There were not so many traitors in the history of Russia, but they were. These people violated the oath, committed high treason, handed over state secrets to a potential enemy, fought against their compatriots.
Andrey Vlasov
Andrei Vlasov can be called a traitor general in Russian history. His name has become a household name. Even the Nazis hated Vlasov: Himmler called him “a runaway pig and a fool,” and Hitler disdained to meet him. In 1942, Lieutenant General Andrei Andreyevich Vlasov was commander of the 2nd shock army and deputy commander of the Volkhov Front. Having been captured by the Germans, Vlasov deliberately cooperated with the Nazis, gave them secret information and advised the German military on how to fight against the Red Army.
Vlasov collaborated with Himmler, Goering, Goebbels, Ribbentrop, with various high-ranking Abwehr and Gestapo officials. He organized the Russian Liberation Army (ROA) from Russian prisoners of war recruited into the service of the Germans. The troops of the ROA participated in the fight against partisans, robberies and executions of civilians, and the destruction of entire settlements.
After the surrender of Germany, Vlasov was captured by Soviet soldiers, taken to the headquarters of Marshal Konev and sent by plane to Moscow. In 1946 he was convicted of treason and hanged on 1 August.
Andrey Kurbsky
Another Andrei in our ranking is Prince Kurbsky. It is customary today to call him "the first dissident." Kurbsky was one of the most influential politicians of his time, he was a member of the " Chosen Rada", was friends with Ivan the Terrible himself. When Ivan IV dissolved the Rada and subjected its active members to disgrace and executions, Kurbsky fled to Lithuania.
Today it has already been proven that Kurbsky corresponded with the Lithuanians even before his official betrayal. Kurbsky's crossing the border is reminiscent in its drama of crossing the border by Ostap Bender at the end of the novel The Golden Calf. The prince arrived at the border as a wealthy man. With him there were 30 ducats, 300 gold, 500 silver thalers and 44 Moscow rubles. This money was not received from the sale of land, since the boyar's estates were confiscated by the treasury and not from the voivodship treasury; if so, this fact would certainly have “surfaced” in correspondence with Ivan IV. Where did the money come from then? It is obvious that it was royal gold, "30 pieces of silver" Kurbsky.
The Polish king granted Kurbsky several estates and included him in the Royal Rada. For Polish-Lithuanian state Kurbsky was extremely valuable agent. When he arrived in Livonia, he immediately betrayed the Livonian supporters of Moscow to the Lithuanians and declassified Moscow agents at the royal court. From the Lithuanian period of Kurbsky's life, it is known that the boyar was not distinguished by gentleness of morals and humanism, neither in relation to his neighbors, nor in relation to those far away. He often beat his neighbors, took away their land, and even put merchants in vats with leeches and extorted money from them.
Abroad, Kurbsky wrote the political pamphlet The History of the Grand Duke of Moscow, corresponded with Ivan the Terrible, and in 1565 participated in the Lithuanian invasion of Russia. Kurbsky in Russia ruined four provinces and took away many prisoners. After that, he even asked Sigismund to give him a 30,000-strong army and allow him to go with her to Moscow. As proof of his devotion, Kurbsky declared that “I agree that during the campaign he was chained to a cart, surrounded in front and behind by archers with loaded guns, so that they would immediately shoot him if they notice infidelity in him.” Kurbsky spoke the language better than his own honor.
Heinrich Lyushkov
Heinrich Lyushkov was the most senior defector from the NKVD. He headed the NKVD in the Far East. In 1937, during the beginning of the pre-war Stalinist “purges”, Genrikh Lyushkov, feeling that they would soon come for him, decided to flee to Japan.
In an interview with the local newspaper Yomiuri Shimbun, Genrikh Lyushkov talked about the terrible methods of work of the NKVD and admitted that he was a traitor to Stalin. In Japan, he worked in Tokyo and Dairen (Dalian) in the intelligence agencies of the Japanese General Staff (in the Bureau for the Study of East Asia, adviser to the 2nd department of the Kwantung Army headquarters). The former NKVD officer handed over to the Japanese extremely important information about the armed forces of the USSR, the composition and deployment of the Red Army in the Far East, spoke about the construction of defensive structures, handed over Soviet radio codes to the Japanese and even urged them to start a war with the Soviet Union. Lyushkov "distinguished himself" also by the fact that he personally tortured those arrested in Japan Soviet intelligence officers, as well as the fact that he conceived an incredible act of impudence - the murder of Stalin. The operation was called "Bear".
Lyushkov proposed to liquidate Stalin in one of his residences.
For the success of the operation, the Japanese even rebuilt a life-size pavilion copying Stalin's house in Matsesta. Stalin took a bath alone - this was the calculation. But Soviet intelligence did not doze off. Serious help in discovering the conspirators was provided by a Soviet agent codenamed Leo, who worked in Manchukuo. In early 1939, while crossing the Turkish-Soviet border near the village of Borchka, machine-gun fire was opened on a terrorist group, as a result of which three were killed, the rest fled. According to one version, Leo was among those killed.
Lyushkov ended badly. According to one version, after the surrender of the Kwantung Army, on August 19, 1945, Genrikh Lyushkov was invited to the head of the Dairen military mission, Yutake Takeoka, who suggested that he commit suicide. Lyushkov refused and was shot dead by Takeoka. According to another version, he was strangled by Japanese officers while trying to exchange him for the son of the former Prime Minister of Japan, Prince Konoe.
Oleg Gordievsky
Oleg Gordievsky, son of an NKVD officer and graduate of the Moscow Institute international relations cooperated with the KGB since 1963. According to him, he became disillusioned with Soviet politics, so he enlisted as agents of the British MI6 in 1974. There is a version that Gordievsky was betrayed by a Soviet source from the CIA. On May 22, 1985, he was suddenly summoned to Moscow and subjected to interrogation using psychotropic properties. However, the Committee did not arrest him, but took him "under the hood".
The Cap turned out to be not the most reliable - the defector managed to escape in the trunk of an embassy car on July 20, 1985. That same autumn, a diplomatic scandal erupted when the government of Margaret Thatcher expelled more than 30 undercover Soviet embassy workers from Britain. Gordievsky claimed that they were agents of the KGB and the GRU. He also accused a number of high-ranking British intelligence officers of working for the USSR. Former KGB chairman Semichastny said that "Gordievsky did more damage to the Soviet secret services than even General Kalugin," and British historian of the secret services, Cambridge professor Christopher Andrew wrote that Gordievsky was "the most important agent of British intelligence in the ranks of the Soviet special services after Oleg Penkovsky."
