After the Second World War, divided Germany was saturated with spies. Among them were the 'first class comrades' of the Stasi - the East German Ministry for State Security. The early Cold War saw the Stasi establish itself as one of the world's most notorious spy and secret police agencies.

Drawing on rarely seen files from the Stasi archives, First Class Comrades tells the Stasi story from a fresh perspective: how it helped to create a new European state, how its foreign intelligence service became one of the most successful ever, and how its spy-catchers tackled vigorous attempts by the West to infiltrate East Germany - attempts that influenced the decision to build the Berlin Wall.

Full of new insights on Cold War espionage, and featuring newly discovered details of the Stasi's operational methods, First Class Comrades shines a light on this lesser-known period of Stasi history, and why its stories and lessons still matter today.

About the Author
Born in London, J. Boulter has spent many years living and working in continental Europe. Boulter's articles on espionage history and literature have been published in the Journal for Intelligence, Propaganda and Security Studies, the American Intelligence Journal, and Crime Time magazine, among others.

Reviews
Boulter's thorough research provides an excellent reference for understanding how the Stasi began and how it fulfilled its responsibilities -- Kevin Riehle, author of The Russian FSB
A fascinating deep dive into the murky waters of Cold War espionage and the early days of East Germany's notorious secret police -- Nick Rennison
An impressive work... Boulter really widens the perspective on the Stasi, embedding its activities in the broader context of the Cold War in Europe -- Dieter Bacher, Ludwig Boltzmann Institute and the University of Graz



Book Information
ISBN 9780857306098
Author J. Boulter
Format Paperback
Page Count 732
Imprint Oldcastle Books Ltd
Publisher Oldcastle Books Ltd