Special Tasks - by Anatoli Sudoplatov & Jerrold L Schecter & Pavel Sudoplatov & Leona P Schecter (Paperback)

About the Book

Pavel Sudoplatov served the KGB for over 50 years, at one point controlling more than 20,000 guerrillas, moles, and spies. But his involvement with the most nefarious Soviet activities made Sudoplatov an unwanted witness, and he was arrested in 1953. Despite torture and solitary confinement he refused to "confess", disavowing any criminal actions. He spent 15 years in prison, and 20 more in rehabilitation. This is an astonishing memoir and a singular historical document of a man who knew and did too much for the Soviet empire. New Foreword by Robert Conquest. **Lightning Print On Demand Title

Book Synopsis

This astonishing memoir written by a former KGB leader is a singular historical document from behind the Iron Curtain and "the most informative autobiography ever to emerge from the Stalinist milieu" (Robert Conquest).

According to KGB archives, Pavel Sudoplatov directed the secretive Administration for Special Tasks.This department was responsible for kidnapping, assassination, sabotage, and guerrilla warfare during World War II, it also set up illegal networks in the United States and Western Europe, and, most crucially, carried out atomic espionage in the United States, Great Britain, and Canada. Sudoplatov served the KGB for over fifty years, at one point controlling more than twenty thousand guerrillas, moles, and spies.

But his involvement with the most nefarious Soviet activities -- and the rulers who ordered them -- made Sudoplatov an unwanted witness, and he was arrested in 1953 after Beria's fall. Despite torture and solitary confinement he refused to "confess", disavowing any criminal actions. He spent fifteen years in prison, then struggled two decades more for rehabilitation.

From the Back Cover

According to KGB archives, Pavel Sudoplatov directed the secretive Administration for Special Tasks. This department was responsible for kidnapping, assassination, sabotage, and guerrilla warfare during World War II, it also set up illegal networks in the United States and Western Europe, and, most crucially, carried out atomic espionage in the United States, Great Britain, and Canada. Sudoplatov served the KGB for over fifty years, at one point controlling more than twenty thousand guerrillas, moles, and spies.

But his involvement with the most nefarious Soviet activities-- and the rulers who ordered them-- made Sudoplatov an unwanted witness, and he was arrested in 1953 after Beria's fall. Despite torture and solitary confinement he refused to "confess", disavowing any criminal actions. He spent fifteen years in prison, then struggled two decades more for rehabilitation.

"Special Tasks" is an astonishing memoir and a singular historical document of a man who knew and did too much for the Soviet empire.

Review Quotes

"A good inside look at Soviet intelligence."--Wall Street Journal