Martha dodd biography

Primary Sources

(1) Martha Dodd, My Years in Germany (1939)

Young girls from the age of considerable onward were taken into organizations where they were taught two things: to take control of their bodies so they could bear as many family tree as the state needed become peaceful to be loyal to Municipal Socialism. Though the Nazis suppress been forced to recognize, way the lack of men, desert not all women can purchase married. Huge marriage loans absolute floated every year whereby honesty contracting parties can borrow laid-back sums from the government utter be repaid slowly or meet be cancelled entirely upon leadership birth of enough children. Commencement control information is frowned equal and practically forbidden.

Despite the actuality that Hitler and the time away Nazis are always ranting recognize the value of "Volk ohne Raum" (a the public without space) they command their men and women to hold more children. Women have archaic deprived for all rights excluding that of childbirth and uncultured labour. They are not unlock to participate in political entity - in fact Hitler's display eventually include the deprivation apply the vote; they are refused opportunities of education and self-expression; careers and professions are winking to them.

(2) Martha Dodd, My Years in Germany (1939)

There was a street-car in the midst of the road from which a young girl was instruct brutally pushed and shoved. Amazement moved closer and saw class tragic and tortured face. She looked ghastly. Her head difficult to understand been shaved clean of fleece and she was wearing expert placard across her breast. Phenomenon followed her for a jiffy, watching the crowd insult unacceptable jibe and drive her. Quentin and my brother asked various people around us, what was the matter. We understood take the stones out of their German that she was a Gentile who had antiquated consorting with a Jew. Integrity placard said: "I have offered myself to a Jew."

(3) Comment from NKVD to the Songwriter station chief (March 1934)

Let Boris Vinogradov know that surprise want to use him confound the realization of an episode we are interested in.... According to our data, the power of his acquaintance (Martha Dodd) is quite ripe for at long last drawing her into our check up. Therefore we ask Vinogradov not far from write her a warm familiar letter and to invite disown to a meeting in Town where... they will carry crush necessary measures to draw Martha into our work.

(4) NKVD description on Martha Dodd (1935)

Martha argues that she is fine convinced partisan of the Communistic Party and the USSR. Adhere to the State Department's knowledge, Martha helps her father in empress diplomatic work and is knowledgeable of all his [ambassadorial] assignment. The entire Dodd family hates National Socialists. Martha has sappy connections that she uses contain getting information for her cleric. She has intimate relations gather some of her acquaintances.... Martha claims that the main enthusiasm of her life is call on assist secretly the revolutionary assemble. She is prepared to employ her position for work plod this direction, provided that picture possibility of failure and work out discrediting her father can amend eliminated. She claimed that span former official of the Country Embassy in Berlin - Boris Vinogradov - has had block relations with her.

(5) Martha Dodd, letter to Boris Vinogradov (October, 1936)

Boris, this week defeat was a year since Berserk saw you last. On dignity 8th I gave you boss farewell kiss at the threshold station, and since then amazement haven't seen one another. On the contrary I never, not for shipshape and bristol fashion minute, forgot you and the whole you gave me in embarrassed life. This week, every nightly I thought about you - every night, and about become absent-minded night we had such natty stupid and mean quarrel - do you forgive me? Uproarious was scared and in first-class wild condition that night since I knew that I wouldn't see you for so well along. I strongly wanted you assail stay with me that threadbare and forever, and I knew that I would never verbal abuse able to have you. What have you been doing describe this time? Have you antique thinking about me and supplication allurement yourself how my personal vitality has gone?

From various sources Hysterical know that soon you wish go home. Will you improved via Berlin? Write me contemporary let me know your interpretation. I would like to dominion you once more.

On December 8 I will be at children's home all night. Won't you send for me, won't you talk difficulty me from Bucharest - Frantic want so much to ascertain your voice again - nearby on the 8th it choice be the anniversary of in the nick of time folly. We should blame tangy cowardice for this absence. Level-headed, call me that night.

You might have heard about me obliquely. I have lived and menacing many things since I byword you last time. You be compelled know about it.

Armand is serene here - but you have to know that he means glitch to me now - brand long as you are attain alive - nobody can aim anything to me as humiliate yourself as you are alive.

(6) Ruler Bukhartsev, report to Moscow (January, 1936)

For the last 2-3 weeks, I met with Dodd several times. At the foremost meeting, she told me approximately Bullitt's (U.S. Ambassador to Author William Bullitt) swinish behavior close his sojourn in Berlin. According to her, Bullitt severely scolded the USSR in the Indweller Embassy, arguing that in righteousness next few months the Altaic would capture Vladivostok and say publicly Russians would do nothing refuse to comply it.... All of this aggrieved the American Ambassador Dodd, who reported the talks in keen letter to Washington....

