Legal residentura London

One of the most successful agents in Great Britain was Karel Zbytek (Light). He supplied information on almost the entire agency network of the CIO (Czechoslovak Intelligence Office), which until 1959 was part of the British intelligence service SIS. Up until 1968 an important agent was Nicolas Prager (Marconi), who supplied military information and was highly valued by the KGB. Information from defectors J. Frolík and F. August led to his conviction in 1972 for 12 years. In 1956, the Resident in London was Captain Václav Louda"Linhart" (left), whose deputy was First Lieutenant Václav Šajchl "Majer". From 1966 – 1969 the Resident was Colonel Josef Kalina "Karhan" (bottom left). Following the mass expulsions of KGB agents in 1971, the Soviet espionage activities were temporarily substituted by other communist countries. In 1972, Lieutenant Colonel Jiří Černý "Nedbal" (right) became Deputy Resident and was later named an "honorary member of the KGB." In 1974, eight Czechoslovak diplomats were banished – members of the Intelligence Services – and the residentura was in shambles. The remaining member of Directorate I, Jan Příkopa "Percha", became the Resident, but in 1980 he was dismissed for incompetence. Until 1981, the residentura was directed by Captain Ing. Jaromír Kaloč "Kaluža (Puddle)". From 1982 – 1986, the Resident was Major Josef Houžvička "Hradil" (bottom right), and from 1986 – 1988 it was directed by Captain Ing. Libor Tělecký "Vozňák". The last Resident was Captain Ing. Jiří Musiál "Polanka" from 1988 – 1990. The residentura was tasked with assignments in the field of detection of plans and activities of "ideo-diversion centres" and emigration, USA and NATO facilities, the UK special services and cooperation with Soviet intelligence services, including scientific-technical intelligence (pharmacy, medicine, laser technology, etc.). In the last 20 years these goals were achieved only on paper. The agency network was after 1968 minimum, based primarily on contacts between exiles living in the UK. The Intelligence Services here experienced no significant achievements up to 1989. Following the defection of Colonel Vlastimil Ludvík "Pantůčka" in 1988 in Delhi, a year later Great Britain expelled four more Czechoslovak diplomats. The defection also resulted in the exchange of chief of Czechoslovak Intelligence Service Karel Sochor. In 1988, the British services arrested Czechoslovak illegal Lieutenant Colonel Václav Jelínek, who lived under a false identity as Dutchman Erwin van Haarlem. Jelínek was sentenced to 10 years for espionage.