In June 2007, for his service to the security of the United Kingdom, he was consecrated to the Order of St. Michael and St. George by Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain. The order was presented by the Queen herself.
Hetman Mazepa
This man in the new Russian history considered the most important traitor, even the church anathematized him. But in the latest Ukrainian history the hetman, on the contrary, acts as a national hero. So what was his betrayal, or was it still a feat?
The Hetman of the Zaporizhian Army for a long time acted as one of the most faithful allies of Peter I, helping him in the Azov campaigns. However, everything changed when the Swedish king Charles XII came out against the Russian Tsar. He, wanting to find himself an ally, promised Mazepa in case of victory in northern war Ukrainian independence. The hetman could not resist such a tasty piece of the pie. In 1708, he went over to the side of the Swedes, but just a year later their combined army was defeated near Poltava. For his betrayal (Mazepa swore allegiance to Peter) the Russian Empire deprived him of all awards and titles and subjected him to civil execution. Mazepa fled to Bendery, which then belonged to Ottoman Empire and soon died there in 1709. According to legend, his death was terrible - he was eaten by lice.
Pavlik Morozov
This boy has been in Soviet history and culture had a heroic image. At the same time, he passed under the first number, among children-heroes. Pavlik Morozov even got into the book of honor of the All-Union Pioneer Organization. But this story is not entirely unambiguous. The boy's father, Trofim, was a partisan and fought on the side of the Bolsheviks. However, after returning from the war, the serviceman abandoned his family with four small children and began to live with another woman. Trofim was elected chairman of the village council, while leading a stormy everyday life- drank and rowdy. It is quite possible that in the history of heroism and betrayal there are more domestic than political reasons.
According to legend, Trofim's wife accused him of hiding bread, however, they say that the abandoned and humiliated woman demanded to stop issuing fictitious certificates to fellow villagers. During the investigation, 13-year-old Pavel simply confirmed everything that his mother had said. As a result, the unbelted Trofim ended up in prison, and in retaliation, the young pioneer was killed in 1932 by his drunken uncle and godfather. But Soviet propaganda created a colorful propaganda story out of everyday drama. Yes, and somehow the hero who betrayed his father did not inspire.
Viktor Suvorov
This defector also made a name for himself as a writer. Once intelligence officer Vladimir Rezun was a GRU resident in Geneva. But in 1978 he fled to England, where he began to write very scandalous books. In them, the officer, who took the pseudonym Suvorov, quite convincingly argued that it was the USSR that was preparing to strike at Germany in the summer of 1941. The Germans simply preempted their enemy by a few weeks by delivering a preemptive strike.
Rezun himself says that he was forced to cooperate with British intelligence. They allegedly wanted to make him last for the failure in the work of the Geneva department. Suvorov himself claims that in his homeland he was sentenced in absentia to death penalty. but Russian side this fact prefers not to comment. The former scout lives in Bristol and continues to write books on historical topics. Each of them causes a storm of discussion and personal condemnation of Suvorov.
Viktor Belenko
Few lieutenants manage to go down in history. But this military pilot was able to do it. True, at the cost of his betrayal. We can say that he acted as a kind of bad boy who just wants to steal something and sell it to his enemies at a higher price. On September 6, 1976, Belenko flew a top-secret MiG-25 interceptor. Suddenly, the senior lieutenant abruptly changed course and landed in Japan. There, the aircraft was dismantled in detail and subjected to a thorough study. Naturally, not without American specialists.
The plane was, after careful study, returned to the USSR. And for his feat "for the glory of democracy" Belenko himself received political asylum in the United States. However, there is another version, according to which the traitor was not such. He just had to land in Japan. Eyewitnesses say that the lieutenant shot into the air with a pistol, not letting anyone near the car and demanding to cover it. However, the conducted investigation took into account both the behavior of the pilot in everyday life and the manner of his flight. The conclusion was unequivocal - landing on the territory of an enemy state was deliberate.
Belenko himself turned out to be crazy about life in America, even canned cat food seemed to him tastier than those that were sold in his homeland. From official statements it is difficult to assess the consequences of that escape, the moral and political damage can be ignored, but the material damage was estimated at 2 billion rubles. Indeed, in the USSR it was necessary to hastily change the entire equipment of the "friend or foe" recognition system.
culture
Since time immemorial, people have turned away from their comrades and even countries. However, these betrayals were painted in different colors. First, the traitors had various motives, ranging from altruistic to selfish. Secondly, they have different effects, some affect only a certain person, while others, based on mass collusion, affect entire nations.
Finally, betrayals range from somewhat forgivable to notoriously sad. This article lists ten of the most notorious traitors in world history, sorted by severity.
10. Mordechai Vanunu
Mordechai Vanunu worked as a nuclear technician in Israel in the 1980s, when it was claimed that nuclear energy was produced exclusively for civilian use. In 1986, citing his opposition to the WMD program, Vanunu sold details of Israel's nuclear program to the British press, confirming fears that Israel had nuclear weapons.
After that, the Mossad (Israeli political intelligence) lured him to Italy, where he was drugged and captured. He was then returned to Israel and convicted behind closed doors. He spent more than eleven years in solitary confinement, and in total he spent 18 years in prison. After his release, many restrictions were imposed on him, moreover, he was nominated for Nobel Prize of the world in the nomination, "developed" by him: "the only thing I want is freedom."
Still a traitor, Vanunu is the most "harmless" on this list. Having told the world about a government that secretly develops weapons of mass destruction, he is internationally considered a hero of the nuclear age, who received many awards, including a Nobel Prize nomination.
9. Gaius Cassius Longinus
Early in his career, Cassius demonstrated his hatred for tyranny. Over time, as he grew older and gained more and more power, his views only grew stronger. During the great Roman civil war, he sided with the optimates and Pompey, while at the same time fearing that Julius Caesar might become a dictator. He heard about the defeat of Pompey at Pharsalus and fled to the Hellespont, however, on the way he was taken prisoner by Caesar's troops. Caesar was very gracious and appointed him legate. After the war, Cassius spent two years in Rome.
“He has a very hungry look, he thinks too much, and such people are extremely dangerous,” Shakespeare described Julius Caesar. Longinus planned to assassinate the appointed dictator and brought Brutus to his side. After the assassination of Caesar, Antony came to power, and Cassius committed suicide two years later. In Dante's Inferno, he is considered one of three people who are worthy of shame enough to burn in Satan's hell.
