Josef Frolík
Encyclopedia
Josef Frolík was a Czechoslovak spy
who, in 1969, defected to the United States
and joined the CIA.
, Czechoslovakia. He graduated from secondary school at the end of World War II
. After the war he studied at the business academy in Slaný
and worked as an accountant for the state-owned communist newspaper Rudé právo
.
Frolík discovered that some officers of the 2nd Infantry Regiment had stolen a small fortune in jewels and paintings. He reported this to the Third Directorate of Counter Intelligence in Prague and was then recruited into the State Security
as a 1st Sergeant in the Finance Directorate. He moved on to counter intelligence and from 1964-1966 worked as a spy in London under the guise of a diplomat
in the Czechoslovak embassy. He was recalled back to Czechoslovakia and in 1969 he managed to gather as much state secrets as he could and escaped to the west, defecting to the CIA.
and died in May 1989, although some claim that he is still alive in the US using a false identity.
Espionage
Espionage or spying involves an individual obtaining information that is considered secret or confidential without the permission of the holder of the information. Espionage is inherently clandestine, lest the legitimate holder of the information change plans or take other countermeasures once it...
who, in 1969, defected to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and joined the CIA.
Childhood
Josef Frolík was born in LibušínLibušín
Libušín is a town in the Czech Republic.-External links:*...
, Czechoslovakia. He graduated from secondary school at the end of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. After the war he studied at the business academy in Slaný
Slaný
The Royal town1 of Slaný is a town in the Central Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic, located about 25 km northwest of Prague. The town is part of the Prague metropolitan area....
and worked as an accountant for the state-owned communist newspaper Rudé právo
Rudé právo
Rudé právo was the official newspaper of the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia....
.
Secret Service
Whilst serving his mandatory two years service in the Czechoslovak Peoples' ArmyCSLA
CSLA may refer to:* California School Library Association* Component-based Scalable Logical Architecture* Community Sports Leader Award* Canadian_Society_of_Landscape_Architects_/_L'Association_des_Architectes_Paysagistes_du_Canada...
Frolík discovered that some officers of the 2nd Infantry Regiment had stolen a small fortune in jewels and paintings. He reported this to the Third Directorate of Counter Intelligence in Prague and was then recruited into the State Security
STB
STB is an acronym that can mean:* Sacrae Theologiae Baccalaureus – Bachelor of Sacred Theology* Set-top box – a television device that converts signals to viewable images* Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP -- a law firm...
as a 1st Sergeant in the Finance Directorate. He moved on to counter intelligence and from 1964-1966 worked as a spy in London under the guise of a diplomat
Diplomat
A diplomat is a person appointed by a state to conduct diplomacy with another state or international organization. The main functions of diplomats revolve around the representation and protection of the interests and nationals of the sending state, as well as the promotion of information and...
in the Czechoslovak embassy. He was recalled back to Czechoslovakia and in 1969 he managed to gather as much state secrets as he could and escaped to the west, defecting to the CIA.
Emigration
After defecting to the West he wrote a book in which he recalled his life and work for the StB and detailed his defection. The Czechoslovak government sentenced him to death in absentia. In 1987 he was diagnosed with cancerCancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
and died in May 1989, although some claim that he is still alive in the US using a false identity.
External links
- http://www.cs-magazin.com/2004-07/view.php?article=articles/cs040798.htm - Joseph Frolik - Man in the Wrong Place (Czech)