Markus Wolf: biography, activity, photo

Do you know who was the head of the best intelligence in the world? Who is Marcus Wolf? We will talk about the chief of the Main Intelligence Directorate, about his family and life.

Biography

Markus Wolf was born on 19.01.1923 in the city of Heching. He grew up in the family of a doctor and playwright. After Hitler came to power famous for his provocative speeches, the father of Marcus remained in Germany was dangerous.

Moving to Russia

After living a certain period in Sweden and France, Wolves moved to the Russian capital. There they were given Soviet citizenship. Already after the Second World War, the Marcus family was evacuated to Bashkortostan. There Marcus Wolf went to a special school, where they train professionals in the field of reconnaissance and sabotage in the rear of the enemy.

End of training and first job

Already after the end of the Great Patriotic War Marcus Wolf was sent to Berlin. In the summer season of 1945, he already worked on the Berlin radio and in the printed edition of Berliner Zeitung. In 1946, together with other correspondents, Wolff interviewed the Nuremberg trials.

By 1950, Markus had the skills of diplomatic and reporting activities, and also visited European states. 08.02.1950, after the formation of the GDR, the Department of National Security ("Stasi") was established. There was a reconnaissance, masked at first under the name of the Institution of Economic Studies. Since the day of its creation, Marcus Wolf joined the management team.

From 1958 to 1987, the son of a playwright was appointed head of the main agency management, and was deputy minister of national security of the GDR. During his administration, the GDR had the most effective espionage service in the Warsaw Bloc states. Her most significant achievements include the introduction of the financier Rainer Rup into NATO.

Dismissal

In 1983, Wolf resigned, but his request was considered only after 3 years. Even after the reunification of Germany, the head of the Main Intelligence Directorate, Marcus Wolff, asked for social and political shelter from the Soviet Union, but was refused.

Treason

The general was able to see the opening of the archives of the intelligence service, the persecution of his colleagues, and also survive 3 trials against him. Colonel-General Marcus Wolf was accused of high treason. In 1993, he was sentenced by the highest court of Düsseldorf to 6 years in prison. The verdict was later canceled.

Wolff's Books

A large number of books written by Markus Wolf. The biography of the general contains a lot of information about them. His most famous books are "Troika" and "Friends Do not Die." The last author represented in Russia.

Markus Wolf (years of life - 1923-2006), as we found out, is not only a professional scout, but also an excellent writer.

Luck on the side of Marcus

During all the years of his life the scout smiled luck. Marcus Wolf was famous enough in his circle. The family, as we found out earlier, was known thanks to the father-playwright, writer and Jew. In 1937, when a lot of political immigrants were arrested, the Marcus family remained at large. This was not the last luck of chance. It is interesting that after the events of the year 37 the biographical data of the future scout was absolutely clear to the authorities.

Smiling luck to Wolff and after graduating from school scouts. After the training, he was not directed to the front line. Earlier, almost all inexperienced scouts, who were sent to practice, were killed. It was thanks to the decision of the leadership that Marcus survived.

Dizzy career

It is believed that Wolf built an incredibly dizzying career. At the age of twenty-nine, he became the head of the GDR intelligence. Marcus is discussed, his career is admired and written about him thesis. Wolf himself never commented on his rapid career. When asked about his appointment, he always answered dryly and succinctly.

Reason for resignation and life after it

The exact reason for the resignation to this day remains a mystery. It is known that in 1986, Markus Wolf believed that the state needs a liberal reformation, and the leadership of the GDR thought quite differently. Sources show that this is the reason for leaving, because the age of Marcus did not matter, and with the GDR he was on good terms. In addition, before the resignation of Wolf received the rank of colonel-general.

As we found out earlier, after retiring, Marcus Wolf was interested in writing books. Der Trojka is his well-known publication, in which he condemned Stalinism and responded with admiration to Gorbachev's Perestroika. General Wolf can be trusted, since he knew more about Stalinism than others. This work has gained popularity not only in the GDR, but also in the West.

Interestingly, after the publication of the book, Wolf became one of the main dissidents and fighters for perestroika in the east of Germany.

Man Without a Face

"Man without a face" - such a pseudonym in the West was named Marcus Wolf. Colonel-General could not get a photo of the scouts. It is interesting that while Wolff traveled freely in Europe. In 1979, an assistant Marcus fled to the FRG and identified his superior on one of the photographs taken in Stockholm. Soon this photo appeared on the cover of one of the magazines.

Interesting facts about the life of a scout

As we said earlier, for some time the young scout lived in the Soviet Union. That's why there he was also called Misha, since the name Marcus was severely "cutting" the rumor.

It is interesting that in the Russian school the German boy was remembered for a long time. Unbelievable, but when he entered the educational institution, he did about three dozen grammatical, punctuation and stylistic errors in the Russian dictation, and already at the time he failed to pass the exam on ... German! Until the end of his life Marcus spoke fluent and without accent in Russian and even knew the rules of spelling.

Family of Marcus. last years of life

It is known that during his life Wolf was married four times. His last wife was Andrea. They had four children, eleven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. It is interesting that one of the scouts' grandchildren is called Michael, as in childhood they called him Marcus himself. The last years of his life the scout spent in Berlin, in a villa with his family. Home affairs in the villa were dealt with by one of the former illegal residents, who eventually became a member of the family, and not just a governess.

In the last couple of years, Marcus liked to have a rest in Hungary and meet with former colleagues for a cup of fragrant coffee. Despite his advanced age, in the last years of his life Wolf often raised the issue and insisted on a full amnesty for the former scouts. After all, many friends, colleagues and comrades of Marcus were imprisoned after two thousand years.

Mysterious person

Despite the German legislation, the pension to the intelligence workers is paid scanty. Marcus Wolf earned the last fifteen years of his life by writing books that translate into all the languages of the world, as well as filming in documentaries and public lectures. Critics express their admiration for the books written by Marcus Wolf. They believe that the author has a special talent as a storyteller-scout. He was able to tell the truth in such a way that after reading, there were still more questions than answers.

Surprisingly, after Wolff wrote many autobiographical books and participated in the filming of documentaries, his personality remains a mystery.

Wolf on interrogation

Wolf was not only a unique talent in writing books. It is known that before his resignation, he never disclose his colleagues during interrogations and always took the blame for himself. Marcus always believed that he was doing the right thing, because he was responsible for them. For this honesty, at his last trial, an elderly general, although justified, was given a fairly small pension.

Despite everything, Marcus has always been in Russia. He never ceased to love her. It is with this that his good knowledge of the language is connected, despite the fact that many years have passed since his residence there. Until the last years of his life, the general regularly visited his sister, who lived on the Embankment in Moscow, and admired the Russian city.

The most vivid memories

In an interview shortly before his death, the journalist asked Wolf about the most vivid memory of childhood. Surprisingly, Marcus replied that the most memorable event was joining the Komsomol, as well as a summer camp.

The Great Person

Incredible man was Marcus Wolf. The year of birth and death was eighty-four years, for which Marcus showed himself as a man, a writer and a scout with a capital letter. Despite life's difficulties, Wolff became better every year. Even before his death, he was an incredibly active and pleasant person. He was always happy to talk with people and give advice. Wolf had incredible wisdom and could solve any problem. He was always honest and fair. Incredibly, he never gave up his colleagues. Such a great person certainly has something to learn.