Thanks to movies and the Internet, the scout today seems like a bodybuilder. But in real intelligence, the appearance of a "bull" with a set of all kinds of weapons and all the techniques of power martial arts resembles an elephant in a china shop. Successful reconnaissance activity is like a quiet anthill, where everyone contributes his own grain to the intelligence collection …
One of the ubiquitous "ants" of the special services, collecting the necessary information, were and remain employees of external surveillance. They are called "outdoor" or "stompers".
"Letter" from above
In the USSR, the "alma mater" of surveillance officers was the Leningrad KGB School # 401. True, those who entered it in 1955 and graduated from training in 1956 did not know what they were trained for, except for spying on "objects".
"Letter to the Congress", or a closed report by Nikita Khrushchev, was being prepared just in 1955. Prepared in deep secrecy. One of the initiates was Ivan Serov, the first chairman of the newly created State Security Committee under the Council of Ministers of the USSR.
The committee was new. But the people in it worked old - those who unconditionally believed in Comrade Stalin. And it was not known how they could behave after reading the report. Especially in the provinces.
There was a chance of understanding, but scanty. It was also difficult to count on the support of the “rotten intelligentsia,” whose blood was seething with hatred of the capital's authorities, which not only took away the capital status from Northern Palmyra, but also crushed all the Petersburg people for the purpose of prevention.
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Therefore, the authorities decided to insure themselves just in case.
Vladimir Dikovitsky, one of Khrushchev's referents, in his book "Khrushchev Without Cherries" said that the idea of creating a KGB school was suggested by the first secretary of the Central Committee: Serov, said: "You would have simpler lads and preferably rural ones, they are smarter …".
General Serov is used to taking the wishes of his superiors as orders.
Rural boys at Smolny
The school of the future "treadmills" was located not far from Smolny. It was probably strange for the locals to observe how the village guys reached out to the mysterious complex of buildings, the purpose of which was better not to be interested. These villagers often spoke with Ukrainian, Belarusian, and even Caucasian accent. There were no urbanites among them - they were not trusted.
Future "tramps" were poorly educated people and often made mistakes. For example, in the form of clothing. So, Fyodor Grigorenko, a graduate of School 401 in 1956, noted in his diary entries: “I came to St. Petersburg from Smolensk in full dress of demobilization uniform. At the school checkpoint, a sad little man in civilian clothes ordered me to take off my shoulder straps and not leave the territory until I received the required civilian, surprised that I was not warned in the Smolensk administration about the uniform.
But the biographies of those who entered in 1955 were like a blueprint: he was born in a village; as a child, he lived in the occupied territory; served military service, I agree with the proposal to continue serving in the KGB.
The guys were taught dances, table etiquette, the ability to tie a tie and other things with which another city dweller is familiar almost from the cradle. But they also taught the ability to navigate the terrain, camouflage, detection of the "tail" behind oneself and other spy wisdom. Almost no attention was paid to wrestling and shooting. Because a real "trampler" must be able to dissolve in the crowd. In addition, the guys intensively trained their memory and logic. Although there was little logic in the curriculum. The students of the 401st studied the map of Leningrad, the routes of public transport, the time of drawing bridges and, in particular, studied in detail one of the Leningrad zest - walkways. What for? After all, everyone was initially warned that they would not work in Leningrad …
However, the students of the school did not ask unnecessary questions - the discipline was iron. Sheer closeness and intimidation. In his diary, the aforementioned Grigorenko wrote: “The exit to the city was free. The main thing is to cope with studies and not be late for classes. And they drank and … everything happened. Disciplined by a good scholarship and future salary, free, right down to socks, a citizen and a passionate unwillingness to return to her native village. Besides, no outfits and shifts. The food in the canteen is served by waitresses, and the hostel is cleaned by cleaning ladies …”.
Nikita Khrushchev delivered his report in February 1956. The country joked and quieted down. The expected unrest did not take place.
Including in Leningrad.
Students of the school №401 of the KGB of the USSR did not have to look for dissidents in the northern capital. And soon the school graduates were scattered in the "bear corners" of the vast country.
Before graduation, it was announced that no officer ranks would be awarded. Fyodor Grigorenko served in the Murmansk regional department of the KGB of the USSR. Resigned for family reasons in 1959. He died in 1999 in Ukraine. But the details of his service are still a state secret.
Now for Russia.
Magazine: Mysteries of History №3. By Mark Rapport