“Naturally I am a traitor, I cannot deny that.”

Hans Joachim Tiedge

August 23 2020 — The West German spy chief’s defection was made public by the East German authorities on August 23 1985. Follow us on Twitter; @INTEL_TODAY

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Hans Joachim Tiedge shocked the world in August 1985 when he fled West Germany for East Germany.

The West German Chancellor, Helmut Kohl, described the former spy chief’s defection as “catastrophic”.

East German authorities also revealed that in the past 18 months they had arrested nearly 170 West German agents in East Germany after acting on intelligence from Mr Tiedge.

“The idea of anyone defecting to the East was surprising enough, but since Mr. Tiedge was a member of the West German intelligence services it was also terrifying.

Mr. Tiedge held no love of Communism, instead he fled his home to get away from personal issues including the recent death of his wife and his own alcoholism.

[A newspaper insinuated that his wife’s death was somewhat suspicious, mentioning a previous history of domestic violence, but it goes no further than insinuation.]

Tiedge got himself cleaned up and was given a beautiful mansion in the East German countryside.

In 1990, Tiedge fled again in the hopes of avoiding prosecution by the new democratically elected and unified German government.

Looking further east, he ended up in the then-U.S.S.R. Ironically, the Soviet Union collapsed the year after Mr. Tiedge arrived.

He lived the rest of his life in Moscow, refusing to return to Germany. He died at age 73.”

Vor 20 Jahren: Die enttarnten Stasi-Spione

REFERENCES

Hans Joachim Tiedge — Obit of the Day

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On This Day — West German Spy Chief Defects to East (August 23 1985)

On This Day — West German Spy Chief Defects to East (August 23 1985) [2019]

35 Years Ago — West German Spy Chief Defects to East (August 23 1985)