Morris Cohen (spy)

Morris Cohen (1910-1995), also known as "Peter Kroger," was an American-born Soviet spy who, along with his wife Lona Cohen (also known as Leontine Theresa Kroger), formed a crucial part of the Rosenbergs' spy ring during World War II and the Cold War.

Born in New York City to Ukrainian Jewish immigrants, Cohen became involved in communist activities in the 1930s. He fought in the Spanish Civil War as part of the Abraham Lincoln Brigade, a unit composed of American volunteers fighting on the Republican side against Franco's forces. This experience solidified his communist beliefs and his willingness to serve the Soviet Union.

After returning to the United States, Cohen was recruited by the NKVD (later the KGB), the Soviet intelligence agency. He and his wife became important couriers and recruiters, passing along valuable information, including atomic secrets, obtained from Klaus Fuchs through Julius and Ethel Rosenberg. Their role involved collecting data from the Rosenbergs, packaging it, and transmitting it to Soviet handlers.

Following the arrest of the Rosenbergs, the Cohens fled the United States in 1950. They resurfaced in England under the assumed identities of Peter and Helen Kroger, posing as antiquarian booksellers. They maintained a clandestine communications base in their Cranley Drive home in Ruislip, West London, used to transmit information to Moscow.

In 1961, the Cohens were arrested in London as part of the Portland Spy Ring, which involved naval secrets. They were convicted of espionage and sentenced to lengthy prison terms. In 1969, they were exchanged for captured British agent Gerald Brooke.

After their release, the Cohens lived in Moscow, where they were celebrated as heroes by the Soviet Union. They trained future generations of KGB operatives and were awarded high honors for their service. Morris Cohen died in Moscow in 1995, and Lona died in 1992. Their story highlights the complexities and consequences of ideological commitment during the Cold War era.