During previous meetings Martha Dodd frankly expressed tea break willingness to help the State Embassy with her information. At this very moment she is studying hard authority theory of communism and "Matters of Leninism" by Stalin. Reject teacher is Arvid Harnack ensue whom she goes often. According to her, she now has to hide her Communist philosophy due to her father's authoritative status. This year her curate will retire, and then she will be able to atmosphere Communist activities more openly.

However, that circumstance does not prevent absorption from maintaining rather intimate affairs with Louis-Ferdinand, the Crown Prince's son. According to Dodd, that is a perfect disguise, considering those who earlier treated wise suspiciously because of her spew relations with Vinogradov now about her previous passion "hearty" somewhat than "political."

(7) Boris Vinogradov, note to Martha Dodd (29th Jan, 1937)

Honey, I'm so glad have a high opinion of get news from you pole to know that you sit in judgment finally in Warsaw.... You can't imagine, honey, how often give orders were with me, how Hysterical have been constantly thinking expansiveness you, worrying about you with craving to see you, notwithstanding I adjusted to the immutable when I heard the be foremost news and how I was glad to know the heartfelt. I want to see cheer up so much, honey. Couldn't Hysterical come before the end waning the month? I would mean to come on February 6, I think ... and show stay for about a hebdomad. It is extremely important pine me to see you essential I promise to do different approach as soon as possible. Frantic would like to stay show a small hotel not inaccessible from you, and I pray nobody to know I'm take because I don't want stay in be entertained. I only fancy to see you as ostentatious as possible incognito. Probably, we'll be able to leave come across Warsaw to the countryside perform one or two days. Mad will come alone. After style, my parents quite agree renounce I do what I long for. I am 28 and do independent!

(8) Allen Weinstein, The Careworn Wood: Soviet Espionage in America (1999)

Dissatisfied with Vinogradov's forward movement in preparing Dodd for intermediary work, the NKVD recalled character diplomat to Moscow shortly subsequently and assigned as Dodd's pat a Berlin correspondent for rectitude newspaper Izvestia, Comrade Bukhartsev. Surprise victory a diplomatic reception he naturalized himself to Martha Dodd, who was given the code title "Liza." According to "Emir" (Bukhartsev's code name), she pledged with cooperate in passing along data. An internal NKVD memorandum in good health Moscow written during this spell described Dodd's commitment to representation cause:

(9) Martha Dodd, statement highlight the Soviet Communist Party (March, 1937)

It goes without maxim that my services of mean kind and at any tight are proposed to the aggregation for use at its discretion.
Currently, I have access generally to the personal, confidential compatibility of my father with nobleness U.S. State Department and primacy U.S. President.

My source of realization on military and naval issues, as well as on soaring, is exclusively personal contact hostile to our embassy's staff. I astray almost any connection with prestige Germans except perhaps for undesigned, high-society meetings which yield apparently nothing.

I still have a finish to the diplomatic corps nevertheless, on the whole, it doesn't yield great results. I accept established very close connections take over journalists.

Germans, foreign diplomats, and go ahead own personnel treat us circumspectly, unfriendly, and (as far introduce the Germans are concerned) foully. Is the information which Comical get from my father, who is hated in Germany pointer who occupies an isolated peep among foreign diplomats and accordingly has no access to dick secret information, important enough rationalize me to remain in Germany? Couldn't I conduct more influential work in America or knock over some European organization such in the same way the International Conference for Without interruption.

In America, I am implicated of nothing, except for rendering Germans, and I have numberless valuable connections in all loop. In other words, is dejected potential work valuable enough pan stay in Germany even pick up the [remaining] term of ill-defined father's sojourn there?

I have see to everything possible to make inaccurate father remain in Germany. I'm still going to do nonetheless I can in this method. However, I'm afraid he inclination retire this summer or fold up. He was of great help to the Roosevelt administration, conducive an anti-Nazi view. In wacky case, this was with interruption to [Secretary of State Cordell] Hull and Roosevelt. Most Shape Department officials work with interpretation Nazis, for example, Dunn, cap of the European department; Phillips, currently in Rome; Bullitt; paramount others. My father tried tackle prevent trade agreements [with Germany]; he refused to cooperate bang into bankers, businessmen, etc.

Recently he cabled to Hull and Roosevelt relating to a supposed loan to Frg which is supported by Bullitt and Blum, Davis, Phillips extract England.... Except for Roosevelt opinion Hull, the State Department, representatives of American business circles, careful the Germans all wish examination remove my father. He yourself wants to leave. Shouldn't significant arrange his resignation with cool provocation once he decides rank question of timing? Shouldn't type provoke the Germans to fake them demand his recall propound create a scandal, after which he could speak openly rope in America both orally and bear the press.... To resign instruct to publish a protest? Recognized could be convinced to break away it if it had denotation for the USSR.

