Mikhail Markovich Borodin: Biography. Or spy, or champion

IN . L. Heifets, L. S. Heifets Activities of Soviet diplomats as a factor in the development of the left movement of Mexico in the 1920s. Aleksandra Mission: Changing the external appearance of the old model M. international relations in the new and the latest time.Materials of the International Scientific Conference, dedicated memory of Professor K. B. Vinogradova St. Petersburg, 2005 Characteristic for Soviet foreign policy in the 1920s. The twentieth century is a desire to simultaneously support the world revolution and ensure the national interests of the USSR fully manifested in relations with Mexico. And the mission of Generalconsule RSFSR M. Borodin, the purpose of which was to restore the relations of the two countries, and the activities of the first half of the S. Pestkovsky were closely connected with the Comintern. Both directly combined diplomatic work with the functions of emissarians III International on the organization of the Communist Movement of Latin America. The period of stay of Pestkovsky in Mexico was marked by two troubles. If the first of them, caused by the ambiguous statement of the People's Commissar of G. About Mexico as a base for the development of the Communist Party, was recognized as exhausted, the second - direct Soviet intervention in the struggle of local trade unions, caused the indignation of the largest trade union, chrome, closely associated with the government. After the statements of Soviet trade unions in 1927, the possibilities of the Pestkovsky represent the USSR without constant confrontation with the Mexican authorities were apparent to the provision of material assistance to the strike of railway workers directed through the board. The appointment instead of a Pestkovsky little-known diplomat could be perceived in the working movement of the country as the refusal of the USSR from the support of the Communists. Therefore, an adequate replacement was found in the face of Alexandra. At the time of its appointment, no one in the world could assume that he did not intend to act in the manner of Pestkovsky at all. It turned out to be the easiest to take changes in the system of relations between the Comintern, heated in Mexico City and the Country Communist Parties. During the meeting with I.Stalin on the eve of the departure, clear instructions were received: "Smaller nursenya from the side" with the Communist Party ... You pon mistakes - not a misfortune "; a half-part should not" give in to false ideas about the growing revolution, to which Mexico is still very far away, "but is obliged Strengthen the friendly relations between the two countries, not amenable to "the temptations of the revolutionary adventure." The half-friendly acquaintance itself, he could not understand that it would be a mistake to literally understand his words and that it was not about the cardinal change of the line (under the "revolutionary adventures" were implied primarily anti-government meters in the field); But the declared rules of the game ("to conduct a careful policy, without losing the principal line") it was impossible not to accept. About how the Pestkovsky policy looked unlikely to have a detailed idea, but it was clearly sure: "The line of his work was in a very different direction from the line that I was given in Moscow." A few weeks before departure, the Press saidthat "the current diplomat should" refrain from "any propaganda and interference in the internal affairs of the country of stay." Realized the strategic position of Mexico in the Soviet foreign policy, but she also knew about increasingly intense American pressure on this country. The forced departure of the Pestkovsky and the refusal of the US State Department in granting it the most transit visa were explicit evidence of the hard situation waiting for it in Mexico. The first manifestation of change was the refusal to meet with the communists who came to the station in Mexico City, since this was contrary to the diplomatic protocol; Handing credentials, she praised the political and social achievements of the Mexican revolution, immediately emphasizing that its main work in Mexico is to develop bilateral trade. When meeting with the head of government, Caluem on February 2, 1927 again repeated that he did not intend to create difficulties to the government that the president understood unequivocally: she was not going to go to the conflict from the chrome and help the Communist Parties. For myself, it was necessary to solve an important dilemma: what is more in the interests of the USSR and the world revolution - friendly relations with the government of Calue (which "leads strong politics against Washington") or the rate on supporting the local anti-imperialist movement (closely related to the Communist Parties), which would be at the same time Anti-government. An analysis of the diary records made by it and letters shows: the diplomat believed that Mexico owns a leadership role in the Latin American anti-imperialist movement, but this did not mean refusing to develop within the Mexico itself of the left revolutionary movement (it did not overestimate the importance of the Communist Party, noting that "ours" ( Communists) are small and swinging between anarchoseneficalism and opportunism of anarchists ... Our friends are a handful and politically impotence "). They considered it is necessary to continue to actively support the Communist Party and not camouflary these links. Friendly relationship with the chrome, who tried to tie, and did not work out, which was natural. The managers of the profession center were negatively related to the USSR, knowing what efforts the Comintern is taking to support Krome competitors. The intentions of the new column show that she - "not Pestkovsky" could not do not dake in the middle. In general, Gromists were not far from the truth. Some would not like to demonstrate a new line, she clearly followed the instructions in Moscow, immediately transferred to strikers who arrived from the USSR immediately, which provoked a rapid campaign in the press and the chrome demands to send a partition from the country. Almost as toughly responded to Mexico Foreign Ministry, who was presented on behalf of the president a protest against "anti-government actions". Perfectly understanding the dependence of Soviet trade unions from the government, Calue demanded to use all the impact to stop supporting Mexican strikers. And at that moment it turned outHow skillfully maneuver has taken Moscow at one time, making a personnel replacement in the diplomatic mission. It was referring to the fact that he was not aware of the illegitimation of the strike, it was believed that the strike was directed against a foreign company and occurs with the support of the anti-imperialist-minded Mexican government, and was not able to inform his government properly. All participants in the events perfectly understood that this was not the case, but managed to pretend to believe in what was said and heard. It did not manage to act in the manner of purely diplomatic, including for reasons from it independent. The policy of the United States, paid to Mexico in the propaganda of Bolshevism, sharply reduced the value of the energy with which the pollipration intended to do his job. The confidence of Americans in her personal participation in the transfer of Mexican communists in the United States to a delicate situation in relations with the Calue Government.