8. Judas Iscariot
"The Son of Man said, 'Woe to that man by whom the Son of Man betrays himself! It would have been better for him not to have been born at all." Judas, who had betrayed him, replied: "It's not me, is it, Rabbi?" He replied: "You yourself said everything."
Judas Iscariot is definitely one of the most feared traitors of all time. By the time of the Last Supper, he had already betrayed Jesus to the Sanhedrin for thirty pieces of silver. Then he led them to Jesus in the garden and gave the Son of Man to the soldiers. Later, filled with remorse, Judas returns the money and kills himself. He turned his back on his friend, his mentor, his God.
Today it is often discussed what motivated Judas to betray. Money, Roman patriotism or obsession? There was also discussion about whether he was cursed, and if so, whether it was because of Jesus' betrayal or because of his subsequent suicide. In Dante's Inferno, he was in a deep pit of hell. His name is a recognized symbol of betrayal throughout the Christian world.
7. Ephialtes
Not much is known about Ephialtes, but almost everyone is familiar with his heinous act of treason. Thermopylae is a narrow passage located in Greece. It was here in 480 BC that the Persian army, numbering hundreds of thousands of soldiers (and possibly more than one million), clashed with the Greeks, led by Leonidas, who numbered less than seven thousand, or maybe even just a few hundred.
For two days, the Spartans courageously held off the Persians until the local shepherd, Ephialtes, showed Xerxes a narrow road that would lead to an opportunity to bypass the Greeks from behind. On the third day of the battle, the Persians used this passage, surrounded the Greeks and completely destroyed them. However, the Spartans gave up everything to protect the crossing, even their lives.
The motivation for his action was the promised reward from Xerxes, which he never received. Later he was killed, and the man who did this was rewarded by the Spartans. For a long period of time, Ephialtes was notorious in Greece. His name was synonymous not only with betrayal, but also with a nightmare.
6 Guy Fawkes
As a young Englishman, Guy Fawkes was a Catholic, he sincerely believed in Catholicism. He left England and settled in the Netherlands, where he supported the Spanish Catholics fighting against the Protestants in the Eighty Years' War. Later on his return, he met with Thomas Wintour and Robert Catesby, who planned to assassinate the Protestant King James I and his government by blowing up the Houses of Parliament.
This later became known as the Gunpowder Plot. Moved by an anonymous letter, the authorities began to look for a place under the House of Lords and found Fox, who was guarding 36 barrels of gunpowder. He was sentenced to death by hanging and quartering, but committed suicide to avoid suffering.
In England there is nursery rhyme, which in translation sounds like this: "Remember, remember November 5, gunpowder, treason and conspiracy. I see no reason why treason can be forgiven."
Every fifth of November is celebrated with bonfires and fireworks, this night is known as Guy Fawkes Night, although the emphasis has now shifted slightly away from high treason. The name of the holiday shows the extent to which Guy Fawkes' name has become synonymous with the Gunpowder Plot, perhaps the biggest act of treason in English history.
5 Benedict Arnold
Early in the Revolution, Arnold was a successful American commander, helping to capture Fort Ticonderoga and also playing a significant role in the Battle of Saratoga, considered the turning point of the war. However, Arnold's successes were not noted by anyone, and he was greatly humiliated by his opponents. Feeling contempt for the United States because of this, he made a nefarious offer to the British: he could sell them West Point, a possible key to winning the war.
The plot was uncovered when British spy John Andre was taken prisoner. Arnold fled and joined british army leading raids against the Americans. According to legend, on his deathbed in London, he regretted his betrayal: "Let me die in this old uniform in which I went through battles. May God forgive me for putting on another one." Yet to this day, Arnold's name remains synonymous with betrayal among both Americans and British.
4. Marcus Junius Brutus the Younger
The Brutus family was known for their hatred of tyrants, and one of their ancestors is known to have deposed the King of Rome. As soon as Mark took office in the Senate, he contacted the optimates. During the great civil war in Rome, Julius Caesar was merciful to him: in fact, he ordered his officers not to fight him for fear of hurting him. After the war, he was reinstated as Caesar's political adviser, but he was soon persuaded by Cassius to take part in one of the most famous assassinations in history.
According to Plutarch, when Caesar saw Brutus among the murderers, he covered his head with a toga and resigned himself to his fate. Legend has it that Caesar's strong feelings towards Brutus are due to the fact that Caesar may have been his father, adding to the heinousness of the crime. Though it's debatable, there was definitely a close relationship between the two of them. He joins Judas and his accomplice Cassius, who are currently in the three mouths of Satan in Dante's "Hell".
3. Wang Jingwei
Wang Ching-wei started out as a member of the leftist Kuomintang Party, a Chinese Nationalist party that existed during the Republic period. He was a close associate of Sun Yat-sen until Sun's death. After that, he unsuccessfully fought with Chiang Kai-shek for power in the party. Despite his regular disagreement with party policy in general and Chiang in particular, he still did not leave the Kuomintang.
Everything changed when the Japanese invaded in 1937. He accepted the Japanese offer to establish a puppet government in Nanjing, which became known as the Reorganized National Government.
"Against the corrupt government and support for the government of Nanjing" was the propaganda of Wang Ching-wei, who spoke out against the republic in China and for his imperial Japanese puppet state. Wang died in 1944, and his collaborationist regime ceased to exist after the surrender of Japan. Today he is spoken of as a traitor to the Chinese. Like the names of other famous traitors, his name has become synonymous with betrayal.
2. Vidkun Quisling
Quisling was a Norwegian official in the Ministry of Defense. In 1933, Quisling founded the National Assembly, a fascist party. The Nazis invaded Norway in 1940 and deftly overthrew the Kingdom, recognizing Quisling's national assembly as a puppet government, while the Reichskommissariat held true power. Germany capitulated on 8 May 1945 and Quisling was arrested on 9 May. He was executed, but before that he said: "Trust me, in ten years I will become Olaf's new Saint."
Fortunately, he was wrong. His name is still used today to describe various European puppet regimes that collaborated with the Nazis, and is also used as an insult to anyone who cares more about the interests of a foreign country than their own.
1. Mir Jafar
Mir Jafar was an ambitious leader and Nawab of Bengal. In 1757, Robert Clive of the East India Campaign made a deal with Mir Jafar. They negotiated the transfer of the Bengal army at the Battle of Plassey in exchange for control of the new puppet state. This new puppet state, led by Mir Jafar, paid huge sums to officials of the East India Campaign.
Two years later, Jafar realized that the British had taken total control of the Indian subcontinent. He tried to ally with the Danes to stop the British, but this did not end well for Mir, and he was overthrown. His "follower" also tried to deprive Britain of dominance, but failed and was also overthrown. Mir Jafar managed to get back the favor of the British, he again took the throne and stayed there until his death in 1765.
