Engelbert Broda
Encyclopedia
Engelbert Broda was a KGB
spy and the main Soviet source of information
on American and British nuclear research. He was a physicist
and a chemist
.
, a famous film director, and Egon Schönhof, who returned to Austria as a convinced communist after serving time as a prisoner of war in Russia
. Whilst studying at the University of Vienna
Broda took part in the communist resistance against the National Socialists. During this period he was imprisoned several times because of his political activities. Broda emigrated to the United Kingdom in 1938.
, researching the transformation of light into chemical energy
. From 1941 he worked at the Cavendish Laboratory
, on radioactivity and nuclear fission
. At this time he made intensive studies of the work of Ludwig Boltzmann
.
In 1947 he returned to the University of Vienna. From 1955 until 1980 he served as Professor for Physical chemistry
. His major work as a scientist - Evolution of the Bioenergetic Processes - was published in 1975.
, in support of nuclear disarmament
. He also worked to propagate the use of solar energy, and in 1979 he was awarded the Austrian Award for the Protection of Nature, for his initiatives concerning a projected power plant in Dürnstein
, Wachau
. He was given an honorary funeral at the Zentralfriedhof
in Vienna.
's access to formerly undisclosed KGB
archives. According to KGB reports from August 1943 Engelbert Broda ("Eric") was the main Soviet source of information on American and British nuclear research. MI5
had suspected he was Alan Nunn May
's recruiter, but did not have conclusive proof.
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...
spy and the main Soviet source of information
Information
Information in its most restricted technical sense is a message or collection of messages that consists of an ordered sequence of symbols, or it is the meaning that can be interpreted from such a message or collection of messages. Information can be recorded or transmitted. It can be recorded as...
on American and British nuclear research. He was a physicist
Physicist
A physicist is a scientist who studies or practices physics. Physicists study a wide range of physical phenomena in many branches of physics spanning all length scales: from sub-atomic particles of which all ordinary matter is made to the behavior of the material Universe as a whole...
and a chemist
Chemist
A chemist is a scientist trained in the study of chemistry. Chemists study the composition of matter and its properties such as density and acidity. Chemists carefully describe the properties they study in terms of quantities, with detail on the level of molecules and their component atoms...
.
Life
Engelbert Broda was born in 1910 as the first son of Viola and Ernst Broda, a Viennese lawyer. His brother Christian was later to become Minister of Justice in Austria. Broda was strongly influenced by his uncle Georg Wilhelm PabstGeorg Wilhelm Pabst
-Biography:Pabst was born in Raudnitz, Bohemia, Austria-Hungary , the son of a railroad employee.Returning from the United States, he was in France when World War I began...
, a famous film director, and Egon Schönhof, who returned to Austria as a convinced communist after serving time as a prisoner of war in Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
. Whilst studying at the University of Vienna
University of Vienna
The University of Vienna is a public university located in Vienna, Austria. It was founded by Duke Rudolph IV in 1365 and is the oldest university in the German-speaking world...
Broda took part in the communist resistance against the National Socialists. During this period he was imprisoned several times because of his political activities. Broda emigrated to the United Kingdom in 1938.
Scientific career
Broda had his Ph.D. in Chemistry approved in 1934 at the University of Vienna. From 1940 he worked at the Medical Research Council at the University College LondonUniversity College London
University College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and the oldest and largest constituent college of the federal University of London...
, researching the transformation of light into chemical energy
Chemical energy
Chemical energy is the potential of a chemical substance to undergo a transformation through a chemical reaction or, to transform other chemical substances...
. From 1941 he worked at the Cavendish Laboratory
Cavendish Laboratory
The Cavendish Laboratory is the Department of Physics at the University of Cambridge, and is part of the university's School of Physical Sciences. It was opened in 1874 as a teaching laboratory....
, on radioactivity and nuclear fission
Nuclear fission
In nuclear physics and nuclear chemistry, nuclear fission is a nuclear reaction in which the nucleus of an atom splits into smaller parts , often producing free neutrons and photons , and releasing a tremendous amount of energy...