In the creation of the film "Seventeen Moments of Spring" Norman Borodin takes part under the fictional name - S. K. Mishin, which the audience can see in the final titles. It is said that Andropov forbade the genuine names of existing intelligence officers.
Meanwhile, the life of Borodin himself could be a separate exciting novel: Norman happened through a huge number of tests and drams. Father of the future agent Mikhail Borodin was a grant of Lenin, a diplomat, a Soviet intelligence officer. Since 1923, under the pseudonym, Comrade Kirill, he worked as an adviser to the Chinese leader Sun Yatsen. When Sun Yatsen died after severe illness, the power in the country instantly changed. Staying in the image of the favorite of the former leader of this country was extremely dangerous. Mikhail Borodina was arrested and sent. And his son of Norman, Soviet diplomats, managed to secretly transport the Ayedor Duncan's touring ballet troupe. Beautiful, black-haired 16-year-old young man was disguised as a woman, one of the participants in the presentation.

Illegal resident at 25
At first, in the Soviet Union, Norman felt himself a foreigner. For all his 16 years old, he was here only once, and born and grew up - in the United States. Accordingly, the native language for Borodin junior was English. By performing the covenants of the Father, Norman from the young nails was preparing to become an intelligence. By 19 years, he was already an employee of the NKVD, and he received his first task in 25 years. He was ordered to go to the United States as an illegal resident. The position of illegal intelligence officers, which in a narrow circle was called "Marathonians of foreign intelligence", was extremely difficult, as they could not count on protection from the embassy in the event of any problems, up to arrest. During the period of operation in the United States, Borodina was assigned an operational pseudonym granite, which is not better characterized by its character. According to the memories of contemporaries, the real agent, like Stirlitz, produced a very pleasant impression, was tacty and possessed a big sense of humor, he knew how to keep calm and excerpt in any situations, nothing could make him give his true feelings. However, the entire further fate of the scout was like a bar of obstacles. Life as if specially experienced Borodin for strength. After the betrayal of one of the Soviet spies, Borodin, among the number of other agents, was withdrawn from the United States. He was sent to Germany, the enemy's lair in Berlin, where a reliable branched agent network was created normal. Simultaneously with spyware under the guise of a volunteer-American, he worked in the Swiss Red Cross.
In 1947, Norman returned to Moscow and settled the correspondent. Soon he, like many of his Frontoviki compatriots, was completely disappointed in the Soviet system. In 1949, Norman wrote a letter to Stalin, in which he voiced in front of the Gensen just one question: whether he knows what is happening in his surroundings, where and why the best agents disappear without a trace, sincerely devoted to communist ideas. The reconnaissance response did not receive, but after a few days arrested his father. Mikhail Borodin was two years in Lefortovo, where he signed recognition for torture that he was American spy. In May 1951, Borodin-Sr., who could not withstand the beatings, died in prison. In 1949, Norman Borodin was arrested, he spent two years in prison, and in 1951 he was sent to the settlement to Karaganda.

