KGB in Australia, 1944-1950, The

Cryptologia, Apr 2000 by Kruh, Louis

Ball, Desmond and Horner, David. Breaking the Codes: Australia's KGB Network, 1944-1950. Allen & Unwin, St. Leonards NSW 1590 AUSTRALIA; Paul & Company. P. O. Box 442, Concord MA 01742 USA. 1998. 468 pp. $29.95.

In 1945, Japan knew of Australia's military plans in advance during the latter part of World War II because Moscow was giving Tokyo information provided by Soviet agents in Canberra. Although not revealed at that time, this information had been obtained by the interception and decryption of Japanese radio communications by the Allied signals intelligence organization. This was the beginning of the fascinating Sigint and counterespionage story that become known when VENONA, the Allied cryptanalytic operation, exposed Soviet espionage activities. It was Australia's most serious espionage case and involved Britain's top intelligence officials. Management of the case was the responsibility of MI15 and it was one of its highest priority counterespionage operations in 1948-1949. Pressed by MI15, it led to the establishment of the Australian Security Intelligence Organization (ASIO) in 1949.

The KGB spy ring had about ten Australians, all members of the Communist Party of Australia or close friends of communists, spying for them. Important information Moscow gathered fell into five key areas: intelligence about Allied war planning; British postwar strategic planning and foreign policy; an enormous volume of information about Australian politics and policies; operational information about the Australian Security Service; and Australian cryptographic material of use to the NKGB's cryptanalysts.

Ball and Horner cover a wide range of information including the success of the US cryptanalytic attack on VENONA at Arlington Hall and the exploits of the various cryptanalysts assigned to this highly classified project, plus US-British Sigint cooperation.

The scope of the authors' investigation and findings are illustrated by the chapter headings: Sigint and Counter-espionage, The Formation of Australia's Security Service, The Security Service and the War with Japan, The Development of Sigint in Australia, The First Security Leaks, General Blarney's Letter, Moscow Centre and Soviet Intelligence, The Arrival of the Russians, Postwar Security and Intelligence in Australia, Operation VENONA: Breaking Russian Codes, VENONA and Soviet Espionage in Australia, The Communist Party and Clayton, The Development of the Klod Group, Soviet Espionage in External Af fairs, British Spycatchers Come to Australia, ASIO and `The Case.', The End of `The Case.', and The Importance of 'The Case.' The book also has more than 50 figures and illustrations including the KGB encryption system and VENONA decrypts, three interesting appendices, notes, an extensive bibliography and index.