Difference between revisions of "Litzi Friedmann"

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'''Alice Friedmann''' (née '''Kohlmann'''; 1910–1991), known as '''Litzi Friedmann''', was an [[Austria]]n [[Communist]] who was the first wife of [[Kim Philby]], a member of the [[Cambridge Five]].<ref>https://www.theguardian.com/weekend/story/0,3605,951585,00.html</ref> Records identify her as the Soviet agent with the code name Mary.<ref>Volodarsky, Boris (2015). ''Stalin's Agent: The Life and Death of Alexander Orlov''. Oxford: Oxford University Press. p. 85. ISBN 9780199656585.</ref><ref name=":1">Trahair, Richard (2009). ''Encyclopedia of Cold War Espionage, Spies, and Secret Operations''. New York: Enigma Books. p. 141. </ref>
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==Early life==
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Friedmann was born in [[Vienna]] to Israel and Gisella Kohlman in 1910.<ref>Simkin, John. [https://spartacus-educational.com/Litzi_Friedmann.htm "Litzi Friedmann"]. Spartacus Educational. Spartacus Educational Publishers Ltd. Retrieved 3 June 2015.</ref>
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In 1931, Kohlmann married the [[Zionist]] Karl Friedmann. They divorced one year later.
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== Political activity ==
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Still living in Vienna, Friedmann joined the [[Communist Party of Austria]] (KPÖ) and worked for the Moscow-led European underground. She was imprisoned for several weeks in 1933 for her Communist Party affiliation;<ref name=":2">Pearce, Martin (2016). ''Spymaster: The Life of Britain's Most Decorated Cold War Spy and Head of MI6, Sir Maurice Oldfield.'' London: Bantam Press. p. 89. ISBN 9780593075203.</ref> in this year, the KPÖ became an underground organisation. Friedmann had a wide network of Communist connections across Europe, including to Soviet intelligence.<ref name=":0">http://www.laphamsquarterly.org/roundtable/my-spy</ref> She was also in a romantic relationship with [[Gábor Péter]] (Benjámin Eisenberger), who was then married to another woman.<ref>Volodarsky, Boris (2014). ''Stalin's Agent: The Life and Death of Alexander Orlov.'' London: Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-965658-5.</ref>
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In February 1934, the government of [[Engelbert Dollfuss]] began a further crackdown on known leftists. Working with [[Kim Philby]], Friedmann smuggled activists out of Vienna through the sewer system.<ref name=":0" />
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The couple married in Vienna on 24 February, partly so Philby's British citizenship could protect Friedmann from the Austrian police. An account stated that the marriage was pushed by Friedmann's father for this purpose.<ref name=":2" /> According to some sources, [[Teddy Kollek]], later the Mayor of [[Jerusalem]], was present at the wedding.<ref>Philby, Rufina (2003). ''The Private Life of Kim Philby: The Moscow Years.'' ISBN 0-9536151-6-2.</ref>
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In 1934, the Socialist movement collapsed, and the couple left Vienna for London in April to live with Philby's mother.<ref name=":0" /> Friedmann had a friend in London who was working for Soviet intelligence, the photographer and fellow Viennese [[Edith Tudor-Hart]].<ref name=":1" /> Due to her work, Hart had extensive contacts in British society and was involved in the Soviet recruitment while helping facilitate the relations between the [[Communist Party of Britain]] and the Soviet embassy.<ref name=":1" /> Burgess used both Friedmann and Hart as couriers to the [[NKVD]]'s Paris station.<ref name=":1" /> One biographer of Philby, [[Genrikh Borovik]], who had access to the Soviet archives, says that Tudor-Hart recommended Friedmann and Philby as suitable candidates for NKVD recruitment.<ref>Borovik, Genrikh (1994). ''The Philby Files – The Secret Life of Master Spy Kim Philby.'' ISBN 0-316-10284-9.</ref>
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Friedmann and Philby split up in the 1930s&nbsp;– some sources claim that Philby had to distance himself from known communists to penetrate the British establishment. However, they remained in contact for years afterwards and divorced only in 1946.
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In 1946, after the war, Friedmann and the German-Jewish refugee [[Georg Honigmann]] lived in [[East Berlin]], where Honigmann became editor of the ''[[Berliner Zeitung]]''.
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== Death and legacy ==
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Friedmann died in 1991. Her daughter, German writer [[Barbara Honigmann]], wrote a biography of her mother.<ref>Honigmann, Barbara (2004). ''Ein Kapitel aus meinem Leben'' (A Chapter from my Life). ISBN 3-446-20531-4.</ref>
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Latest revision as of 10:16, 19 October 2023

Person.png Litzi Friedmann   SpartacusRdf-entity.pngRdf-icon.png
Born1910
Died1991 (Age 80)
EthnicityJewish
SpouseKim Philby
First wife of Kim Philby, and possibly a Soviet agent.