Mir Jafar was the last ruler of Bengal when it had any degree of autonomy, and after his death, the British controlled the entire region for two hundred years until it gained "Pakistani independence". Therefore, Mir Jafar and his betrayal of Bengal is seen as the beginning of the British government in India. He is known as a traitor to the true faith, and his name is still synonymous with betrayal in both Bengali and Urdu.
These people cause great harm to one side, and benefit to the other. But in any case, they are despised by both. History has preserved some of the most obvious and classic...
These people cause great harm to one side, and benefit to the other. But in any case, they are despised by both. History has preserved some of the most obvious and classic cases that are not in doubt. We will tell below about the most famous traitors in history.
Judas Iscariot.
The name of this man has been a symbol of betrayal for about two thousand years. Everyone knows the biblical story when Judas Iscariot betrayed his teacher Christ for thirty pieces of silver, dooming him to torment. But then 1 slave cost twice as much! The kiss of Judas has become a classic image of duplicity, meanness and betrayal. This man was one of the twelve apostles who were present with Jesus at his last supper. There were thirteen people, and after that this number was considered unlucky. There was even a phobia, fear of this number. The story says that Judas was born on April 1, also on a rather unusual day. But the history of the traitor is rather obscure and full of pitfalls. The fact is that Judas was the custodian of the fund of the community of Jesus and his disciples. There was much more money than 30 pieces of silver. Thus, in need of money, Judas could simply steal it without committing a betrayal of his teacher. Not so long ago, the world learned about the existence of the "Gospel of Judas", where Iscariot is depicted as the only and faithful disciple of Christ. And the betrayal was committed precisely on the orders of Jesus, and Judas took responsibility for his action. According to legend, Iscariot committed suicide immediately after his act. The image of this traitor is repeatedly described in books, films, legends. Different versions of his betrayal and motivation are considered. Today, the name of this person is given to those who are suspected of treason. For example, Lenin called Trotsky Judas back in 1911. The same one found his "plus" in Iscariot - the fight against Christianity. Trotsky even wanted to erect monuments to Judas in several cities of the country.
Mark Junius Brutus.
Everyone knows the legendary phrase of Julius Caesar: "And you, Brutus?". This traitor is not as widely known as Judas, but is also legendary. Moreover, he committed his betrayal 77 years before the history of Iscariot. These two traitors are related by the fact that they both committed suicide. Mark Brutus was best friend Julius Caesar, according to some sources, it could even be his illegitimate son. However, it was he who led the conspiracy against the popular politician, taking a direct part in his murder. But Caesar showered his favorites with honors and titles, endowing him with power. But the entourage of Brutus forced him to participate in a conspiracy against the dictator. Mark was among several conspiring senators who pierced Caesar with swords. Seeing Brutus in their ranks, he bitterly exclaimed his famous phrase, which became his last. Wishing happiness for the people and power, Brutus made a mistake in his plans - Rome did not support him. After a succession civil wars and defeats, Mark realized that he was left without everything - without family, power, friend. The betrayal and murder took place in 44 BC, and after only two years Brutus threw himself on his sword.
Wang Jingwei.
This traitor is not so well known in our country, but he has a bad reputation in China. It is often not clear how ordinary and normal people suddenly become traitors. Wang Jingei was born in 1883, when he was 21, he entered a Japanese university. There he met Sun Yat Sen, a famous revolutionary from China. He influenced so much young man that he became a real revolutionary fanatic. Together with Sen, Jingwei became a regular participant in anti-government revolutionary uprisings. Not surprisingly, he soon ended up in prison. Wang served several years there, being released in 1911. All this time, Sen kept in touch with him, morally supporting and patronizing. As a result of the revolutionary struggle, Sen and his associates won and came to power in 1920. But in 1925, Sun Yat died, and it was Jingwei who replaced him as leader of China. But soon the Japanese invaded the country. It was here that Jingway committed the real betrayal. In fact, he did not fight for the independence of China, giving it to the invaders. National interests were trampled in favor of the Japanese. As a result, when the crisis broke out in China, and the country most of all needed an experienced manager, Jingwei simply left it. Wang clearly joined the conquerors. However, he did not have time to feel the bitterness of defeat, since he died before the fall of Japan. But the name of Wang Jingwei got into all Chinese textbooks as a synonym for betrayal of his country.
Aldrich Ames.
This high-ranking CIA officer had a brilliant career. Everyone predicted a long and successful work and then a well-paid pension. But his life turned upside down, thanks to love. Ames married a Russian beauty, it turned out that she was a KGB agent. The woman immediately began to demand from her husband to provide her beautiful life to fully live up to the American dream. Although the officers in the CIA make good money, this is not enough for the constantly required new decorations and cars. As a result, the unfortunate Ames began to drink too much. Under the influence of alcohol, he had no choice but to start selling secrets from his work. They quickly showed up a buyer - the USSR. As a result, during his betrayal, Ames gave the enemy of his country information about all the secret agents working in the Soviet Union. The USSR also learned about a hundred covert military operations conducted by the Americans. For this, the officer received about 4.6 million US dollars. However, all the secret someday becomes clear. Ames was exposed and sentenced to life in prison. The special services experienced a real shock and scandal, the traitor became their biggest failure in their entire existence. The CIA has long moved away from the harm that one single person did to it. But he just needed funds for an insatiable wife. That one, by the way, when everything turned out, was simply deported to South America.
In history, it is often not the names of heroes that remain, but the names of traitors and defectors. These people cause great harm to one side, and benefit to the other. But still, they are despised by both. Naturally, one cannot do without confusing cases when a person's guilt is difficult to prove. However, history has preserved some of the most obvious and classic cases that are not in doubt. We will tell below about the most famous traitors in history.