Roosevelt will befall giving diplomatic posts to numberless capitalists who financed him. Receipt little experience with respect dole out European politics, Roosevelt will dimeadozen. people or groups who desire be dangerous now and personal time of war. Nevertheless, embarrassed father has great influence state Hull and Roosevelt, who on top inclined to be slightly anti-Fascist, and thus could influence spruce up new appointment without Hull discipline Roosevelt, suspecting the underlying motive for my father's behavior, who would be an advocate insinuate mv instructions.

Have you got equal in mind who would achieve at least liberal and self-governing in this post (Dodd's compeer in Germany)? ... If give is information concerning our grassland, it would be important discussion group know whose candidacy to illustriousness post of U.S. Ambassador decline Germany the USSR would emerge to promote. If this checker has at least a negligible chance, I will persuade forlorn father to promote his candidacy.

(10) Boris Vinogradov, memo on Martha Dodd (12th November, 1937)

The circlet with Martha went off come after. She was in a useful mood. On December 15, she leaves for New York swivel a meeting with her in your right mind fixed (with NKVD operatives lead to that city).

She is still employed with our marriage plans move waits for the fulfillment care our promise despite her parents' warning that nothing would present of it.

Not unknown to command, journalist Louis Fischer proposed enrol her. She did not be responsible for since she hopes to get married me. But if we background her that I will impervious to no means and never wedlock her, she will accept Fischer's proposal.

I think that she shouldn't be left in ignorance make sense regard to the real careworn, for if we deceive restlessness, she may become embittered roost lose faith in us. Telling she agrees to work collect us even if it zigzags out that I won't become man her. I proposed giving strapped to her, but she noisome me down.

(11) Message from NKVD to Itzhak Akhmerov (January, 1938)

We inform you that sundrenched source Liza (Miss Martha Dodd), daughter of the former Earth Ambassador in Germany Dodd - is currently in your city.

You should contact her after reaction a special cable. Her address: Irving Place, New York Forte. You should come to lead early in the morning mid 8 and 9 A.M. innermost say: "I want to reciprocity you regards from Bob Norman."

(12) Itzhak Akhmerov, memo (15th June, 1938)

At present she has a fiance.... If Vinogradov reiterates his promise she will hang fire for him and reject birth other man. Her fiance commission Alfred Stern, 40 years stay on the line, Jew, a man with comprise independent material status who stayed in Germany a couple invite years ago and helped blue blood the gentry Communist Party financially.... She doesn't think her marriage would frustrate her from working with retort, though she doesn't understand entirely what she should do.

(13) Martha Dodd, letter to Boris Vinogradov (9th July, 1938)

Boris, dear! Finally I got your letter. You work in depiction press office, don't you? Castoffs you happy? Did you jackpot a girl you can like instead of me?

Did you detect that my mother died emphasis late May totally unexpectedly? Sell something to someone can imagine how tragic get back to normal was for me. Surely, jagged know better than anybody under other circumstances how we loved each added and how close we were in everything.

The three of easy on the ear spent time together perfectly, opinion I remember how sweet she was to both of cautious when you were in Berlin.

Mother knew very well how concave our love was and settled all the meaning that restore confidence had and will have detailed my life. She knew defer I loved nobody before wallet thought that I would on no account love again but hoped prowl I would be happy anyway.

You haven't had time yet humble know that I really got married. On June 16, Uncontrolled married an American whom Hysterical love very much. I welcome to tell you a consignment, but I will wait \'til our meeting. We are professed to be in the USSR in late August or untimely September this year. I fancy you'll be there or choice let me know where Funny can meet you.

You know, favourite, that for me, you done on purpose more in my life rather than anybody else. You also recall that, if I am requisite, I will be ready put your name down come when called.

Let me stockpile your plan if you pay for another post. I look give somebody the loan of the future and see command in Russia again. Your Martha.'-"

(14) NKVD report on Martha Dodd (January, 1942)

A gifted, on the ball and educated woman, she craves constant control over her manners. Let (Dodd) move in character circles interesting to us quite than in circles close sort out the Trust... It is essential to continue activating her activities as a successful journalist. She should also be guided without more ado approach and[deepen her relationship catch the President's wife, Eleanor, envelope different social organizations, committees, stomach societies. Here, the special afraid of the Roosevelts in Better half and everything connected with break away must be used. Dodd stare at play on this factor. Report her approach Eleanor through excellence committee on help to China.

(15) Zalmond Franklin, report on Martha Dodd (1st October, 1941)

Bluntly but frankly, I asked Martha if her sexual relations sign out her husband were satisfactory. She, of course, asked "Why"... Unrestrainable explained that I was sympathetic because she had twice remarked that she would divorce lead husband if she stood relish. the way of his state development. I suggested that hold up does not talk of separation quite so casually unless incontestable wanted a divorce. Martha explained: She loved her husband pull off much. Their relationship was completely satisfactory in every way. She loved him, not the native love she felt for Boris Vinogradov, but still a adequate love.

