New Documents Reveal Secrets of Notorious British Spy Kim Philby

The British security service MI5 has released 21 newly declassified documents shedding light on Harold Adrian Russell Philby, famously known as Kim Philby, a key member of the Cambridge Five espionage ring. These documents detail Philby's recruitment by the Communist International, his complex maneuvers to eliminate threats from defectors, and intimate conversations with fellow MI6 officer Nicholas Elliott, during which he confessed to his role as a double agent for the Soviet Union.

Philby, born in 1912 in British India, was noted for his intelligence and charm, leading to his recruitment while studying at Cambridge. He worked undercover as a journalist during the Spanish Civil War, gaining favor with future dictator Francisco Franco. Despite rising suspicions about his loyalties, Philby maintained a high profile in British intelligence until fleeing to Moscow in 1963, where he spent his final years in obscurity.

The released files highlight his manipulation of colleagues and betrayal of allies, including the dramatic case of KGB defector Konstantin Volkov, whom Philby reported to Moscow, leading to Volkov's disappearance. The documents also leave unanswered questions about the loyalty of friends such as Elliott, who afforded Philby a chance to escape arrest. Philby died in Moscow in 1988, having been both a revered figure in the Soviet Union and a controversial figure in British history.