Work in the link
The participants of the project "Karlala: Memory In the Name of the Future" Karaganda University "Bolashak" argue that there is no data on the stay of Norman Borodin in Karaganda. To date, it is known that during the Karaganda link, the KGB leadership allowed National Borodin to deal with the case, which was like him. He became a journalist of a local newspaper. Borodin was hired to work as a newspaper "Socialist Karaganda" (the present "Industrial Karaganda". There is only an order No. 78 of May 31, 1952: "With this number, it is temporarily credited to work as a senior liter of the editorial office. Borodina Norman Mikhailovich. Salary By estimate. "
The first articles and notes of Norman Mikhailovich are talking about the party life of the city and the region, about the international setting. Borodin critically comprehends the activities of the Mug on the study of the History of the CPSU in the Karagandugol Combine, in which the visit is less than 50%. Prints the articles of "Children's Delivery" about child crime in the United States and "American Cannibals at home and abroad." Over time, Norman Borodin began to illumine the events of the cultural life of the city. His reviews appeared on the performances of the Kazakh State Academic Opera and Ballet Theater named after Abaya, the mining ensemble of songs and dance, the Karaganda Regional United Theater of the Kazakh and Russian Drama. Publications are illustrated by the author's photographs.
In the footsteps of ancient livestock breeders, Norman Mikhailovich studies the Karaganda region, visits a number of districts. 23.
june 1953, the newspaper publishes a photo of Chapan Kurman Otarbayeva (collective farm. Stalin Karkaralinsky district) made by Borodin. Then Norman Borodin is sent to the collective farm named after the XIX Congress of the CPSU and the "Covenant Ilyich" of the Osakarovsky district. His photographs of the fronts of the national education, Rudo-Repair Plant Stakhanov, Artists of Shakhty No. 3. Kirov, artists - today are invaluable evidence of the history of Saryarka.
Karaganda reference Norman Borodin lasted for more than two years. Here he was on the settlement.
Two years later, a thaw, the cult of the leader was debunked, with Borodina charged charges, and he was able to return to Moscow. Norman Mikhailovich Borodin disappeared from Karaganda unnoticed. There was not even an order of his dismissal from the post of acting to the head of the Socialist Karaganda department.
In all likelihood, Moscow was transported from the archive of the local KGB and his personal matter. Scouts were restored in the party, and he again returned to work in the KGB. He was the chief editor of the news agency "News". He is a Honored Worker of Culture of the RSFSR, Honored Worker of the State Security Body of the USSR.
The artist painting "Seventeen Moments of Spring", according to the stories of the daughter of Borodin, was a frequent guest in their house and consulted with his father, in order to achieve the maximum approach of the artistic image of Stirlitz to real intelligence.
Unfortunately, according to the researchers of the project "Karlala: Memory in the name of the future", there are no people who remember the talented and unscrewing correspondent of Borodin in Karaganda. It is clear that no one guessed his true profession.
Norman Borodin died in 1974.
There is a legend that Leonid Brezhnev, a very loved film about the famous intelligence, revised him once again, suddenly asked those present: "And we awarded the Stirlitz?" Everyone was embarrassed. Then Brezhnev ordered to reconcile the title of Hero. As an exit from the situation, it was decided to reward Tikhonov the Order of the Hero of Socialist Labor. Whether such in reality occurred is unknown.

Searches began immediately from the editorial arch. And on the table there is a yellowed leaflet of the order No. 78 of May 31, 1952: "With this number, it is temporarily enrolled to work as a senior liter of the editorial board. Norman Mikhailovich Borodin. Salary on the estimate. Editor of the newspaper" Socialist Karaganda "I. Mill" .

