Betrayal in Berlin

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The ultra-secret "Berlin Tunnel," dug in the mid-1950s from the American sector into the Soviet sector, allowed the CIA and British SIS to tap into crucial KGB and Soviet military communication lines. George Blake, a trusted SIS officer, was deeply involved in the plan. From May 1955 to April 1956, before the Soviets discovered the tunnel, "Operation Gold" yielded what seemed to be invaluable intelligence on Soviet capabilities and intentions. Initially celebrated as a significant CIA achievement, the operation's reputation changed dramatically in 1961 when a Polish defector revealed that Blake was a double agent who had informed the KGB about the tunnel's existence before it was constructed. Blake was subsequently sentenced to 42 years in prison, the longest term under modern English law. Over time, the tunnel has been deemed a failure, based on the belief that the Soviets would not transmit important information through the tapped lines. However, investigative reporting reveals that the intelligence gathered was more valuable than previously thought. This raises questions about why the Soviets would allow sensitive information to be leaked, even if they were aware of the tunnel.