paul Kammerer published his conclusions in the form of a book entitled, “The Law of Seriality”. In this book he had come to the conclusion that coincidences came in series and they were a kaleidoscopic exhibition of various unknown cosmic forces.

   After Dr. Paul Kammerer, two European minds combined their efforts. These two men were Wolfgang Pauli and the Swiss psychologist and philosopher Professor Carl Gustav Jung. Both of them deeply researched the controversial topic and concluded that coincidences were nothing but "the visible traces of the untraceable principles”. A single mysterious force at work in the universe tries to harmonize the disharmonized life. Thus it imposes its own discipline over the confusion and disorder of human life.

Wilhelm Canaris- The Man was responsible for the rise and fall of Hitler

Wilhelm Canaris- Who was responsible for the rise and fall of Adolf Hitler (Part-2)

Wilhelm Canaris

   In 1929 Wilhelm Canaris met Goering, the right hand of Adolf Hitler. Goering brought him in Adolf Hitler’s contact. This helped Wilhelm Canaris to change into the Nazi way to thinking. He now fully devoted himself to the progress of the Nazi party and also of Adolf Hitler. He knew that the Nazi party would not be able to come to power so easily. His especially clever and tricky mind set to work on organized plans of overthrowing the existing ruling party. The first step was to make use of the espionage department of the Weimer Republic for the Nazis. This was a terrible action on his part. He sold several strategic war secrets to Italy and collected money for party work. Using all his espionage skills he prepared reports of all the high ranking officials of the Weimer Republic. He stole the secret documents of the Chancellor and it was on this basis that Hitler threatened to organize an uprising of industrialists and landlords against the proposal of land reforms. All this resulted in so much of confusion in Weimer that President Hindenberg decided to dismiss the Chancellor and Adolf Hitler was given that post.

   In spite of doing all this, Wilhelm Canaris never came to the forefront. He preferred to remain in the background. He neither took part in meetings nor was his name or photograph ever published in any newspaper. He always remained a figure shrouded in mystery. No room of the Secret Service Department had his nameplate. He never used the common exits or entrances. He entered the officers through a secret door. People working in the same office did not know where his seat was. For them he was an ordinary man who lived in a far off south corner of Berlin.

Life and Coincidences

Life and Coincidences-Part 1

Pope Paul VI

   First of all, we should understand, what is coincidence? How and why does it happen? So far nobody had been able to figure out the reasons behind them. Almost everyone has experienced the effects of this phenomenon in his or her life at one stage or the other and surprisingly enough, coincidences occur even in most insignificant things of life.

   A young ambitious actor was to appear before an interview board. It was a golden chance for him to prove his determination. But the book from which he was to prepare his role was not available to him. He searched for the book everywhere, but he could not find it. Ultimately, with great disappointment, that young actor was boarded the city bus to return home. In the bus a middle-aged man, who was carrying some book, stood by him. As the bus became over crowded, the man requested him to hold some books for him. But when he got down, that man just forgot to take back those books.

Wilhelm Canaris- who was responsible for the rise and fall of Hitler

Wilhelm Canaris - The man who was responsible for the rise and fall of Hitler (Part-1)

Wilhelm Franz Canaris

   The story of Wilhelm Canaris goes to prove that life can change its courses in very many surprising ways. Wilhelm Franz Canaris started life as an ordinary rating I the navy and was made an Admiral by Hitler in the year 1939. The reason for this was the role that he played by his espionage activities, which laid the foundation of Hitler’s rise to power. And only after six years of that, it was Hitler who ordered him to be put to death cruelly in the year 1945. This was because he had played a different role which put the last nail in Hitler’s coffin and as a result changed the course of history.

   On the 8th of April, 1945 at 5 a.m. a prisoner was brought to the Nazi Concentration Camp of Flossenberg in Germany. There was not a strip of clothing on his body which was covered with black and blue marks, evidence of cruel and horrible punishment inflicted on him. After a short while the Gestapo put him on the way to a slow and very painful death by butchering him with a thin piano wire wound around his neck. The horrified people watching this gruesome scene, were those who, only a few days before, had been saluting the prisoner every day. This prisoner was none other than the Nazi Chief of espionage-Wilhelm Canaris.