We immediately reported readers about the unexpected find, introduced them to the material of Yuri Popov. But much remains unknown. How was Borodin found himself in Karaganda? What is his further fate? Finally, why did he become the prototype of the famous Stirlitz? And we continued searches that allowed to answer most of the questions.

Son Bolshevik

Negative responses came to our requests from all regional archives. "His documents after departure from Karaganda immediately took Moscow," - stated the fact of employees of departments. But the benefit that we live today in the age of the Internet - the Great Assistant in any search. He provided an invaluable service and us.

Talking about the fate of Norman Borodin, it is impossible not to remember his no less famous father - Mikhail Markovich Grunenberg, a grader of Lenin, a diplomat, a well-known Kominternovsky leader. I will try at least dashed to tell about the full dramatic situations of the life of this talented and versatile person.

He was born in 1884 in Belarus, in the town of Yanovichi Vitebsky district. In 1903 he joined the ranks of the RSDLP, and in a year Mikhail emigrates to Switzerland, then she moved to underground work in Riga, where he was elected by one of the secretaries of the RSDLP City Committee.

In 1907, Srönomberg, who took the pseudonym Borodin, is leaving in the United States. Here he organized a school for political emigrants, became a prominent leader of Russian political emigration in America. It is also called one of the creators of the US Communist Party.

In 1911, the second son was born in Borodin's family - Norman, the future Soviet intelligence officer. Mikhail Markovich seemed for a long time in the United States, but immediately after the October Revolution, he returns to Russia, where he became an employee of the Comintern, and in 1919 Lenin signed a decision on his appointment by the first general consul of the RSFSR under the Government of Mexico. Borodin was and a secret mission - to create a local compartment. In 1922, he is already in the center of the scandal in the UK. In the Glasgow, under the name of George Brown, he is engaged in the reorganization of the local Communist Party. It is arrested and sent from the country after six months.

In 1923, Mikhail Borodin receives an even more serious task of the party. Under the pseudonym "Comrade Kirill", he becomes in China with a political adviser Sun Yatsen. In the canton, the wife of Semenovna Fanya with sons Fed and Norman will move and recently returned from the USA. These years are filled with hard work. After the death of Sun Yatsen Mikhail Markovich arrest and send in the USSR.

For a short time, he works as a deputy addict of labor, then the editor-in-chief of the recently organized newspaper for American engineers and workers leading the construction of the Moscow Metro, "Moscow NEWS". In this post, he works until January 1949. At this time, the fight against "rooted cosmopolitanism and antipatriotic forces" unfolded in the country. Shepilov reports Zhdanov that "in the newspaper" Moskow News "- one person, Armenians - one person, Jews - 23 people and others - three people." The newspaper is closed. Mikhail Borodin and Mikhail Borodin fell under Stalin's molao. Two years he was located in Lefortovo, where he was forced to sign everything that the investigator demanded. On May 29, 1951, without preparing beating, he dies in prison. So the party "appreciated" the merits of the devotee of the Communist, who made a lot for her formation.

Fate resident

When Father died, Norman was arrested. The authorities decided to send it to Karaganda. But we will not hurry the events - before the story about how our hero became an intelligence officer.

Norman Borodin and his family - a stunning material for a grand novel about the emergence, strengthening, victory of ideas and beliefs, their transformation, the collapse and the subsequent destruction of all ideals, "the famous writer Georgy Weiner said in one of the interviews. "He, by performing the covenants of his father, has become a journalial intelligence with young nails, knew all the main European languages \u200b\u200band spoke on them as in Russian.

Indeed, in 19 years old Norman is already an employee of NKVD. In 1930, he finishes a nautical school in Leningrad, and after a few months under the guise of a student studying at University in Oslo. Then the illegal scout continues to study at the University of Berlin and College in Sorbonne.

In 1934, Borodin becomes a listener of the Military Chemical Academy of the Red Army, and after three years, a student of the Radio Engineering Institute in the United States - in fact, the deputy illegal resident in America, Ishac Abdulovich Akherov.