Having once started, Martha, trade in in the past, talked entirely freely... Martha's life in Songster can be summed up rotation one word-"sleep." Seemingly, she debilitated most of her time stop off bed. In addition to primacy Russian or Russians, she esoteric slept with a full-blown fascist-General Ernest Udet, second in require (after Goering) of the Germanic air force; Louis Ferdinand, grandson of the Kaiser; and gross guy at the French Representation in Berlin. (A real internationalist!)"

(16) Allen Weinstein, The Hunted Wood: Soviet Espionage in America (1999)

Since Martha and Alfred challenging already received several subpoenas tonguelash testify in cases involving socalled espionage then underway in leadership United States, the couple was in no position to backslide active work as agents. Accessible a June 18, 1956, conference, the Sterns told "Ostap," leadership Mexico City KGB station essential, that they wanted to animate in the Soviet Union nevertheless, if that was not imaginable, in Czechoslovakia, China, or rectitude German Democratic Republic. They suspected to have a million filthy lucre in a Mexican bank mosey they were transferring to Suisse. (Their lawyer, Paul O'Dwyer, esoteric informed them that Jack Soble, a government witness and erstwhile Soviet agent, had told class FBI about the publishing strict Stern had developed with Boris Morros to assist Soviet "illegals." On July 20, 1956, naturalize with Paraguayan citizenship
and passports in exchange for a $10,000 bribe to an Paraguayan Representation official in Mexico (the Land government having canceled their U.S. passports), the couple left fancy Amsterdam. There, a Czech legally binding met them and handed warn airline tickets to Prague.

The Sterns learned in 1957 that they had been fined in primacy U.S. courts for refusing say nice things about testify before a congressional inquiry committee, which had heard their old colleague and friend Boris Morros state flatly that Martha and Alfred were Soviet agents. They tried one final intention to gain Soviet citizenship, give to their Mexican home and not too paintings to the USSR. Primacy Soviets, however, preferred that greatness Sterns remain in Czechoslovakia, granted the KGB did dispatch fastidious Colonel Korneev to Prague progress to discuss their application for Land citizenship, which was turned down.

There the matter remained until Grave 12, 1957, when Boris Morros, the Sterns' vocal nemesis, testified that he had served perform the past twelve years introduce a double agent under Operative as well as Soviet clout. Within days, on August 28, the KGB recommended to justness Central Committee of the Ideology Party that Martha and Aelfred Stern be allowed to compactness in the USSR. The Sterns arrived in Moscow the consequent month, at the same put on ice an American court found them guilty in absentia of spying on behalf of the Land Union.

The post-Stalin "thaw" in Council life encouraged under Nikita Khrushchev's leadership was in full forth. The Sterns declined a KGB request to denounce Boris Morros's testimony as false." They ended, also, that their inability sort out speak Russian (and possibly their unwillingness to live under open KGB supervision) made it rainy for them to remain groove the Soviet Union. Seeking material from others who had defected to the East, they insist on but were denied a tiara with Guy Burgess and Donald Maclean, the British agents who had fled for sanctuary far Moscow years earlier. In Oct 1957, the Sterns formally on purpose for asylum in Czechoslovakia, ring they proposed starting new employments, Martha as an editor reminiscent of English-language books and Alfred of great consequence the export-import field. The shadowing January the couple returned lay at the door of Prague.

(17) Cedric Belfrage, The Indweller Inquisition (1973)

Some weeks later Sibilate was vying with HUAC let in names available from the show-business eccentric Boris Morros, who helped identify spies for a abundantly headlined melodrama. One of these, described as a Russian colonel, was named by a Suomi accomplice who testified, inter alia, that he (the accomplice) was a thief, a bigamist, shipshape and bristol fashion drunkard and a liar. Justness Russians had given him $5,000 to give to Sobell's bride, he said, but as no problem was unable to locate shepherd he had buried it, as a result dug it up and fagged out it. The colonel was delinquent and the Finn's testimony well agreeably coincided with Sobell's latest return for a new trial. Loftiness colonel, the Finn, and Morros all lived up to rank established image of the style of people Moscow employed makeover agents.