Strange Mysteries from Ancient World

  Strange Mysteries from the Ancient World - Part 2

   Now we will tell you another story from China, about a forgotten tomb.

The Forgotten tomb:

   It was the first day of the last month of the year 1952. Laborers were busy making sports field in the Jiangsu Province. Since the sports field was to be made for the Jingvi Middle School of Vixing city, the land was chosen very cautiously. The chosen piece of land was surrounded by an rectangle small hill and had four mounds. It was indeed difficult for laborers to remove the mounds. However, laborers were busy doing their work as usual. When suddenly, a labor shrieked with astonishment for his spade had struck a thin layer. There a hole was visible. Everybody peeped inside, and even in darkness they could see some peculiar objects inside.

   The inexperienced laborers were frightened. They quickly called the police. The police went down the small opening and announced to everyone’s surprise that a major archaeological discovery had been made. The place was sealed and soon archaeologists thronged the place. The excavation started and it became clear that the place was a tomb, and there were two tombs instead of one. The tombs had been built in a peculiar style. Each tomb had a chamber which had an arched roof and was constructed of wedge shaped bricks. On it there was a square slab. While some bricks covered the floor, the roof was covered with faces of animals.

The Spy Scandal of Group-47 in France

   A massive espionage activity was caught very gently

Map of France

   By nature, the French are very liberal, tolerant and accommodating nation. Even in matters of espionage, they do not lose their heads, unless something very serious matter is involved. They also do not make noise over these matters. That is the reason that such a big spy scandal involving such a large number of people did not find much space in the newspapers during the time of cold-war.

   In April, 1983, forty diplomats posted at the Russian (Soviet Union) Embassy in Paris and seven other persons got orders to leaves France immediately. Amongst them was the First Counselor Nicholas Chetverikov. The French government charged that those people were all engaged in objectionable activity. They wanted to establish a purely leftist government in France.

Strange Mysteries of Ancient World

   Strange Mysteries of Ancient World - Part 1

   The giant glass slab discovered in a cave in Galilee (Israel) puzzled the modern man. The measurements showed that it was the third largest piece of glass ever made. The other two were made in 1934. This piece was 1,000 years old.

   So what was that giant glass slab doing in a cave? Who created it at that time and how the incredible feat was achieved?

   The other puzzling archaeological mystery is about the Chinese aluminium. It was discovered accidentally by the laborers in a buried tomb. And the mystery amazed archaeologists and scientists for quite some time, as it made historians reconsider historical facts all over again.

The Amazing Glass Slab:

The Giant Glass Slab of Galilee

   With the new archaeological finds, the mysteries of the past are growing more and more complicated. The 20th century man is astonished to know that even during earlier times, man was quite advanced and has left behind such stupendous artifacts and buildings which are, technically speaking, mysteries to this day. And one such enigma is the great glass slab of Galilee.

   Local authorities had decided to convert a cave at Beth she’arim into a museum. The cave generated a lot of interest and speculation because it was situated at a site of an ancient city, where the Jews were cruelly buried in catacombs. The soon began in full vibration. At the time of mining, the cave was used as a water tank and was badly silted up. A bulldozer had to be called to clear up the mess. The bulldozer had hardly started cleaning up when suddenly the machine stopped in the middle of the floor. A large slab had struck it. The authorities of the museum liked the slab and preserved it as an item of display.

   The cave that was newly turned into a museum was opened to public and surprisingly for years the slab was used as a stand on which the model of the building was pointed out. Visitors came and passed by the slab, noticing only the model. Thus the slab remained there for years unnoticed and neglected.

Spy Scandal-Stealing of Atomic Secrets

    The Stealing of Atomic Secrets - Part 2

Dr. Alan Nunn May

   Igor Gouzenko was removed with his family to a safe place. He had informed that the code names of the British scientists who leaked out information about the atom bomb were Alec and Golia. The western intelligence agencies intercepted a telegram from the Soviet embassy in Canada which informed Moscow that Alec was proceeding to London.

