Германский военный шпионаж в столице Российской империи посредством банковской, печатно-издательской и журналистской деятельности (1907–1914 гг.)
German Military Espionage in the Capital of the Russian Empire in Banking, Publishing and Journalism (1907–1914)

Summary/Abstract: In this article one of the most difficult periods in the history of the autocratic state is considered. Remembering the lessons of Russo-Japanese war, the state resorted to reforms of unprecedented scale — modernization of the navy and reorganization of the army. Between 1907 and the beginning of World War I, the leaders of the state and Duma discussed at the private meetings numerous expensive and long-term projects concerning the Baltic and Black Sea fleet, and also the rearmament of military units with modern weapons (heavy artillery, airplanes and airships, machine guns, etc.). Implementation of many of these plans was assigned to the military-industrial complex of St.Petersburg and the Petersburg military district. Having joined the international arms race in preparation for global war and the next redivision of world markets and spheres of influence, Russia became an important site of international espionage (involving, chiefly, Germany). In the wake of the Franco-Prussian war of 1870–1871 and the military conflict between Russia and Japan, German intelligence was one of the most skilled and powerful in Europe. The author of this article analyzes three types of German military espionage in St. Petersburg — the collection of military data under the cover of banking, publishing and journalism. Thanks to little-known contemporary records and information, which were found in journalistic publications at the beginning of the 20th century, it becomes possible to assess the opportunities and results that the enemy enjoyed. This article reveals evidence of large-scale, highly professional prewar German intelligence operations in the Russian capital.

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