. At this time he made intensive studies of the work of Ludwig Boltzmann
Ludwig Boltzmann
Ludwig Eduard Boltzmann was an Austrian physicist famous for his founding contributions in the fields of statistical mechanics and statistical thermodynamics...
.
In 1947 he returned to the University of Vienna. From 1955 until 1980 he served as Professor for Physical chemistry
Physical chemistry
Physical chemistry is the study of macroscopic, atomic, subatomic, and particulate phenomena in chemical systems in terms of physical laws and concepts...
. His major work as a scientist - Evolution of the Bioenergetic Processes - was published in 1975.
Political Initiatives
Broda became a member of the Pugwash movementPugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs
The Pugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs is an international organization that brings together scholars and public figures to work toward reducing the danger of armed conflict and to seek solutions to global security threats...
, in support of nuclear disarmament
Nuclear disarmament
Nuclear disarmament refers to both the act of reducing or eliminating nuclear weapons and to the end state of a nuclear-free world, in which nuclear weapons are completely eliminated....
. He also worked to propagate the use of solar energy, and in 1979 he was awarded the Austrian Award for the Protection of Nature, for his initiatives concerning a projected power plant in Dürnstein
Dürnstein
Dürnstein is a small town on the Danube river in the Krems-Land district, in the Austrian state of Lower Austria. It is one of the most visited tourist destinations in the Wachau region and also a well-known wine growing area...
, Wachau
Wachau
The Wachau is an Austrian valley with a picturesque landscape formed by the Danube river. It is one of the most prominent tourist destinations of Lower Austria, located midway between the towns of Melk and Krems that also attracts "connoisseurs and epicureans". It is in length and was already...
. He was given an honorary funeral at the Zentralfriedhof
Zentralfriedhof
The Zentralfriedhof is one of the largest cemeteries in the world, largest by number of interred in Europe and most famous cemetery among Vienna's nearly 50 cemeteries.-Name and location:...
in Vienna.
Espionage
In 2009 Broda was accused of espionage in a book based upon the journalist Alexander VassilievAlexander Vassiliev
Alexander Vassiliev is a Russian journalist, writer, and espionage historian living in London. A former officer in the Soviet Committee for State Security , Vassiliev is known for his two books based upon KGB archival documents: Spies: The Rise and Fall of the KGB in America, co-authored with John...
's access to formerly undisclosed 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...
archives. According to KGB reports from August 1943 Engelbert Broda ("Eric") was the main Soviet source of information on American and British nuclear research. MI5
MI5
The Security Service, commonly known as MI5 , is the United Kingdom's internal counter-intelligence and security agency and is part of its core intelligence machinery alongside the Secret Intelligence Service focused on foreign threats, Government Communications Headquarters and the Defence...
had suspected he was Alan Nunn May
Alan Nunn May
Alan Nunn May was an English physicist, and a confessed and convicted Soviet spy, who supplied secrets of British and United States atomic research to the Soviet Union during World War II.-Early years, education:...
's recruiter, but did not have conclusive proof.
Work
- Ludwig Boltzmann. Mensch, Physiker, Philosoph, 1955
- Atomkraft - Furcht und Hoffnung, 1956
- The Evolution of the Bioenergetic Processes, 1975
- Wissenschaft, Verantwortung, Frieden, 1985
Further reading
- "Spies, the Rise and Fall of the KGB in America" ISBN 978-0-300-12390-6, John Earl Haynes, Harvey Klehr and Alexander Vassiliew
- Scientist Spies by Paul Broda (2011)
External links
- Engelbert Broda in the Wiener ZeitungWiener ZeitungWiener Zeitung is an Austrian newspaper. It is one of the most famous newspapers in Europe and one of the oldest, still published newspapers in the world. It is the official publication used by the Government of the Republic of Austria for its formal announcements. It was founded in 1703 under the...
Encyclopedia. - http://www.mi5.gov.uk/output/engelbert-broda.html MI5 Website.