   It was immediately identified that this Alec was none other than Dr. Alan Nunn May. He was a passionate Communist. He worked at Tube Alloy Projects which was a code name for the atom bomb project. It was decided to shift the atomic research project to Canada for better safety. Then it facilitated better co-ordination with the American project. Dr. Alan Nunn May was in contact with Colonel Zabotin, the GRU officer in Ottawa. For two and half years after 1943, Dr. Alan Nunn May made frequent visits between Chalk River and Montreal. He also visited the American project at the Argonne laboratory in Chicago. Dr. Alan Nunn May was supplied information about atomic energy and Uranium. He gave the Russians a report about the A-bomb trial at New Mexico and also supplied a sample of Uranium-235. He was arrested in March 1946 and sentenced to ten years imprisonment.

   Another principal character in this drama was Emil Julius Klaus Fuchs. He revealed to the Soviet Union details of construction of atomic and plutonium bombs. It is said that he was involved in making the Russians catch up with research in atomic weapons in the western countries. He was also employed in Tube Alloy Projects. He used to make reports to Simon Kremer of the military attaché’s department at the Soviet embassy in London.

Peter the Great-The Tsar of Russia

   Peter the Great - The Emperor of Russia (Part-3)

Peter the Great - Tsar of Russia

   Peter asked Alexei Petrovich to retire to a monastery and threatened to treat him as a criminal in case of his refusal. Alexei did not refuse and sent his acceptance immediately. Peter was puzzled and in the meantime, he reached Copenhagen at the head of a victorious army. In August 1716, he wrote to Alexei from Copenhagen to again retire to a monastery or report to him in the battlefield. Alexei decided to go to Copenhagen and as soon as he crossed Russia’s boundaries and he instead of heading towards Copenhagen, reached Vienna and beseeched his wife’s brother-in-law, Charles VI, to grant him refuge. Charles sent him, near Naples for safety. But Peter would not tolerate his son’s escape. On the one hand, he assured Alexei Petrovich forgiveness if he returned to him and, on the other hand, he threatened to occupy the Roman Empire by force in case Charles did not surrender and extradite Alexei.

   Alexei Petrovich was left with no option. Charles dared not incur the wrath of the Tsar. Thus, Alexei returned to Moscow on January 31, 1718. On February 3, Peter assembled high clergy and state officials and Alexei name all those who had helped him in his escape to Vienna, if he wanted to attain Peter’s forgiveness. Alexei had nothing to hide as he was not hatching a conspiracy against his father. He disclosed the requisite names. He also agreed to renounce his right to the throne in favor of Catherine’s son, Peter.

   Peter was in his fury and he alleged that Alexei’s mother, Eudoxia Lopukhina, was involved in this plot. He asked for the nuns from the convent in which Eudoxia was incarcerated and had them flogged mercilessly to pressurize them into admitting that she was really involved. But the nuns failed to company.

   Peter was bent upon humiliating Eudoxia and her son, Alexie Petrovich. He charged her of an illegitimate affair with an army officer named Glebov. Glebov was impaled and his friend, the Bishop of Rostov, was broken on a wheel. Eudoxia Lopukhina was banished to a remote Siberian convent to ultimately die of cold and hunger.

The Stealing of Atomic Secrets

    The Stealing of Atomic Secrets - Part 1

Igor Gouzenko

   The disclosures that the former Soviet Union had organized a wide network of spies to steal the secrets of making an atom bomb, exploded in the face of its war time allies, U.S.A., England and Canada. They could hardly believe what the defector Igor Gouzenko had to tell them about this stealing. The Anglo-American group was spending money like water on this project, while the Russians got information regarding the atom bomb with ease. It certainly saved them a lot of time on research. This sensational spy scandal caused a permanent rift between the communist block on one side and the western allies on the other.

   Igor Gouzenko was greatly troubled. He had been working as cypher clerk to the military attaché in the Soviet legation in Ottawa. He was in Canada for the last two years and had immensely enjoyed his stay. He did not want to go back to the rigorous life in the Soviet Union after having tasted the pleasures of a free Society in Canada. His wife Swetlana and son Andrei were also perturbed about going back to Russia.

   It was really a “do or die” decision for him. Either he swims or sinks, he thought as he made up his mind to defect. He amassed a stack of secret papers from the “Soviet Legation”, copies of cables from and to Moscow agent index cards with cover names and pages from the case book of the military attache, Colonel Nicolai Zabotin. The papers also revealed the workings of a spy ring which was supplying information to the Soviet Union that enabled Russia to catch up with the Western countries in the manufacture of atomic weapons.