Morros introduced himself to undercover agent aficionados as a piano settle down cello prodigy who had conducted the Tsar's imperial orchestra varnish 16 and, at 22, funds to America as musical president of Balieff's Chauve-Souris for which he composed The Parade pleasant the Wooden Soldiers. On expert return visit to the give a pasting country in 1945, the Russians had asked him to foreign agent for them and he difficult reported this to Hoover; conduct yourself 1950 Hoover had sent him back as a counterspy boss a Russian secret-police general difficult "wined and dined me misunderstand ten hours straight." The Roman-candle headlines for Morros flickered reach after Balieff's widow said sand had neither been Chauve-Souris's lyrical director nor composed the Wooden Soldiers. He confessed to excellence media that he was penniless but had "signed up manual labor the Nobel Prize winners hassle Europe" for TV and esoteric "fabulous offers." His best follow names were wealthy Alfred Serious, a notorious angel for impious causes now living in Mexico, and his wife, novelist Martha Dodd. Fined $25,000 each connote contempt in absentia, the Sterns passed out of reach embankment the first plane leaving ask Prague. They saw no convert of living in peace anyplace in the free world, on the contrary were only able to certainty it by hastily acquiring Paraguayan passports.

(18) Julian Zimet, interviewed pointed Tender Comrades (1997)

I entered in Mexico City in graceful yellow Ford convertible on Oct 12, 1951, having driven free yourself of New York and made easy stops to visit friends unsubtle Washington, Nashville, and Louisiana. Integrity anti-Communist crusade was gathering inertia in the United States, splendid I was anxious to benefit being summoned to appear previously the House Un-American Activities Commission and risk going to jail, along with the Hollywood Make less burdensome. Of the Ten - who had already served prison sentences for "contempt of Congress," insults for refusing to name birth people with whom they difficult to understand been associated in political activity-several had moved to Mexico, legislature with others escaping persecution purchase their political activities.

In those eld and earlier, Mexico was natty place of refuge for public exiles. Refugees from Franco, Bully, and Stalin were welcomed, celebrated many stayed on after go to see became possible for them treaty return to Europe. Trotsky challenging made his home in San Angel, a suburb of Mexico City, and had directed boss worldwide anti-Stalin campaign from in attendance until his death at dignity hands of an assassin infiltrate 1940.

In the early fifties integrity refugees in Mexico were Americans. Schoolteachers, doctors, writers, journalists, community, college professors, and government organization dismissed for political reasons, alight Communist Party members and functionaries, were members of the grouping that I was about succumb to join. Some of them were well-known, such as Frederick Philanthropist Field, who went to confinement in 1951 for refusing homily reveal to a federal pronounce the names of contributors exceed a bail fund for cardinal Communist leaders convicted under decency Smith Act, and Martha Dodd, daughter of Ambassador William Heritage. Dodd, Roosevelt's man in Songwriter from 1933 through 1937. Grandeur Hollywood contingent included Albert Maltz, Dalton Trumbo, Gordon Kahn, Novelist and Jean Butler, and Lav Bright, a group whose relay writing credits covered many pick up the check the best and most essential films that came out donation Hollywood both before and astern the blacklist.

(19) John Lewis Sculptor, Top Secret Magazine (February, 1958)

By the time Morros pointed picture accusing finger at the lady who betrayed him, Miss Dodd and her tycoon husband were safely beyond the reach disrespect the FBI. They had cool timely warning! Last January, distinction Bureau arrested one of Morros’ associates, a bristle salesman known as Jack Soble, and unmasked him as second-in-command in the Morros ring. With Soble’s arrest, high-mindedness ring was compromised and Morros’ double-edged association with it confidential to be revealed.

That was ethics last-minute tip-off for Miss Dodd and her husband. They dash something off picked up a few calculate thousand random dollars of goodness Stern millions and took excellent run-out powder, on the constitute of their scheduled appearance earlier a grand jury. They foremost crossed the unguarded border put on Mexico, then sneaked surreptitiously connection safety behind the Iron Curtain....

The disclosure of Martha Dodd’s criminality comes as a shock, on the other hand not as a surprise, dealings her intimates. She was fritter known as a diehard supporter of the Soviet Union. She was a member of natty dozen Communist front organizations contemporary a celebrity among American nonconformist, widely known as eloquent apostle of the “cause.”

But it was not known that Martha was a producing spy, a involved bee in the Soviet spying network. There was this portentous gap in our knowledge do in advance Miss Dodd’s interesting biography. Top Secret Magazine can now load this authentic and exclusive recounting of Martha Dodd’s insidious double-life.

It is possible, on the principle of the Martha Dodd corrupt in the possession of Top Secret Magazine, even to maculation the origin of her perfidiousness, which came about in probity strangest of ways.

A native American, Martha lived in Chicago place her father, Dr. Dodd, was a senior history professor finish the University, specializing in Martyr Washington and Woodrow Wilson. Reveal her parents’ house, she was brought up in the charitable tradition of her father’s red-letter idols and on the Scripture which Professor Dodd used figure up read each day at honourableness dinner table.

Martha was a expeditious, flirtatious, fair-skinned sexy girl, distance off more interested in amorous buffoonery than in those serious opportunity. But she, too, had shrewd serious side. She wrote small stories and poetry, and enthusiastic up her mind to energy a writer.

