Nicholas W. Orloff
Encyclopedia
Nicholas W. Orloff was a Russian immigrant to the United States and asset of the New York KGB
during World War II
. Orloff came from a Russian aristocratic family, and received a regular stipend from the KGB for his services. Orloff reported information to Soviet intelligence on immigrant groups, and acted as a talent-spotter for new sources. In 1944 Orloff applied for U.S. citizenship, and tried to get a job with the Office of Strategic Services
(OSS), the predecessor agency of the CIA. At the same time he applied to the U.S. State Department. He had told his wife, a native-born American, that he was breaking off all connections with Soviet intelligence in order to reduce the chance that she might turn him in to American authorities.
According to OSS records, Orloff obtained American citizenship in mid-1944 and, shortly thereafter, applied for a position with the OSS, citing his fluency in several European languages and his many years of residence in Europe. It appears, however, that his application was rejected.
cryptographers, is OSIPOV. Orloff is referenced in the following Venona project decryptions:
229. Venona 854 KGB New York to Moscow, 5 June 1943; 934–935 KGB New York to Moscow, 17 June 1943; 952 KGB New York to Moscow, 21 June 1943; 613–614 KGB New York to Moscow, 3 May 1944; 725 KGB New York to Moscow, 19 May 1944; 750 KGB New York to Moscow, 26 May 1944; 163 KGB Moscow to New York, 19 February 1945; 239 KGB Moscow to New York, 17 March 1945; 767 KGB Moscow to New York, July 1945.
KGB
The KGB was the commonly used acronym for the . It was the national security agency of the Soviet Union from 1954 until 1991, and was the premier internal security, intelligence, and secret police organization during that time.The State Security Agency of the Republic of Belarus currently uses the...
during 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...
. Orloff came from a Russian aristocratic family, and received a regular stipend from the KGB for his services. Orloff reported information to Soviet intelligence on immigrant groups, and acted as a talent-spotter for new sources. In 1944 Orloff applied for U.S. citizenship, and tried to get a job with the Office of Strategic Services
Office of Strategic Services
The Office of Strategic Services was a United States intelligence agency formed during World War II. It was the wartime intelligence agency, and it was a predecessor of the Central Intelligence Agency...
(OSS), the predecessor agency of the CIA. At the same time he applied to the U.S. State Department. He had told his wife, a native-born American, that he was breaking off all connections with Soviet intelligence in order to reduce the chance that she might turn him in to American authorities.
According to OSS records, Orloff obtained American citizenship in mid-1944 and, shortly thereafter, applied for a position with the OSS, citing his fluency in several European languages and his many years of residence in Europe. It appears, however, that his application was rejected.
Venona
Orloff's cover name in Soviet intelligence, and as deciphered by Venona projectVenona project
The VENONA project was a long-running secret collaboration of the United States and United Kingdom intelligence agencies involving cryptanalysis of messages sent by intelligence agencies of the Soviet Union, the majority during World War II...
cryptographers, is OSIPOV. Orloff is referenced in the following Venona project decryptions:
229. Venona 854 KGB New York to Moscow, 5 June 1943; 934–935 KGB New York to Moscow, 17 June 1943; 952 KGB New York to Moscow, 21 June 1943; 613–614 KGB New York to Moscow, 3 May 1944; 725 KGB New York to Moscow, 19 May 1944; 750 KGB New York to Moscow, 26 May 1944; 163 KGB Moscow to New York, 19 February 1945; 239 KGB Moscow to New York, 17 March 1945; 767 KGB Moscow to New York, July 1945.