Judas Iscariot. The name of this man has been a symbol of betrayal for about two thousand years. It does not play a role and nationalities of people. Everyone knows the biblical story when Judas Iscariot betrayed his teacher Christ for thirty pieces of silver, dooming him to torment. But then 1 slave cost twice as much! The kiss of Judas has become a classic image of duplicity, meanness and betrayal. This man was one of the twelve apostles who were present with Jesus at his last supper. There were thirteen people, and after that this number was considered unlucky. There was even a phobia, fear of this number. The story says that Judas was born on April 1, also on a rather unusual day. But the history of the traitor is rather obscure and full of pitfalls. The fact is that Judas was the custodian of the fund of the community of Jesus and his disciples. There was much more money than 30 pieces of silver. Thus, in need of money, Judas could simply steal it without committing a betrayal of his teacher. Not so long ago, the world learned about the existence of the "Gospel of Judas", where Iscariot is depicted as the only and faithful disciple of Christ. And the betrayal was committed precisely on the orders of Jesus, and Judas took responsibility for his action. According to legend, Iscariot committed suicide immediately after his act. The image of this traitor is repeatedly described in books, films, legends. Different versions of his betrayal and motivation are considered. Today, the name of this person is given to those who are suspected of treason. For example, Lenin called Trotsky Judas back in 1911. The same found in Iscariot his "plus" - the fight against Christianity. Trotsky even wanted to erect monuments to Judas in several cities of the country.
Mark Junius Brutus. Everyone knows the legendary phrase of Julius Caesar: "And you, Brutus?". This traitor is not as widely known as Judas, but is also legendary. Moreover, he committed his betrayal 77 years before the history of Iscariot. These two traitors are related by the fact that they both committed suicide. Mark Brutus was the best friend of Julius Caesar, according to some data it could even be his illegitimate son. However, it was he who led the conspiracy against the popular politician, taking a direct part in his murder. But Caesar showered his favorite with honors and titles, endowing him with power. But the entourage of Brutus forced him to participate in a conspiracy against the dictator. Mark was among several conspiring senators who pierced Caesar with swords. Seeing Brutus in their ranks, he bitterly exclaimed his famous phrase, which became his last. Wishing happiness for the people and power, Brutus made a mistake in his plans - Rome did not support him. After a series of civil wars and defeats, Mark realized that he was left without everything - without family, power, friend. The betrayal and murder took place in 44 BC, and after only two years Brutus threw himself on his sword.
Wang Jingwei. This traitor is not so well known in our country, but he has a bad reputation in China. It is often not clear how ordinary and normal people suddenly become traitors. Wang Jingwei was born in 1883, when he was 21, he entered a Japanese university. There he met Sun Yat Sen, a famous revolutionary from China. He influenced the young man so much that he became a real revolutionary fanatic. Together with Sen, Jingwei became a regular participant in anti-government revolutionary uprisings. Not surprisingly, he soon ended up in prison. Wang served several years there, releasing us in 1911. All this time, Sen kept in touch with him, morally supporting and patronizing. As a result of the revolutionary struggle, Sen and his associates won and came to power in 1920. But in 1925, Sun Yat died, and it was Jingwei who replaced him as leader of China. But soon the Japanese invaded the country. It was here that Jingway committed the real betrayal. In fact, he did not fight for the independence of China, giving it to the invaders. National interests were trampled in favor of the Japanese. As a result, when the crisis broke out in China, and the country most of all needed an experienced manager, Jingwei simply left it. Wang clearly joined the conquerors. However, he did not have time to feel the bitterness of defeat, since he died before the fall of Japan. But the name of Wang Jingwei got into all Chinese textbooks as a synonym for betrayal of his country.
Hetman Mazepa. This man in modern Russian history is considered the most important traitor, even the church anathematized him. But in recent Ukrainian history, the hetman, on the contrary, acts as a national hero. So what was his betrayal, or was it still a feat? The Hetman of the Zaporizhian Army for a long time acted as one of the most faithful allies of Peter I, helping him in the Azov campaigns. However, everything changed when the Swedish king Charles XII came out against the Russian Tsar. He, wanting to find an ally, promised Mazepa Ukrainian independence in case of victory in the Northern War. The hetman could not resist such a tasty piece of the pie. In 1708, he went over to the side of the Swedes, but just a year later their combined army was defeated near Poltava. For his betrayal (Mazepa swore allegiance to Peter), the Russian Empire deprived him of all awards and titles and subjected him to civil execution. Mazepa fled to Bender, which then belonged to the Ottoman Empire, and soon died there in 1709. According to legend, his death was terrible - he was eaten by lice.
Aldrich Ames. This high-ranking CIA officer had a brilliant career. Everyone predicted him a long and successful job, and then a well-paid pension. But his life turned upside down, thanks to love. Ames married a Russian beauty, it turned out that she was a KGB agent. The woman immediately began to demand from her husband to provide her with a beautiful life in order to fully comply with the American dream. Although the officers in the CIA make good money, this is not enough for the constantly required new decorations and cars. As a result, the unfortunate Ames began to drink too much. Under the influence of alcohol, he had no choice but to start selling secrets from his work. They quickly showed up a buyer - the USSR. As a result, during his betrayal, Ames gave the enemy of his country information about all the secret agents working in the Soviet Union. The USSR also learned about a hundred covert military operations conducted by the Americans. For this, the officer received about 4.6 million US dollars. However, all the secret someday becomes clear. Ames was exposed and sentenced to life in prison. The special services experienced a real shock and scandal, the traitor became their biggest failure in their entire existence. The CIA has long moved away from the harm that one single person did to it. But he just needed funds for an insatiable wife. That one, by the way, when everything turned out, was simply deported to South America.
Vidkun Quisling. The family of this man was one of the most ancient in Norway, his father served as a Lutheran priest. Vidkun himself studied very well and chose a military career. Having risen to the rank of major, Quisling was able to enter the government of his country, holding the post of Minister of Defense there from 1931 to 1933. In 1933, Vidkun founded his own political party "National Accord", where he received a membership card for the first number. He began to call himself Föhrer, which was very reminiscent of the Fuhrer. In 1936, the party collected quite a lot of votes in the elections, becoming very influential in the country. When the Nazis came to Norway in 1940, Quisling suggested that the locals submit to them and not resist. Although the politician himself was from an ancient respected family, he was immediately dubbed a traitor in the country. The Norwegians themselves began to wage a fierce struggle against the invaders. Then Quisling came up with a plan in response to the removal of Jews from Norway, sending them directly to the deadly Auschwitz. However, history has rewarded the politician who betrayed his people as he deserved. On May 9, 1945, Quisling was arrested. While in prison, he still managed to declare that he was a martyr and sought to create a great country. But justice decided otherwise, and on October 24, 1945, Quisling was shot for high treason.
