Ethel & Julius Rosenberg
Some Americans consider them to be the heroes of the Cold War. Susan Web from People's Weekly World states that they made a sacrifice because they believed in the possibility and necessity of a better world. They chose not to sign the loyalty oath and risk losing their jobs, unlike many others who were labeled as communists. The execution of these two individuals was a challenge that the US faced in its pursuit of democracy and peace.
Eli Cohen
Cohen was an Israeli spy who operated in Syria, establishing strong connections with the Syrian government and military. He was even considered as a potential candidate for the presidency of Syria before being discovered by the Soviets. On May 18, 1965, he was executed by Syria for his espionage activities. He is credited with saving Israel from destruction and enabling its victory in the 1967 Six-Day War against Egypt, Jordan, and Syria.
Omar Nasiri
This individual was a spy from Morocco who successfully infiltrated al-Qaeda on behalf of Britain and France. He confessed to alerting UK intelligence to the dangers posed by al-Qaeda in the 1990s. The information he provided could have potentially prevented al-Qaeda from gaining power and carrying out the 9/11 attacks, making him a hero.
Klaus Fuchs
This individual was a physicist of German origin who engaged in espionage for the Soviet Union during and after World War II. He conducted his activities while being involved in the atomic bomb project and Manhattan Project in both Great Britain and the United States from 1941 to 1947. His motivation stemmed from the belief that the Soviet Union had the entitlement to be aware of the actions and plans of Great Britain and the United States.
Sidney Reilly
This individual, who was born in Ukraine, was a highly skilled spy. He served as the inspiration for the iconic James Bond movies and the books written by Ian Fleming. He possessed the ability to seamlessly cross borders using false identities in order to acquire classified information, strategic plans, and experimental aircraft designs. His most notable endeavors include his attempt to orchestrate a coup against the Russian Revolutionaries in 1917 and his plot to assassinate Vladimir Lenin. He was dedicated to promoting democracy and neutralizing potential threats. Tragically, he met his demise at the hands of an undercover OGPU agent who deceived him into believing that he shared his anti-communist beliefs.
Nathan Hale
He was a soldier for the Continental Army during the American Revolution. He volunteered to spy on British troops and their movements during the Battle of Long Island. Unfortunately he was discovered by the British and was hanged for his crime. He is deemed a national hero in Connecticut today for his work for the America nation.
Pauline Cushman
She was an actress posing as a spy, offered money to toast Jefferson Davis in a performance. After the toast, she would follow the Confederates and report back to the Union. Caught with spying documents, she was sentenced to hang. Three days before the execution, she was saved. She is now considered a hero for her efforts to prevent the division of the United States.
Oleg Penkovsky
This individual is recognized as the Agent Hero. By providing Americans with intelligence on the Soviet Union during the 1950s and 1960s, he instigated the Cuban Missile Crisis. His actions potentially averted a catastrophic assault on American soil. Regrettably, he faced trial, found guilty of treason and espionage, and ultimately met his demise by hanging.
Jan Kowalewski
This individual, who held the ranks of lieutenant and colonel, possessed expertise in cryptology, intelligence operations, and engineering. Alongside fellow cryptologists, he successfully deciphered Soviet military codes and ciphers, ultimately contributing to Poland's victory in the war against the Soviet Union in 1920. In Poland, he is revered as a national hero.
Kurt Gerstein
Gerstein was a high-ranking Nazi official who secretly joined the party in order to uncover their actions. Prior to the war, he was involved in anti-Nazi activities and was arrested for distributing literature to his colleagues in the mining industry. When his sister-in-law died in 1941 under suspicious circumstances at the Hadamar mental hospital, he decided to investigate further. He joined the Waffen SS and was assigned to the medical service's hygiene section. In 1942, he became the head of the Technical Disinfection Department, where he witnessed the atrocities of the Holocaust. Witnessing the gas chambers and mass murders, he made the decision to bury all the Zyklon B canisters he was supposed to deliver. He actively resisted the Nazis and is considered a hero by some. At the end of the war, he shared the documents he had compiled with the Allies.