This is what writes about this regard in the life of Borodin in the book "Snow Operation" Famous Scout, the former head of the USSR External Intelligence Institute Vitaly Pavlov: "Borodin in 1937 became Deputy Ahmerov. The initiative operational employee Norman Mikhailovich led the three valuable agents. When, on the orders of Beria, he was withdrawn from abroad, he was still a young man: he was not fulfilled and thirty. But Borodin has already managed to acquire a significant experience of illegal work ... I met a normal Mikhailovich after his recall from the United States. He made a very pleasant impression: invariably weathered, tactful, with a great sense of humor, easy to communicate. Unfortunately, by decision of the People's Commissariat of internal affairs, Borodin was expelled from external intelligence, where he returned only after the beginning of the Great Patriotic War. "

Vitaly Pavlova should be added to the memoirs that the review of Borodin and Ahmerov was connected with extreme circumstances - the betrayal of one of the former scouts. Therefore, they were forced to urgently minimize the activities of both the legal and powerful illegal residency, which could cut the agent apparatus that the US administration tightly was covered.

Temporary resignation Norman Borodin reassembled in the Foreign Department of Chief Department. In 1941, he reappears in Berlin - under the guise of an American worries in the Mission of the Swiss Red Cross. In the lair itself, the Resident of Soviet intelligence works until complete victory.

In 1947, Borodin returns to Moscow, it is satisfied with the correspondent to "MOSCOW NEWS", but soon it is arrested ...

Forced "Travel"

Karaganda reference Norman Borodin lasted for more than two years. Here he was on the settlement. Apparently, the leadership of the KGB, knowing about the merits of the scout, gave him the opportunity to do business, which was like. So he first became a pilot man, and then I.O. Head of the Socialist Karaganda department. Norman signed up its materials "N. Borodin" and "N. Borisov". By the way, the first was published on June 1, 1952, the last - August 28, 1953.

What did Journalist Borodin wrote about in Karaganda? In most cases, about current events. On the party life of the city and the region, the activities of politkruzhkov. Then he became increasingly thinking about the cultural aura of the region. The newspaper appears reviews on the play of the theater, performances of the mining ensemble of songs and dance. Norman went to rural areas, told readers about the life of shepherds, farmers. Materials illustrated by snapshots - it can be assumed that the camera had a former intelligence officer professionally.

Unfortunately, in Karaganda there are no people who remember the talented and unscrewing correspondent of Borodin. It is clear that no one guessed his true profession, although journalism then became the main thing about Norman Mikhailovich. After returning to Moscow, he was soon rehabilitated, restored to the service in the KGB of the USSR. He worked as the head of the department for working with foreign correspondents, then headed the department of the current reserve of party and government agencies. In 1961, Borodin became the editor-in-chief of the editorial office of political publications of the news agency "News", then a political observer.

At that time, he met with the then no one who was not known brothers Wiper. He hung his friends to writing detectives.

Somehow, he said to us: "Fools, instead of sitting in the company and driving endless stories, you better tell them each other, write down and print detective novels," then recalled Georgy Weiner. - Borodin advised us to start with the story of pages for six. Moreover, Norman promised that the story would help publish. Arkasha and I decided to take a concrete criminal case, which at that time he investigated. Accordingly, with our school ideas about literature, we first made a plan: entry, the main part, conclusion. In order not to miss something important, the plan was made very detailed: he took thirty-type pages, which, it is clear, entered the organic contradiction with the canons of writing a short story. In two months, we completed our plan: it turned out a modest manuscript of pages in six hundred. So the novel "Watches for Mr. Kelly" appeared. We brought a manuscript to your "customer" Norman. Having said that this thing is stronger than "Faust" Goethe, Borodin, carried our masterpiece to his friend to the magazine "Soviet militia". At the same time, Julian Semenov read the manuscript and gave it to the magazine "Our Contemporary". To our surprise, both magazines said that they liked the manuscript ... By the way, it was Borodin who was the prototype of Stirlitz: I got the brother with Norman with Julian Semenov, and this acquaintance was the promotion of Julian to write a novel "Seventeen Moments of Spring" ...

I hope, George Weiner, I answered the question of our readers particularly interested in our readers: Was Stirlitz in Karaganda?

Unfortunately, Norman Mikhailovich Borodin will never come to our city. He died in 1974. Honor a generous and talented person, an outstanding scout dozens of people. Only few of them knew about the genuine merit of the hero.