A Wolf in wolf's clothing

Lord Patel sheds a tear at this time of espionage laden news for the legendary Markus Wolf, former East German spy chief (STASI) , died on November 9 at the age of 83 and he was buried yesterday besides his brother, the known East German film-maker Konrad Wolf.

He was very successful in exploiting the human farilties associated with sexuality in recruiting turncoats and traitors and used ‘Romeo’ agents, highly trained, attractive men, to seduce government secretaries. The trapped women were willing to provide classified documents and files to spies who then transmitted the files to Moscow both the NATO headquarters and the German chancellors’ offices during the Cold War

He was sentenced to two years imprisonment for treason, espionage and kidnapping but never served the sentence. After retiring he wrote his memoirs helped by journalist Anne McElvoy which examined his Jewish roots. His Jewish father was was a playwright and doctor, and his mother a goyim.

He is said to have been the model for ex spy (do they ever retire ?) John Le Carre's nefarious East German spy chief, Karla.