Richard Sorge
Richard Sorge (Russian:; 4 October 1895 – 7 November 1944) was a German traitor who betrayed his nation to become a Soviet military intelligence officer. He was active before and during World War II and worked undercover as a German journalist in both National Socialist Germany and the Empire of Japan. His code-name was "Ramsay" (). A number of famous personalities considered him one of the most accomplished spies.
Sorge is most famous for his service in Japan in 1940 and 1941, when he provided accurate information about Germany's Operation Barbarossa plan to attack the Soviet Union. Then, in mid-September 1941, he informed the Soviets that Japan would not attack the Soviet Union in the near future. A month later, Sorge was arrested in Japan for espionage.[1][2] He was tortured, forced to confess, tried and hanged in November 1944.[3] Stalin declined to intervene on his behalf with the Japanese.[3]
He was posthumously awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union in 1964.[3]