What became know as Red Orchestra (Germ. Rote Kapelle) was not a single organization. While the most organized part was definitely one groomed and trained by Soviet Russian GRU service, Red Orchestra was conglomerate of various organizations, some of them conservative, some of them socialist, some high-level military, some Communist, some purely anti-Hitler and nothing else, some working class, some high class, some working in artistic circles and generally living as bohemians.... they came from all social strata, by some magic started to work together united in the common goal - utter defeat of black stormy cloud over Europe that was Nazism.

It was painful to read about people that took the combat against Nazis in a naive way, trying to be politically active in a world that did not tolerate any opposition at all. It was through mistakes like these, silly, silly but oh so human mistakes really, that Germans counter-intelligence managed to gain foothold and in matter of two years completely destroy the network (directly or indirectly).

This is non-fiction history book and as such there is no happy ending. While all the participants of the Red Orchestra contributed greatly to the war effort against Nazis (especially in the East) they were brutally treated by German counter-intelligence (military and Gestapo), betrayed by their own members (some talked under savage torture, some talked because they wanted to save their hides), sent to concentration camps [where majority died] and finally betrayed by their own employers (last chapter was truly, truly sad.... while some got what they deserved others were truly betrayed [yet again]). Author shows in great detail how in country under full control of opposition no spy circle can survive for long, even when highly trained and equipped. It is just situation in which peoples fate resides in hands of the good-will of their environment (best example is Swiss police action that broke one of the best parts of the organization (Rotte Drei) out of fear that Germans will be provoked to invade Switzerland otherwise) and once that good-will is gone there is no way for them to escape. Now just think about possibility of control today.... scary ain't it.

To make example of all arrested members of the group their families, relatives and even just pure acquaintances weren't spared - they were killed or interned into the concentration camps (that had basically the same result in the end). Depictions of the summary executions by hanging and guillotine were truly bloodcurdling.

Excellent book on what was maybe the most important spy ring in the Europe during the WW2.

Highly recommended. ( )