Ernest David Weiss

Ernest David Weiss (7 December 1902 in Breslau – 19 January 1982) was a naturalised British Jewish concert pianist and transport economist[1] who became a Soviet espionage agent, spying in the United Kingdom and possibly the United States. Weiss worked initially for the Communist International (Comintern) in the 1930's and later worked for the Red Orchestra espionage network through Comintern agent Henry Robinson in the early 1940's.[2][3] In 1947, Weiss's name was discovered through an analysis of the Robinson papers by MI5, his address was traced and Weiss and his associates were put under extensive surveillance by the security services.[4] Weiss was arrested and interrogated at an MI5 safe house at 19 Rugby Mansions, Hammersmith on 30 January 1948.[5] Weiss proved to be remarkably cooperative and in return for a confession, he was promised immunity by MI5.[4] He was found to be a key individual in Soviet intelligence in the United Kingdom and named many other contacts that lead to further arrests.[1] After his confession, he retired from espionage work and lived in London until is death in 1982.[4] Weiss's cryptonym was Jean.

Ernest David Weiss
Ernest David Weiss
Born(1902-12-07)7 December 1902
Breslau
Died19 January 1982(1982-01-19) (aged 77)
OccupationSoviet intelligence officer
Espionage activity
AllegianceGRU
CodenameWalter Lock

Life

As a child, Weiss was educated at St. John's Gymnasium in Breslau from 1909 to 1921.[6] St. John's was a school that accepted Jewish pupils without question. In 1922, Weiss matriculated at the University of Breslau to study the economics of transport. In 1927, Weiss was awarded a Diplom. Deciding to continue his education at Breslau in 1930, he was awarded a Doctor of Science in 1932.[6] While at university, he joined the Communist Party of Germany (KPD)[1]

Career

While in Frankfurt during May or June 1931, Weiss was contacted by Hans Demetz who offered Weiss job, if he was interested travelling overseas for work. In effect he was recruited as an intelligence agent.[7] Demetz was a Breaslau native and contemporary of Weiss at Breslau university, who had been recruited as a Red Army Intelligence agent in 1925. [8] After Weiss graduated he worked as an manager or buyer in a number of retail stores in Frankfurt and later Cologne.[6]

Espionage

On 11 May 1932, Weiss moved to UK ostensibly to conduct industrial research at the London School of Economics as a student, on the subject of the economics of air transport,[9] but in reality to spy.[2]


In 1936, Weiss received intelligence detailing the production of aeroplanes from two of his most important informants, "Vernon" and "Meredith".[10] Vernon was Wilfred Vernon who was a technical assistant at the Royal Aircraft Establishment in Farnborough Airport.[11] Meredith was the communist and Marxist Frederick William Meredith.

In 1948, Meredith was a prominent scientist working at who worked as chief designer at Smiths Instruments.[12] The ministry of supply considered him expert in the field of aircraft stabalisation and control.[13]

Revelations

When Weiss's espionage was discovered, MI5 informed the prime minister Clement Attlee due to the what they considered the sensitive nature of the case.[14] When MI5 officer JH Marriott told Attlee of the nature of the espionage, Attlee became visibly shocked and surprised.[14] Attlee decided to take no further action on Vernon as he considered him a low risk.[14]

He decided instead to investigate Merideth further.[14] MI5 officer Jim Skardon was sent to interrograte Meredith who lived in Cheltenham.[13] Merideth almost immediately confirmed the existance of Weiss's espionage work in their initial interview and told Skardon that odd fact that Weiss was Christ-like person he had ever met.[13]

References

Citations
  1. West 2012, p. 230.
  2. Kesaris 1979, p. 381.
  3. West 2008, p. 259.
  4. Pincher, Chapman (5 May 2011). Treachery: Betrayals, Blunders and Cover-Ups: Six Decades of Espionage. Edinburgh: Mainstream Publishing. p. 38. ISBN 978-1-84596-811-3.
  5. "Weiss, Ernest David". National Archives. Kew, London: MI5. 1947. p. 36. Retrieved 22 February 2023. KV 2/2229
  6. Weiss,National Archives,KV 2/2228-1, p. 38.
  7. West 2012, p. 232.
  8. West 2012, p. 325.
  9. Weiss,National Archives,KV 2/2227-1, p. 90.
  10. Kesaris 1979, p. 382.
  11. West 2009, p. 560.
  12. "Frederick William MEREDITH/ Margaret Gwendoline MEREDITH". National Archives. Kew. 12 December 1948. p. 41. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  13. Ewing, Mahoney & Moretta 2020, p. 161.
  14. Ewing, Mahoney & Moretta 2020, p. 159.

Bibliography
  • Ewing, Keith; Mahoney, Joan; Moretta, Andrew (5 March 2020). MI5, the Cold War, and the Rule of Law. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-255060-6.
  • Kesaris, Paul. L, ed. (1979). The Rote Kapelle: the CIA's history of Soviet intelligence and espionage networks in Western Europe, 1936-1945 (pdf). Washington DC: University Publications of America. ISBN 978-0-89093-203-2.
  • West, Nigel (2008). Historical Dictionary of World War II Intelligence. Historical Dictionaries of Intelligence and Counterintelligence, 7. Lanham, Maryland: The Scarecrow Press. ISBN 978-0-8108-5822-0.
  • West, Nigel (2 September 2009). The A to Z of British Intelligence. Scarecrow Press. ISBN 978-0-8108-7028-4.
  • West, Nigel (11 February 2012). Mask : MI5's penetration of the Communist Party of Great Britain. London: Routledge. ISBN 978-0415649926.
  • Weiss, Ernest David. National Archives. Vol. 1. Kew, London: MI5. 1947. KV 2/2228-1. Retrieved 22 February 2023.
  • Weiss, Ernest David. National Archives. Vol. 1. Kew, London: MI5. 1947. KV 2/2227-1. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
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