Maria Polyakova: the achievements of the great scout

After the war, scout Maria Polyakovabecame a true legend, inspiring many generations of Russian spies. This frail and defenseless girl was able to achieve success where seemingly strong men faced insurmountable obstacles. What led Maria Polyakova? What ideals she pursued? And why is she considered one of the best spies of the past?

Unexpected offer

Maria Polyakova was born in the cultural capitalRussia to St. Petersburg. It happened on March 27, 1908, in a simple Jewish family. The girl from the childhood showed itself as rather gifted schoolgirl. To her 20 years she had a thorough knowledge of four languages: Spanish, French, Czech and German.

On the personal front, she also was all well. Maria Polyakova was the beloved wife and mother of a beautiful girl named Zlata. In the beginning of 1925 she got a job in the KIM (Communist Youth International). She also thought about applying to a medical institute.

However, fate decided to throw a specialgift. So, in June 1932, she was summoned to the carpet in the Central Committee of the Komsomol. The conversation that took place there, forever changed the girl's life - she was supposed to become a Soviet spy.

Scout Maria Polyakova

After a little reflection, Mary agreed withproposal of the leadership of the Central Committee of the Komsomol. In 1932, her first secret mission began. A young spy was destined to become an assistant to an illegal resident in Germany.

Already in those years the situation in the country of the Nazis was strongIt was heated and demanded constant monitoring by the Soviet Union. As for Mary, she had to supervise meetings with the deceased agents, collect secret data, pay informants and recruit volunteers in the Red Army.

Home Maria Polyakova returned only in 1934. The GRU command appreciated her abilities and sent her to further training in the school of scouts. Two years later, in 1936 she was again sent to work abroad. What is true, this time already in Switzerland.

For a year of working under cover, she was able to createa reliable network of agents working for the USSR. This allowed her in 1937 to steal and transport home drawings of new weapons, so that the Nazis did not manage to use it in the quality of combat advantage.

The Second World War

Throughout the war, Maria Polyakova workedin the Central Intelligence Unit. She coordinated the activities of the young scouts, giving them commands and instructions. In passing, the GRU prepared her for possible work as an illegal resident, in case the Germans did break through to Moscow.

At the end of the Great Patriotic War, sheworked as a teacher in the school of intelligence. In 1956, she retired. The great scout died on May 7, 1995, exactly 50 years after the Germans signed the Surrender Act.