Books: The Mitrokhin Archive

[ComradeMan]

I have finally got a copy of the The Mitrokhin Archive: The KGB in Europe and the West, by Christopher Andrew and Vasili Mitrokhin.

Has anyone else read this book, or is reading it at the moment?

Opinions?

It makes fascinating reading and does throw some new insight onto events concerning the USSR- especially the early stuff is very interesting.

However- does anyone wonder perhaps about its reliability as a source and any inherent bias?

[danyboy27]

I have finally got a copy of the The Mitrokhin Archive: The KGB in Europe and the West, by Christopher Andrew and Vasili Mitrokhin.

Has anyone else read this book, or is reading it at the moment?

Opinions?

It makes fascinating reading and does throw some new insight onto events concerning the USSR- especially the early stuff is very interesting.

However- does anyone wonder perhaps about its reliability as a source and any inherent bias?

Well,even from biaised book you can learn a lot of things. here is how i proceed in that case:

always be sure most of the material have anotation of sources, that way you can make your own research about it if you are in doubt.

[ComradeMan]

Well,even from biaised book you can learn a lot of things. here is how i proceed in that case:

always be sure most of the material have anotation of sources, that way you can make your own research about it if you are in doubt.

it's a very ineresting book- but I don't think I can go to Moscow and check those sources somehow!!! ;)

[danyboy27]

it's a very ineresting book- but I don't think I can go to Moscow and check those sources somehow!!! ;)

well, if its quoted from russian national archive, it must be reasonably safe.

[ComradeMan]

well, if its quoted from russian national archive, it must be reasonably safe.

No, Dany, it's based on the covert notes taken by a former KGB chief who had access to records that may have since been destroyed- He defected in 1992 (after the fall of the USSR).

You can find info on this book on Wiki too. The revelations of this book caused some major shit- especially in Italy as it implicated leftwing politicians with the KGB etc, so much so that Berlusconi's government launched a commission into it, this collapsed when Prodi (who was being investigated/implicated) was elected- whereupon they launched....... a commission into the commission! :lol: Eh--- viva il bel paese!!! ;)

[danyboy27]

No, Dany, it's based on the covert notes taken by a former KGB chief who had access to records that may have since been destroyed- He defected in 1992 (after the fall of the USSR).

You can find info on this book on Wiki too. The revelations of this book caused some major shit- especially in Italy as it implicated leftwing politicians with the KGB etc, so much so that Berlusconi's government launched a commission into it, this collapsed when Prodi (who was being imvestigated) was elected- whereupon they launched....... a commission into the commission! :lol: Eh--- viva il bel paese!!! ;)

i have read a similar book, make by a former member of the communist party of the soviet union, his name is alexander yakolev.
http://www.librairiecatholique.com/t_livre/le-cimetiere-des-innocents-victimes-et-bourreaux-en-russie-sovietique-1917-1989-alexander-yakovlev-9.asp

Unfortunatly it seem to be only in french. That guy had the duty during the Gorbatchev era to issue compensation to the victims of the crimes comitted by the USSR against them.

For that purpose, he had access to the soviet archives, and what he found down here wasnt really pretty.

He then became verry pessimistic toward communism, and angry.

Yakolev seem to be indeed pissed, and some of his distorted views on some stuff are just gross, but overall, a lot of verry interesting things in that book, really interesting.

[ComradeMan]

For that purpose, he had access to the soviet archives, and what he found down here wasnt really pretty.

He then became verry pessimistic toward communism, and angry.

Yakolev seem to be indeed pissed, and some of his distorted views on some stuff are just gross, but overall, a lot of verry interesting things in that book, really interesting.

The same with Mitrokhin it seems- he realised the full extent of what had been done and all the lies and distortions of "official" propaganda. Remember this Mirtokhin was a KGB chief too.