By Christopher Miskimon
The British Commander in Chief Mission to the Soviet Forces in Germany, abbreviated as BRIXMIS, resulted from a little-known agreement allowing liaison missions where British observers could move freely in the Soviet/East German Zone. It evolved into a sophisticated intelligence collection operation, with British operatives observing Warsaw Pact troops and equipment. Tours by these highly trained officers went out every day from 1946 to 1990. Along the way they played cat-and-mouse games with East German police and Soviet counterintelligence agents while working with French and American counterparts. Despite the danger, these agents worked tirelessly to gain vital information needed by NATO.
The Cold War’s only real battles were fought through proxies but struggles such as those described in this book took place for decades. This fascinating new book combines research using declassified documents and former members of the mission. It reveals the complexities and realities of the Cold War along with the strain and risks experienced by those who served.
BRIXMIS and the Secret Cold War Intelligence Collection Operations Behind Enemy Lines in East Germany (Andrew Long, Pen and Sword Military, South Yorkshire UK, 2024, 244 pp., maps, photographs, appendices, notes, bibliography, index, $49.95, hardcover)
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