Leopold Trepper The richest spy of all time Date of Birth: 23.02.1904 Country: Russia

1. Biography of Leopold Trepper
2. Establishing the Spy Network
3. Focus on Britain
4. Leading the "Red Orchestra"
5. The Collapse and Arrests
6. Trepper's Betrayal and Escape
7. Remaining Years and Legacy

Biography of Leopold Trepper

Leopold Trepper, also known as Jean Gilbert, was the wealthiest spy of all time and leader of the most extensive and effective spy network of the Soviet Union during World War II. Born in Poland in 1904, Trepper joined the GRU, the Soviet military intelligence agency, at the age of 33. In August 1938, he arrived in Belgium to establish a spy network. Operating under the identity of Canadian Adam Mikler, Trepper began building his network, which would later be known as the "Red Orchestra" by the Gestapo.

Establishing the Spy Network

Belgium, due to its strategic location in Western Europe, provided an ideal base for Trepper to carry out his covert activities. The Belgian authorities turned a blind eye to spying activities as long as they were not directed against Belgium's interests. Trepper settled in Brussels and established commercial ties with Leo Grosfogel, a former colleague from their work in Palestine. Together, they created a joint company called "Foreign Excellent Raincoat Company" with branches in Belgium, France, and the Scandinavian countries.

Focus on Britain

In September 1939, after the signing of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact between Stalin and Hitler, Trepper received instructions to primarily focus his activities against Britain. As World War II began on September 1, 1939, with the German invasion of Poland, Trepper and Grosfogel followed behind German tank columns in a limousine, gathering valuable information about German blitzkrieg strategy and tactics. This information reached Moscow well before the German high command could present their analysis to Hitler.

Leading the "Red Orchestra"

In July 1940, Trepper was appointed a General of the Red Army and became the resident military intelligence officer for all of Western Europe. He relocated to Paris, where his new company, "Simex," became a major supplier to the Todt Organization, which was responsible for fortifying the Atlantic coast and constructing bunkers for submarines. Simex had extensive dealings in construction materials, machinery, and other supplies needed for fortified structures.

The Collapse and Arrests

In June 1941, the German authorities intercepted the first radiograms from the Red Orchestra, but they were unable to decipher their content. The radio center for Trepper's network was relocated to Brussels, and the radiograms were transmitted to Moscow through radio operator Kent (code name RTX). However, in December 1941, the German Abwehr discovered the Brussels transmitter. Despite this setback, Trepper's network continued its operations until August 1942, when members of the group were arrested by the Gestapo.

Trepper's Betrayal and Escape

Under interrogation, Trepper pretended to cooperate with the Germans, providing them with information about his closest associates. He gained the trust of the Gestapo and even transmitted false messages to the Soviet Center while secretly transmitting real information during walks in the city. With the Gestapo's decreased vigilance during these walks, Trepper managed to escape with the help of a woman agent who was not captured by the Gestapo.

Remaining Years and Legacy

After his escape, Trepper hid in a pension in Saint-Germain-en-Laye until the liberation of France in 1945. He returned to Moscow, where he was sentenced to ten years in prison by Stalin's personal order. After his release in 1955, he first moved to his native Poland and later emigrated to Israel, where he passed away in 1982. Leopold Trepper's leadership of the "Red Orchestra" and his contribution to Soviet intelligence during World War II remain a significant part of spy history.