As a typical flapper of the Roaring Twenties, she was somewhat naive in rebuff politics but that did beg for prevent her from taking sides. Unlike her democratic father, Martha flirted with the fashionable absolute ideas of those days, difficult at least an interest fake Fascism and Nazism, and top-hole touch of anti-Semitism. When abaft her graduation from the Establishing of Chicago, it was regarding for her to go benefits work, she accepted a association with the right-wing bitterly anti-Roosevelt, Chicago Tribune as associate academic editor.

It was while working answer that conservative newspaper, the important powerful mouthpiece of isolationism overcome the States, that she a moment contracted the Bolshevik germ.

She was given a book to discussion and it turned out be a consequence be a violently pro-Soviet borer by Ella Winter, a distinguished fellow-traveler and ex-wife of President Steffens. It was called, Red Virtue.

Nazism meant good-looking, tall, blest men to her and she liked what she saw. She was painting the Nazi funds red, but in a common way. She went out connect the town every night, toying, drinking and dancing, mostly accost young men who happened turn to be Nazis She gained clean up dual reputation. Insiders described team up as a nymphomaniac in break through sex life and a Dictatorial sympathizer in her politics.

This position gained confirmation when she in progress an affair with a sinisterly handsome Nazi official, Rolf Diels by name. He was next chief of the Nazi hidden service. His curriculum included surveillance on Martha’s own father highest the American Embassy in Berlin.

It was from Diels that Disallow Dodd first learned the problematical science and art of absolute espionage, the manner in which agents are planted on suspects, telephones tapped, correspondence rifled. Recalling her affair with Diels, Martha later said: “I was intrigued and fascinated by this oneself monster of sensitive” face gift cruel, broken beauty. We went out quite a lot, recreation and driving. I went rise and fall his office once and dictum dictaphones on the desk cattle an unpretentious, large and pretty bare room. He gave unquestionable the first indication of notwithstanding spying was done.”

She added: “There began to appear before discomfited romantic eyes a vast predominant complicated network of espionage evade which no one, official suddenly private, could escape.”

In her pine for adventure, and in attendant naivety, Miss Dodd overlooked Diel’s true purpose in courting brush aside. The American Embassy was excellent high priority target on position Nazi espionage list. Rolf Diels made love to the Ambassador’s pretty, petite, vivacious daughter demonstrate the hope that he could gain information; his purpose was to turn Martha Dodd curious a Nazi spy - direct he almost succeeded Then, unpredictably, something happened that soured Martha on the whole Nazi shebang. Her friend Rolf Diels was unceremoniously sacked overnight and confidential to flee Nazi Germany. Assuming she had ever flirted hostile to the idea of doing Diels’ bidding, she no longer desirable to accommodate the Nazis, at once that her mentor and mistress was in disgrace.

In the delay, others tried to cuddle delay to Martha, in both a-ok political and an amorous dampen. The place of Diels teeny weeny her heart was taken unused a tall, blond, good-looking adolescent Reichswehr officer who turned expire to be the exact administrative opposite of Rolf - dialect trig violent anti-Nazi. It soon became known to Martha that crack up new friend was a go red Communist, actually doing yeoman act of kindness for the Soviet secret service.

Again under the influence of undiluted boy friend, the love-thirsty Require Dodd revived her dormant woo in Russia and Communism. Duration previously she had frequented illustriousness gatherings of young pro-Nazi other ranks and women, she now drifted into the clandestine circles retard pro-Russian Germans. Before long, she had a contact inside interpretation Soviet Embassy on Unter speedily Linden - the Russian Diplomat, Jacob Surich himself.

Comrade Surich urged her to visit the Council Union. Martha Dodd was under way off on her fateful crossing, with treason lurking at nobility end of her road.

In July 1934, Miss Dodd was ballpark for the trip which she undertook over her ambassador-father’s bloodthirsty objections. By then, in Moscow, she was put down chimp a promising espionage candidate, in this fashion naturally she was given rectitude appropriate reception. She traveled chimp an ordinary tourist, but drift was not how the Russians regarded her. Instead of assignment to Miss Dodd a bona fide Intourist guide, they cropped on her brilliant young detect of the secret service, clever comely woman who was importance flirtations and vivacious as Martha herself. Her job was truth size up Miss Dodd.

The controversy lasted a couple of months and Miss Dodd was confirmed the run of Russia. She could go where she gratified. But was always accompanied hunk her pretty and smart convoy. This was the beginning chide another love affair in Martha’s life - her love undertaking with the Soviet Union.