Prince Andrei Mikhailovich Kurbsky. This boyar was one of the most faithful associates of Ivan the Terrible. It was Kurbsky who commanded the Russian army in the Livonian War. But with the beginning of the oprichnina of the eccentric tsar, many hitherto loyal boyars fell under disgrace. Among them was Kurbsky. Fearing for his fate, he abandoned his family and in 1563 defected to the service of the Polish king Sigismund. And already in September of the following year, he marched with the conquerors against Moscow. Kurbsky knew perfectly well how the Russian defense and army were organized. Thanks to the traitor, the Poles were able to win many important battles. They set up ambushes, drove people into captivity, bypassing the outposts. Kurbsky began to be considered the first Russian dissident. The Poles consider the boyar a great man, but in Russia he is a traitor. However, we should not talk about betraying the country, but about personally betraying Tsar Ivan the Terrible.
Pavlik Morozov. This boy had a heroic image for a long time in Soviet history and culture. At the same time, he passed under the first number, among children-heroes. Pavlik Morozov even got into the book of honor of the All-Union Pioneer Organization. But this story is not entirely unambiguous. The boy's father, Trofim, was a partisan and fought on the side of the Bolsheviks. However, after returning from the war, the serviceman abandoned his family with four small children and began to live with another woman. Trofim was elected chairman of the village council, while he led a stormy everyday life - he drank and rowdy. It is quite possible that in the history of heroism and betrayal there are more domestic than political reasons. According to legend, Trofim's wife accused him of hiding bread, however, they say that the abandoned and humiliated woman demanded to stop issuing fictitious certificates to fellow villagers. During the investigation, 13-year-old Pavel simply confirmed everything that his mother had said. As a result, the unbelted Trofim ended up in prison, and in retaliation, the young pioneer was killed in 1932 by his drunken uncle and godfather. But Soviet propaganda created a colorful propaganda story out of everyday drama. Yes, and somehow the hero who betrayed his father did not inspire.
Heinrich Lushkov. In 1937, the NKVD was fierce, including on Far East. It was Genrikh Lyushkov who headed this punitive body at that time. However, a year later, a purge began already in the "organs" themselves, many executioners themselves ended up in the place of their victims. Lyushkov was suddenly summoned to Moscow, allegedly to be appointed head of all the camps in the country. But Heinrich suspected that Stalin wanted to remove him. Frightened by reprisals, Lyushkov fled to Japan. In an interview with the local newspaper Yomiuri, the former executioner said that he really recognizes himself as a traitor. But only in relation to Stalin. But Lyushkov's subsequent behavior suggests just the opposite. The general told the Japanese about the entire structure of the NKVD and the residents of the USSR, about exactly where the Soviet troops were located, where and how defensive structures and fortresses were being built. Lyushkov gave the enemies military radio codes, actively urging the Japanese to oppose the USSR. Arrested on the territory of Japan, Soviet intelligence officers, the traitor tortured himself, resorting to cruel atrocities. The pinnacle of Lyushkov's activity was his development of a plan to assassinate Stalin. The general personally took up the implementation of his project. Today, historians believe that this was the only serious attempt to eliminate the Soviet leader. However, she was not successful. After the defeat of Japan in 1945, Lyushkov was killed by the Japanese themselves, who did not want their secrets to fall into the hands of the USSR.
Andrey Vlasov. This Soviet lieutenant general was known as the most important Soviet traitor during the Great Patriotic War. Back in the winter of 41-42, Vlasov commanded the 20th Army, making a significant contribution to the defeat of the Nazis near Moscow. Among the people, it was this general who was called the main savior of the capital. In the summer of 1942, Vlasov took over as deputy commander of the Volkhov Front. However, soon his troops were captured, and the general himself was captured by the Germans. Vlasov was sent to the Vinnitsa military camp for captured senior military officials. There, the general agreed to serve the Nazis and headed the "Committee for the Liberation of the Peoples of Russia" created by them. On the basis of KONR, even an entire "Russian Liberation Army" (ROA) was created. It included captured Soviet soldiers. The general showed cowardice, according to rumors, since then he began to drink a lot. May 12 Vlasov was captured Soviet troops in an attempt to escape. His trial was closed, as he could inspire people dissatisfied with the authorities with his own words. In August 1946, General Vlasov was stripped of his titles and awards, his property was confiscated, and he himself was hanged. At the trial, the accused admitted that he pleaded guilty, as he was cowardly in captivity. Already in our time, an attempt was made to justify Vlasov. But only a small part of the charges were dropped from him, the main ones remained in force.
Friedrich Paulus. There was a traitor on the part of the Nazis in that war. In the winter of 1943, the 6th German Army under the command of Field Marshal Paulus capitulated near Stalingrad. His subsequent history can be considered a mirror in relation to Vlasov. The captivity of the German officer was quite comfortable, because he joined the anti-fascist national committee "Free Germany". He ate meat, drank beer, received food and parcels. Paulus signed the appeal "To the prisoners of war of German soldiers and officers and to the entire German people." There, the field marshal announced that he was calling on all of Germany to eliminate Adolf Hitler. He believes that the country should have a new state leadership. It must stop the war and ensure the restoration of friendship with the current adversaries for the people. Paulus even delivered a revealing speech on Nuremberg Trials, which surprised his former associates a lot. In 1953, grateful for the cooperation Soviet authority freed the traitor, especially since he began to fall into depression. Paulus went to live in the GDR, where he died in 1957. Not all Germans accepted with understanding the act of the field marshal, even his son did not accept his father's choice, eventually shooting himself due to mental anguish.
Viktor Suvorov. This defector also made a name for himself as a writer. Once intelligence officer Vladimir Rezun was a GRU resident in Geneva. But in 1978 he fled to England, where he began to write very scandalous books. In them, the officer, who took the pseudonym Suvorov, quite convincingly argued that it was the USSR that was preparing to strike at Germany in the summer of 1941. The Germans simply preempted their enemy by a few weeks by delivering a preemptive strike. Rezun himself says that he was forced to cooperate with British intelligence. They allegedly wanted to make him last for the failure in the work of the Geneva department. Suvorov himself claims that in his homeland he was sentenced to death in absentia for his treason. However, the Russian side prefers not to comment on this fact. The former scout lives in Bristol and continues to write books on historical topics. Each of them causes a storm of discussion and personal condemnation of Suvorov.