Alice Friedmann (née Kohlmann; 1910–1991), known as Litzi Friedmann, was an Austrian Communist who was the first wife of Kim Philby, a member of the Cambridge Five.[1] Records identify her as the Soviet agent with the code name Mary.[2][3]

Early life

Friedmann was born in Vienna to Israel and Gisella Kohlman in 1910.[4]

In 1931, Kohlmann married the Zionist Karl Friedmann. They divorced one year later.

Political activity

Still living in Vienna, Friedmann joined the Communist Party of Austria (KPÖ) and worked for the Moscow-led European underground. She was imprisoned for several weeks in 1933 for her Communist Party affiliation;[5] in this year, the KPÖ became an underground organisation. Friedmann had a wide network of Communist connections across Europe, including to Soviet intelligence.[6] She was also in a romantic relationship with Gábor Péter (Benjámin Eisenberger), who was then married to another woman.[7]

In February 1934, the government of Engelbert Dollfuss began a further crackdown on known leftists. Working with Kim Philby, Friedmann smuggled activists out of Vienna through the sewer system.[6]

The couple married in Vienna on 24 February, partly so Philby's British citizenship could protect Friedmann from the Austrian police. An account stated that the marriage was pushed by Friedmann's father for this purpose.[5] According to some sources, Teddy Kollek, later the Mayor of Jerusalem, was present at the wedding.[8]

In 1934, the Socialist movement collapsed, and the couple left Vienna for London in April to live with Philby's mother.[6] Friedmann had a friend in London who was working for Soviet intelligence, the photographer and fellow Viennese Edith Tudor-Hart.[3] Due to her work, Hart had extensive contacts in British society and was involved in the Soviet recruitment while helping facilitate the relations between the Communist Party of Britain and the Soviet embassy.[3] Burgess used both Friedmann and Hart as couriers to the NKVD's Paris station.[3] One biographer of Philby, Genrikh Borovik, who had access to the Soviet archives, says that Tudor-Hart recommended Friedmann and Philby as suitable candidates for NKVD recruitment.[9]

Friedmann and Philby split up in the 1930s – some sources claim that Philby had to distance himself from known communists to penetrate the British establishment. However, they remained in contact for years afterwards and divorced only in 1946.

In 1946, after the war, Friedmann and the German-Jewish refugee Georg Honigmann lived in East Berlin, where Honigmann became editor of the Berliner Zeitung.

Death and legacy

Friedmann died in 1991. Her daughter, German writer Barbara Honigmann, wrote a biography of her mother.[10]


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References

  1. ↑ https://www.theguardian.com/weekend/story/0,3605,951585,00.html
  2. ↑ Volodarsky, Boris (2015). Stalin's Agent: The Life and Death of Alexander Orlov. Oxford: Oxford University Press. p. 85. ISBN 9780199656585.
  3. ↑ a b c d Trahair, Richard (2009). Encyclopedia of Cold War Espionage, Spies, and Secret Operations. New York: Enigma Books. p. 141.
  4. ↑ Simkin, John. "Litzi Friedmann". Spartacus Educational. Spartacus Educational Publishers Ltd. Retrieved 3 June 2015.
  5. ↑ a b Pearce, Martin (2016). Spymaster: The Life of Britain's Most Decorated Cold War Spy and Head of MI6, Sir Maurice Oldfield. London: Bantam Press. p. 89. ISBN 9780593075203.
  6. ↑ a b c http://www.laphamsquarterly.org/roundtable/my-spy
  7. ↑ Volodarsky, Boris (2014). Stalin's Agent: The Life and Death of Alexander Orlov. London: Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-965658-5.
  8. ↑ Philby, Rufina (2003). The Private Life of Kim Philby: The Moscow Years. ISBN 0-9536151-6-2.
  9. ↑ Borovik, Genrikh (1994). The Philby Files – The Secret Life of Master Spy Kim Philby. ISBN 0-316-10284-9.
  10. ↑ Honigmann, Barbara (2004). Ein Kapitel aus meinem Leben (A Chapter from my Life). ISBN 3-446-20531-4.
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