Spymaster: The Real-Life Karla, His Moles, and the East German Secret Police

by Leslie Colitt

In this penetrating look at the life and character of Markus Wolf, the most successful Communist spymaster of the Cold war, the author raises an intriguing question: Did this ruthless and charming man have to pay any price, morally or physically, for forty years as head of the East German Stasi's feared foreign intelligence network?The answer is, not really. As Wolf looks back on his life from his luxury high-rise apartment in East Berlin, he denies...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0201407388
• ISBN13: 9780201407389
• Release Date: October 1995
• Publisher: Da Capo Press
• Length: 302 Pages
• Weight: 0.70 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 6.4" x 9.5"

Customer Reviews

Good stuff

An intriguing book. Rather too detailed (but don't give up -- it's full of good stuff). A good reference for managers on how to run a business by maintaining excellent rapport with one's employees (Marcus Woolf style) and an excellent example of professional ethics (again, Marcus Woolf style towards his moles). Some amazing ideas by the East German intelligence, e.g.Romeo agents, are described.

A riveting,intelligent portrait of a cold war spy

Having travelled to East Berlin during the 50's and 60's, I thought this book would be of some interest. I was not prepared to be as thoroughly enthralled by this account of the East German secret police and its deputy minister, Markus Wolf, as I was. It was an unexpected find! Colitt obviously knows his subject and has created a spellbinding historical account.