The Rosenbergs

The case of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg remains a significant chapter in American history, as they were implicated in espionage activities with the Soviet Union during the Cold War era.

Julius Rosenberg, Soviet Spy Who Passed Atomic Bomb Info To USSR

Rosenberg Spied For Soviets In 1940s, Sharing Military and Tech Secrets

Josh Clark points out that Julius Rosenberg was definitely a Soviet spy, and his career in espionage spanned more than a decade. He was deeply influenced by the Young Communist League and held ideals in alignment with their agenda. As an electrical engineer hired by the US Army Signal Corps, Rosenberg had the intention of stealing military secrets and relaying them to the Soviet Union.

Rosenberg Recruited Brother-In-law Greenglass for Atomic Bomb Information

By 1942, Julius had begun passing sensitive weapons information to the Soviets, including details about a proximity fuse, with Semyon Semyonov and Alexander Feklisov as his handlers. David Greenglass, Julius Rosenberg's brother-in-law, was arrested and admitted that he had conveyed atomic bomb information to a Soviet agent, Harry Gold, in June 1945 after being recruited by Julius.

Venona Cables Confirmed Rosenberg's Role as Soviet Spy

The decryption of the Venona cables played a critical role in confirming Rosenberg's espionage, as it provided evidence of his activities as a Soviet agent.

Ethel Rosenberg Likely Knew Of and Assisted Her Husband's Espionage Activities

Ethel May Have Typed Classified Notes For Julius to Pass To Soviets

The narrative around Ethel Rosenberg's involvement is complex and subject to ongoing historical debate. Although Julius was actively engaged in espionage, the connection of his wife Ethel to these activities is less clear. Some hypothesize she may have helped by typing up classified notes that Julius passed on to the Soviets.

Ethel's Involvement in the Spy Ring Is Believed by Some H ...

The Greenglass family played a pivotal role in the espionage case that led to the conviction and execution of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg.

David Greenglass, Ethel's Brother, Gave Atomic Bomb Secrets to the Rosenbergs

In August 1944, David Greenglass was working on the atomic bomb project when he was approached by his brother-in-law, Julius Rosenberg. During a furlough in January 1945, Julius solicited atomic secrets from David in New York. David agreed to provide them and later delivered a written account of his knowledge of the atomic bomb project to Julius. David also attempted to recruit individuals within Los Alamos and elsewhere for espionage and became involved in spying himself. Initially denying any wrongdoing, Greenglass eventually admitted to his espionage activities after he was identified by Harry Gold, a known courier.

When first questioned by the FBI, David did not implicate his sister Ethel in the spy ring. However, under the pressure of potential punishment and to protect his own wife, he changed his testimony to include her. This false testimony, which Greenglass acknowledged in 2001, was crucial in convicting the Rosenbergs, as he perjured himself to save his wife, Ruth. Greenglass admitted to this betrayal, corroborated by Chuck Bryant and Josh Clark, who suggest that Ethel's involvement was fabricated by David to shield his wife from prosecution.

Ruth Greenglass Recruited Her Husband to Spy For the Rosenbergs

Ruth Greenglass had a significant part to play in the espionage activities of her husband, David Greenglass. Recruited by Julius Rosenberg, Ruth convinced her husband to shar ...

The Rosenbergs became a notorious example of Cold War espionage and generated immense controversy over their harsh sentencing.

Rosenbergs Charged With Espionage Act Conspiracy

Julius and Ethel Rosenberg were arrested and charged with conspiracy to commit espionage under the Espionage Act of 1917. The prosecution’s case against the couple heavily relied on witnesses connected to them, including David Greenglass, Ethel’s brother, who testified that Julius asked him to write down everything he knew about the atomic bomb.

Anti-Communist Judge Imposes Death Penalty

Judge Irving Kaufman, known for his harsh sentencing of communist spies, presided over the Rosenbergs' trial, which concluded in March 1951 with the couple being sentenced to death. Judge Kaufman stated that their crime was worse than murder. The trial featured a heavy animosity between Julius Rosenberg and David Greenglass, stemming from personal grievances and failed business ventures, which some historians believe may have influenced Greenglass's damning testimony against the Rosenbergs.

The prosecution, led by Irving Sépal, brought in multiple witnesses against the Rosenbergs. Their testimonies included various accusations, such as Julius Rosenberg inquiring about inoculations for a trip to Mexico and Elizabeth Bentley claiming she saw someone resembling Julius talking to a known Soviet operative. Max Elektor, Julius’s former classmate, testified that Julius tried to recruit him as a spy, and Louis Abel, Ruth's brother-in-law, stated he received money from Ruth and David Greenglass, which he suspected came from Julius for espionage.

Despite J. Edgar Hoover's personal communication urging Judge Kaufman not to impose the death penalty and concerns over personal vendettas possibly influencing the case, the death penalty was insisted upon by the judge. This sentencing directive seemed to be propelled by a tactic to leverage Ethel's conviction against Julius in order to extract more information from them.

Rosenbergs Declared Innocence, Found Guilty, Sentenced To Death

Throughout the trial and up until their execution, the Rosenbergs maintained their innocence. The duo did not recant their positions or cooperate with authorities, rejecting several offers that could have bypassed the death penalty. Instead, they were steadfast, with D ...

The case of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg remains a divisive topic, with various opinions on Ethel's involvement in espionage and the fairness of their punishment.

Historians Challenge Evidence, Unjust Execution of Ethel Rosenberg

Ethel Rosenberg's role in the spy ring was at best peripheral. She's known to have typed up notes that Julius later destroyed. However, the conversation acknowledges that her actual involvement in espionage remains unclear and her conviction was influenced by her brother's false testimony, which he confessed to many years after the trial.

Public figures including Pablo Picasso, Albert Einstein, and the Pope spoke out against Ethel's execution, casting doubt on her guilt and the motivation behind her conviction. The FBI itself has suggested that Ethel, particularly, should not have been executed, which implies questions around her level of involvement.

Furthermore, Chuck Bryant and Josh Clark refer to the execution as a "travesty of justice," suggesting Ethel's punishment was excessive, harsh, and possibly influenced by the politically charged atmosphere of the time. They argue it was potentially motivated by political interests rather than an impartial assessment of guilt. The judge presiding over the Rosenberg's case chose to ignore the public outcry, suggesting a decision motivated by politics.

Ethel's execution continues to be a subject of criticism and debate; this enduring scrutiny indicates a significant belief in the injustice of her punishment and its political undertones.

Rosenbergs' Sons Work To Clear Parents' Names and Highlight Prosecutorial Flaws

The Rosenbergs' sons, Michael and Robert, who were adopted after their parents' execution, have dedicated their lives to proving their parents were unfairly treated. Their efforts indirectly refer to ongoing campaigns highlighting flaws in the case to exonerate the Rosenbergs. The debate reignited after the release of the Venona cables, which implicated Julius Rosenberg but not Ethel. Despite the evidence against Julius, the sons argue that Ethel was not a spy.

David Greenglass's later ...