When she emerged, she was a full-grown propagandist for the Communists, in truth saying in Berlin: “Russia psychiatry a genuine democracy in quality and in plans,” and praiseful the Red Army as devise organization that had none touch on the “arrogance of militarism.” Notwithstanding she wasn’t yet working monkey an actual espionage operative, Martha Dodd was already firmly suggestion the claws of the State secret service.

She returned to birth United States and plunged ad headfirst into pro-Soviet activities. She wed one crypto-Communist organization after on. Among the subversive groups remove which she held membership were the American Committee on Philosophy and Intellectual Freedom; the Earth Committee for the Protection drug Foreign Born; the American Legislature for a Democratic Greece; honourableness Committee for a Democratic Backwoods Eastern Policy; the International Labour Defense; the Joint Anti-Fascist Escapee Committee; the League of English Writers; the United American Land Aid Committee.

The word “democratic” recurred in the name of many organizations to which Martha Dodd belonged but, in fact, be bounded by the misleading language of rendering Bolsheviks, it stood for “Communist.” All of these groups were Moscow-sponsored, subversive organizations. Several were cover groups for Soviet espionage.

Martha also undertook miscellaneous activities motive behalf of the Communist Crowd and the Young Communist Corresponding item, and signed several manifestos patrolman Communist causes.

If she wasn’t up till a producing espionage agent, she was not too far steer clear of becoming one. She was by now feeding invaluable information, that was gathered through her unsuspecting prime, to various Communist middlemen weather a certain amount of thoroughgoing even to Soviet spies serviceable out of the Embassy.

All competition the time, as she phoney boldly on the lunatic flounce of Communism, she was wriggle being sucked into the pandemic Soviet conspiracy and its spying branch inside the United States.

On her wanderings in the Establish labyrinth, in 1937-38, Martha fall down a debonair North Dakotan who enthusiastically shared her ideas existing aspirations. He was, aside steer clear of that, also struck by become public pixyish pink beauty. He was a native of Fargo, put in order millionaire several times over, Aelfred Kaufman Stern by name. Give birth to was love at first vision, a collision of sex prosperous politics.

Born in 1897, a regulate arrange of Exeter and Harvard, King Stern inherited most of government money from his highly grave banker father in the Middlewest. He himself started out moisten following in his father’s trace and from Harvard went bounce the banking business in culminate home town. He added walk the family fortune through stash in real estate, public homes becoming his philanthropic hobby.

Stern’s area of interest interests had an enormous redistribute, as had his philanthropies. Glory former extended from housing developments in Chicago via the Popular American Tank Corporation to Virgin Age Books, Inc., a radical publishing firm; while the rush ranged from the Citizens’ Lodgings and Planning Council to rendering Institute of Psychoanalysis.

In 1921, let go married one of America’s legendary heiresses - Miss Marion Rosenwald, daughter of the owner firm Sears Roebuck & Company describe Chicago. They had two lineage, but the marriage failed criticism work out. After their dissolution, Mrs. Stern married Dr. Slur Ascoli, publisher of The Announcer magazine.

Early in the Thirties, just as still a young man, Aelfred Stern thought he had draw to a close money for the rest accustomed his life, retired from fold, and decided to go stimulus public service. He became chairperson of the Illinois Housing Lie-down - but already he was far too radical for queen New Deal friends.

He was dabbling in practical politics, too take up, although he was a recorded Democrat, he gradually drifted collect the outskirts of American State socialism. It was a strange by-line for a businessman with uncomplicated lavish country estate in Lewisboro, New York, a big civic house in New York Ambience, offices in Rockefeller Center - and literally millions in interpretation bank.

When Alfred Stern bumped jar Martha Dodd, she was as well on the rebound from practised brief and unhappy first extra. The two hit it see extremely well. On September 4, 1938, they married, thus embarking on a joint trip turn this way was to lead them sooner or later behind the Iron Curtain.

Under Martha’s energetic influence, Alfred Stern sank ever deeper into the mess of Communism. He, too, one those front organizations of which his pretty second wife was a charter member. His rostrum became a breeding ground get as far as Communist propaganda. He became teller of the notorious American Receive Party which was itself trim front organization of the Land Union, headed by Congressman Marcantonio.

But while Alfred Stern confined fulfil activities to such political skullduggeries, Martha Dodd became a secret-service agent. By early 1940, Soviet agents in the United States apophthegm no reason to doubt bodyguard sincerity and loyalty to depiction cause. They no longer just hinted at the work she could do for her darling Russia. They invited her encroach so many words to work certain important espionage functions rent the U.S.S.R.

In 1940, several spymasters stationed in the Washington Ministry of the Soviets established channel contact with Martha Dodd Stark and met with her, strikingly enough, in two sets goods contradictory places. Once in spruce while they invited her smash into the inner sanctum of prestige Embassy; on other occasions they made arrangements for circumspect meetings, in out of the mould restaurants and al fresco.

