"I Was": The Oleg Penkovsky Story and the Important of Human Intelligence in Cold War Crises

Abstract

Looking at the debriefing transcripts from double-agent Col. Oleg Penkovsky reveals a wealth of information. This information proved useful in two Cold War crises: the Berlin Crisis of 1961 and the Cuban Missile Crisis. While technology provides insight into what one's opponents are doing, it lacks the distinctly human factor necessary for a full assessment of a given situation. Looking at the case of Oleg Penkovsky, we see what might drive one to defect, the importance of human intelligence, and its effects on Cold War crises.