Viktor Belenko. Few lieutenants manage to go down in history. But this military pilot was able to do it. True, at the cost of his betrayal. We can say that he acted as a kind of bad boy who just wants to steal something and sell it to his enemies at a higher price. On September 6, 1976, Belenko flew a top-secret MiG-25 interceptor. Suddenly, the senior lieutenant abruptly changed course and landed in Japan. There, the aircraft was dismantled in detail and subjected to a thorough study. Naturally, not without American specialists. The plane was, after careful study, returned to the USSR. And for his feat "for the glory of democracy" Belenko himself received political asylum in the United States. However, there is another version, according to which the traitor was not such. He just had to land in Japan. Eyewitnesses say that the lieutenant shot into the air with a pistol, not letting anyone near the car and demanding to cover it. However, the conducted investigation took into account both the behavior of the pilot in everyday life and the manner of his flight. The conclusion was unequivocal - landing on the territory of an enemy state was deliberate. Belenko himself turned out to be crazy about life in America, even canned cat food seemed to him tastier than those that were sold in his homeland. From official statements it is difficult to assess the consequences of that escape, the moral and political damage can be ignored, but the material damage was estimated at 2 billion rubles. Indeed, in the USSR it was necessary to hastily change the entire equipment of the "friend or foe" recognition system.
Otto Kuusinen. And again, a situation where a traitor for some is a hero for others. Otto was born in 1881 and in 1904 joined the Finnish Social Democratic Party. Soon and leading it. When it became clear that the communists in the new independent Finland did not shine, Kuusinen fled to the USSR. There he worked for a long time in the Comintern. When the USSR attacked Finland in 1939, it was Kuusinen who became the head of the puppet new government of the country. Only now his power extended to the few lands occupied by Soviet troops. It soon became clear that it would not be possible to capture all of Finland and the need for the Kuusinen regime was no longer needed. In the future, he continued to hold prominent government posts in the USSR, having died in 1964. His ashes are buried near the Kremlin wall.
Kim Philby. This scout lived a long and eventful life. He was born in 1912 in India, in the family of a British official. In 1929, Kim entered Cambridge, where he joined a socialist society. In 1934, Philby was recruited by Soviet intelligence, which, given his views, was not difficult to implement. In 1940, Kim joined the British secret service SIS, soon becoming the head of one of its departments. In the 50s, it was Philby who coordinated the actions of England and the United States in the fight against the communists. Naturally, the USSR received all the information about the work of its agent. Since 1956, Philby has been serving in MI6, until in 1963 he was illegally transferred to the USSR. Here, the traitor intelligence officer lived for the next 25 years on a personal pension, sometimes giving advice.
Mon, 02/09/2013 - 17:42
History is full of high and strong deeds, as well as the lowest deeds of small people. One of the lowest deeds of a person is betrayal, which nothing can justify. In this article you are waiting for 7 interesting stories about the biggest and most famous betrayals in history.
Judas Iscariot
Everyone knows the story of Judas: originally one of the 12 apostles of Jesus Christ, Judas was in charge of all their common money and, perhaps, loved money. In the writings of John Chrysostom, there are references to the fact that Judas, along with other apostles, performed miracles: he raised the dead, healed the sick, but later “lost the kingdom of heaven”, for he betrayed the Lord.
There is some information in the Bible about Judas' childhood: his parents threw the child into the sea in an ark, because they had a dream that their son would be their death. And so it happened: Judas, like the ancient Greek Oedipus, after many years, returning to native city, killed his father and entered into an incestuous relationship with his mother. After repentance and repentance, the Lord forgave Judas all sins, and he became one of the 12 apostles of Christ.
Judas betrayed Jesus Christ for 30 pieces of silver - that is the amount he received from the high priests. After Jesus was sentenced to death by crucifixion, Judas repented of his deed and tried to return the coins back, but the high priests told him that they did not care about his repentance. Then Judas threw coins in the temple and committed suicide - hanged himself. Interesting fact: it is believed that the tree on which Judas strangled himself was an aspen, and that is why in many fantastic works a vampire can be stopped by plunging an aspen stake into his heart.
It is impossible to say with certainty whether Judas actually existed. However, the same cannot be said about the rest of the apostles, as well as about all the people described in the Bible. However, in 1978, the so-called “Gospel of Judas” was found in Egypt, allegedly written by him. In it, Judas Iscariot appears as the only disciple of Christ, to whom he revealed all the secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven. However, the Christian Church does not recognize the document as authentic, and it is not included in the list of canonical gospels.
Mark Junius Brutus
Marcus Junius Brutus Caepio was a Roman senator who lived in the 1st century BC. e. He came from a respected and wealthy Roman family, whose members were traditionally members of the senate. However, the antiquity of his family was questioned by some Roman citizens of that time.
Initially, Brutus was a supporter of Pompey, but after the victory of Caesar at the Battle of Pharsalus, he joined the Roman commander. Caesar received Brutus with honors and even transferred one of the provinces, Cisalpine Gaul, under his control. Not least in bringing Brutus closer to Caesar was the fact that his mother, Servilia, had been Caesar's mistress for many years.
Meanwhile, Caesar gradually turned from the main military leader into an emperor and sole ruler Rome. Then the quaestor Gaius Cassius Longinus attracted Brutus to his side with the help of both promises and threats.
There is evidence that Longinus repeatedly reminded Brutus of his origin - allegedly Mark Junius Brutus was a descendant of Lucius Junius Brutus, who overthrew the last Roman emperor Tarquinius the Proud: since the ancestor committed such an act and freed the Empire from the dictator, then the descendant is destined to do the same. So Brutus stood at the head of a conspiracy against Julius Caesar, which was joined by several more senators, as a result of which Caesar was stabbed right in the Senate building.
However, the conspiracy was not crowned with complete success, since the people did not follow the conspirators. As a result, Caesar's nephew Octavian gained power, and Brutus and Longinus had to flee. Brutus later returned to Rome at the head of a large army, but was defeated by the combined forces of Octavian and Antony. Upon learning of the defeat, Brutus committed suicide, preferring death to captivity.
Hetman Ivan Stepanovich Mazepa
Hetman Ivan Mazepa was an adviser to the mother of Peter I Sophia and her favorite Golitsyn. When the young emperor Peter I ascended the throne, Mazepa did not lose his influence and managed to gain confidence in the new monarch, and later become his close friend.
Peter respected the old commander, and not without reason: Mazepa managed to drive Tatar troops from Ukrainian cities, and later participated in both campaigns to Azov. His career in the service of the imperial throne was very successful: Mazepa received several orders and awards from the hands of Peter, and also enjoyed the unconditional trust of the sovereign and eventually became one of the richest and most respected people in Russia at that time.
In 1706 polish king August II was defeated in the war with Sweden and abdicated in favor of an ally of the Swedes, Stanislav Leshchinsky. At the same time, Mazepa began a correspondence with Leshchinsky with the clear intention of going over to the side of the Swedish king. Charles XII, actually ruling Poland at that time. However, it was impossible to refuse his mind: he prepared the ways for a possible retreat in case Russia emerged victorious from this conflict.
