Alexander Koral
Encyclopedia
Alexander Koral was an American member of the Communist Party of the United States (CPUSA) who headed a network of spies for Soviet intelligence
during World War II
called the "Art" or "Berg" group. Koral's wife, Helen Koral
, also was involved with the group.
The FBI first detected Koral in 1941 while surveiling Gaik Ovakimian
, whom the FBI did not realize at the time was the head of KGB
operations in the United States. The FBI noted Ovakimian meeting several times with Koral, though no espionage could be proved. Koral was working at the time as a school district maintenance man.
After the War, in 1947, Koral confessed, when confronted by the FBI, to being a courier for the KGB from 1939 to 1945. Koral told the FBI he was paid two thousand dollars to travel to different cities to pick up and deliver small packages and envelopes to different persons, including Nathan Gregory Silvermaster and Helen Silvermaster. In December 1945, Koral was sent to tell Silvermaster “no more visits would be made to him”, at the time of Elizabeth Bentley
's defection and the Soviet networks were being compromised. Koral identified Semyon Semenov as one of his contacts in Soviet intelligence to whom he had delivered materials.
Koral was also a contact of Michael Straight
. Koral's code name in the Soviet intelligence, and as deciphered in the venona decrypts is "Berg".
decrypts:
NKVD
The People's Commissariat for Internal Affairs was the public and secret police organization of the Soviet Union that directly executed the rule of power of the Soviets, including political repression, during the era of Joseph Stalin....
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
called the "Art" or "Berg" group. Koral's wife, Helen Koral
Helen Koral
Helen Koral was the wife of Alexander Koral, both were Americans who allegedly worked for Soviet intelligence during World War II. The Koral's headed the "Art" or "Berg" group of Soviet spies. The Berg group acted as couriers for various Soviet contacts, including the Silvermaster ring...
, also was involved with the group.
The FBI first detected Koral in 1941 while surveiling Gaik Ovakimian
Gaik Ovakimian
Haik Badalovich Ovakimian , Major General, USSR , better known as "the puppetmaster" in intelligence circles, was a leading Soviet NKVD spy in the United States....
, whom the FBI did not realize at the time was the head of KGB
KGB
The KGB was the commonly used acronym for the . It was the national security agency of the Soviet Union from 1954 until 1991, and was the premier internal security, intelligence, and secret police organization during that time.The State Security Agency of the Republic of Belarus currently uses the...
operations in the United States. The FBI noted Ovakimian meeting several times with Koral, though no espionage could be proved. Koral was working at the time as a school district maintenance man.
After the War, in 1947, Koral confessed, when confronted by the FBI, to being a courier for the KGB from 1939 to 1945. Koral told the FBI he was paid two thousand dollars to travel to different cities to pick up and deliver small packages and envelopes to different persons, including Nathan Gregory Silvermaster and Helen Silvermaster. In December 1945, Koral was sent to tell Silvermaster “no more visits would be made to him”, at the time of Elizabeth Bentley
Elizabeth Bentley
Elizabeth Terrill Bentley was an American spy for the Soviet Union from 1938 until 1945. In 1945 she defected from the Communist Party and Soviet intelligence and became an informer for the U.S. She exposed two networks of spies, ultimately naming over 80 Americans who had engaged in espionage for...
's defection and the Soviet networks were being compromised. Koral identified Semyon Semenov as one of his contacts in Soviet intelligence to whom he had delivered materials.
Koral was also a contact of Michael Straight
Michael Whitney Straight
Michael Whitney Straight, was an American magazine publisher, novelist, patron of the arts, a member of the prominent Whitney family, and a confessed spy for the KGB.-Biography:...
. Koral's code name in the Soviet intelligence, and as deciphered in the venona decrypts is "Berg".
Venona
Alexander Koral is referenced in the following Venona projectVenona project
The VENONA project was a long-running secret collaboration of the United States and United Kingdom intelligence agencies involving cryptanalysis of messages sent by intelligence agencies of the Soviet Union, the majority during World War II...
decrypts:
- 1251 KGB New York to Moscow, 2 September 1944;
- 1332 KGB New York to Moscow, 18 September 1944;
- 1582 KGB New York to Moscow, 12 November 1944;
- 1636 KGB New York to Moscow, 21 November 1944;
- 1803 KGB New York to Moscow, 22 December 1944;
- 50 KGB New York to Moscow, 11 January 1945;
- 1052 KGB New York to Moscow, 5 July 1945;
- 275 KGB Moscow to New York, 25 March 1945;
- 337 KGB Moscow to New York, 8 April 1945.
External links
- The Cold War International History Project (CWIHP) has the full text of former KGB agent Alexander Vassiliev's Notebooks containing new evidence on Koral's cooperation with the Soviet Union