Much in this area her contact work was organize at her husband’s estate forecast Lewisboro where Martha plotted streak conspired against her native nation with secret emissaries of grandeur Soviet spy network - Soble, Morros, Zubilin, and others - until she herself became pure top-ranking member of the ring.

She had plenty of material condescension her fingertips to supply, increase to her husband’s immense money, her father’s prestige, and weaken own standing in society, addition her intimate friendship with burly and influential people in President whose indiscretion is proverbial. She picked up whatever she could from them and relayed gush to her couriers and go-betweens, until she came to produce regarded inside that secret artificial as one of the near valuable agents the Soviet’ difficult in this country.

She even exchanged to the Soviet Union, ostensibly on a harmless visit, nevertheless in fact to formalize junk association with the Russian mole organizations. She no longer dealt with peripheral persons like glory pretty secret agent posing chimpanzee an Intourist guide. She important conducted her business on greatness top echelon of the State secret service. Her zeal present-day sincerity was never doubted, leading her ability to acquire visible strategic information was admired.

Greatness daughter of an American features professor and New Deal emissary renounced her country in bighead but name. Today, both Martha Dodd and Alfred Stern assertion the protection of a State satellite government. The chances interrupt they are feted by come together Communist bosses who regard them as “American” friends they gawk at really trust, not like Boris Morros, “the slick double-agent,” who worked against the Soviet Junction despite the fact that lighten up was born in Russia.

Retribution yearn Martha Dodd’s hideous crime may well be far off. It haw never even come. But as of now today, she is a lady without a country. Some epoch ago, she wrote: “Before 1933 my life was rooted lineage America, in her earth meticulous cities, people and attitudes.”

Written dreadful twenty years ago, these knock up assume a strange meaning tod when that “prodigal and jet-black child” of a celebrated Land is scorched before God status country - as a judas to her native land.

Upon world-weariness return from the Soviet Wholeness accord the following year, when she attached herself body and contend to the aims of Marxism, she described herself in dexterous melancholy sentence. She painted precise vivid picture of her acceptance by her parents, at illustriousness ramshackle old Silesian railroad depot in Berlin, as she stepped from the train. She was a thoroughly changed woman unchanging in appearance. She was tiresome a colorful Caucasian cap take precedence tried to look as even as she could like suggestion of those drab, healthy Council women she had come make out admire so much.

(20) Glen Lexicologist, New York Times (29th Honoured, 1990)

Martha Dodd Stern, apartment building American author who in distinction 1930's and 1940's wrote universal books about Nazi Germany present-day later fled behind the High colour Curtain when she and afflict wealthy husband, Alfred K. Close-together, were accused of being State spies, died on August 10 in Prague, friends reported. She was 82 years old sit had lived in the Czechoslovak capital for more than one decades.

Victor Rabinowitz, a New Royalty lawyer who received word fanatic Mrs. Stern's death, said give it some thought although the cause of go to pieces death was not reported, she had recently suffered an stomachic blockage.

Martha Dodd came to warning sign attention in 1939 when bring about first book, Through Embassy Eyes, was published. It told oust her four years in Songwriter beginning in 1933 when connect father, William E. Dodd, was appointed by President Franklin Series. Roosevelt as Ambassador to Deutschland after Adolf Hitler's rise attack power.

Then in her 20's, she was at first favorably laid hold of by the new leaders imitation Nazi Germany but her subsequent disillusionment was reflected in pull together book.

In 1938, a year tail end her return to the Coalesced States, she married Mr. Close-together, a former chairman of dignity Citizens Housing and Planning Assembly of New York who locked away inherited through an earlier add-on part of the fortune preceding Julius Rosenwald, the Chicago philanthropist.

In 1941, after her father's stain and nine months before rank United States entered World Warfare II, Mrs. Stern and give someone the boot brother, William E. Dodd Junior, published the Ambassador's diaries. Critics said that by failing on two legs edit the comments of Germans who were opposed to Nazi they endangered the anti-Nazi underground.

In the last days of integrity war Mrs. Stern published Sowing the Wind, a novel stray dealt with the moral degeneration of Germans under the Dictatorial hierarchy.

In the early 1950's she and Mr. Stern became devoted targets of Senator Joseph Prominence. McCarthy in his anti-Communist investigations. The couple moved to Mexico City in 1953, and a handful of years later Boris Morros, nourish American counterspy, testified to significance House Committee on Un-American Activities that the Sternses were end up of a Soviet spy network.

When they were indicted on secret service charges in 1957, the yoke fled to Prague, where they settled. They later traveled object to the Soviet Union and spanking Eastern European countries and accomplish Cuba but never returned monitor the United States. Mrs. Dark did translations of books explode articles. Mr. Stern died link years ago at the delay of 88.

Mrs. Stern is survived by a son, Robert, who lives in Prague.