One way or another, Peter began to receive numerous denunciations against Mazepa, which spoke of his betrayal. The emperor turned a blind eye to all the evidence: he punished informers, and trusted Mazepa even more. The last straw was the denunciation of the general judge Kochubey, whom Peter also did not believe, since Kochubey had personal reasons for hostility - earlier Mazepa had an affair with his daughter Matryona, his goddaughter.
Apparently, Mazepa was frightened and finally decided to go over to the side of the Swedish king. Saying sick, the hetman refused to take part in the hostilities, and later fled to Charles, who was encamped in Russia. Karl, in turn, in 1709 concluded an official agreement with Mazepa, in which he promised to make him the prince of Ukraine. Peter, together with the church, anathematized Mazepa and carried out a demonstrative execution: they carried a straw effigy to the square and cut off his head.
In June 1709, the Swedish troops were defeated, and Mazepa fled to the city of Bender, where he soon died. His body was buried in Galati with great pomp.
Aldrich Ames
Aldrich Hazen Ames was the head of the counterintelligence division of the CIA. He was born in the USA and for some time worked for American intelligence, but in 1985 he went over to the side of the USSR. The reasons for his defection to the side of the main enemy of the United States at that time are not exactly known - perhaps he was threatened, or perhaps it was simply about money.
During his time as a double agent in the Soviet Union, he managed to expose a huge number of secret CIA agents who worked in the Soviet KGB - according to various sources, there were from 12 to 25 people. Thanks to Ames, the US is in full swing cold war lost most of their informants.
As for Ames, during his work as a double agent, he acquired a mansion in the vicinity of Washington, several apartments and expensive cars. On February 21, 1994, Ames was arrested by the FBI and subsequently sentenced to life in prison with confiscation of property. By the way, Ames is still alive and is currently serving his sentence in the Allenwood maximum security prison.
Harold James Nicholson
Another American who has spied for Russia is Air Force officer Harold James Nicholson. His career in his native country was very successful: immediately after graduation, he joined the US Air Force, and was soon recruited by the CIA. For several years he successfully worked for foreign intelligence, first in Manila, then in Tokyo, and then in Bucharest. However, in 1992, no matter how trite, he quarreled with his wife, divorced two years later and was left penniless. In the meantime, he was transferred to Malaysia, which he considered a demotion.
Between 1994 and 1995, about $50,000 “suddenly” arrived in Nicholson’s account, and CIA agents could not help but compare this with a leak of information that stopped for some time after the aforementioned Aldrich Ames was taken into custody, but then resumed again.
In 1996, Nicholson got caught: the FBI traced his meeting with a Russian agent in Singapore. Nicholson could not pass the polygraph test, but it was impossible to bring him any serious charges due to the lack of evidence of his guilt. Then he was specially transferred to the department for combating international terrorism, where he was caught red-handed photographing secret documentation about the war in Chechnya.
In 1997, he was sentenced to 20 years in prison, but the proceedings in his case were resumed every now and then until recently. So, in 2011, Nicholson received another eight years in prison in a maximum security colony.
Prince Andrei Mikhailovich Kurbsky
Andrei Mikhailovich Kurbsky was the closest adviser to Tsar Ivan the Terrible. The Kurbsky family originated from the Yaroslavl princes, its descendants traditionally had a boyar rank, but during the time of Grozny they were not honored, because they supported the opposition to the royal power.
Andrew chose military career: he participated in campaigns against Kazan, later fought with the Tatars in the vicinity of Tula - the prince earned the trust of the tsar, as he showed himself to be a brilliant commander. Some sources indicate that he and Ivan the Terrible were friendly, but at the same time Andrei became close to the priest Sylvester, who later became one of the leaders of the Chosen One.
Grozny was known for his tough temper and did not tolerate such sentiments in his country, so during the Livonian War, Sylvester and his closest supporter, governor Alexei Adashev, began to be persecuted. And, although Andrei Kurbsky himself did not fall under suspicion, he nevertheless, knowing the temper of the king, had every reason to believe that the same fate awaited him.
In this regard, Kurbsky fled to Lithuania under the wing of the Lithuanian king Sigismund. There he was granted several estates, Sigismund trusted him, and subsequently, since Kurbsky knew perfectly well the defense system of the western borders of Russia, the Lithuanians repeatedly raided these places.
Andrei's relatives - mother, wife and little son - were taken into custody, where they died, and his closest relatives were killed on the orders of Ivan IV. The tsar accused him of many crimes, including an attempt to subjugate Yaroslavl, which was already complete madness.
In truth, it is quite difficult to call Kurbsky a malicious traitor: yes, he, of course, went over to the service of the Lithuanian sovereign, but he did it out of fear for his life.
Friedrich Paulus
FRiedrich Paulus is known for the Barbarossa plan, according to which Germany was to invade the USSR. fighting according to this plan were carried out by Germany at the very beginning of the Great Patriotic War.
In adulthood, Paulus married the Romanian aristocrat Elena-Constance Rosetti-Solescu, which significantly helped him move up the career ladder. After the outbreak of World War II, in 1939, Paulus was appointed head of the staff of the Tenth Army, later renumbered the Sixth. In 1942, he led the actions of the Sixth Army on Eastern Front and was awarded the Knight's Cross for military merit.
However, in September of the same year, the German troops failed - in the battle of Stalingrad he won Soviet Union. Paulus wanted to leave the besieged city and repeatedly wrote to Hitler personally about this, but the Fuhrer forbade him to capitulate and promised that the Sixth Army would receive help in the near future - those who were locked in the city by air German troops ammunition and food will be delivered. Paulus did not wait for help - all attempts to support the army failed, and after a while Hitler abandoned his intention to recapture the city.
Paulus received a letter from his Fuhrer stating that no one German officer has no right to be captured - in other words, Hitler actually offered Paulus to commit suicide. He did not want to die, and on January 31, 1943, he turned to the Soviet military leaders with a request to surrender. On the same day he was taken to Colonel-GeneralK. K. Rokossovsky, he was interrogated, and two days later the last resistance in Stalingrad was broken.
Until 1944, Paulus was true to his political views and flatly refused to do what was asked of him, namely, to tell everything he knew about Germany's future plans. However, the events that happened in 1944 finally broke him: Germany was defeated on several fronts, Hitler was assassinated by his own officers, and, in addition, the son of Paulus died. And the commander surrendered: he laid out everything he knew, and also wrote a letter to the German officers, in which he spoke about the need to eliminate Hitler, and later actively opposed Nazism. From that day on, he began to defend the ideals of socialism.
