12 Facts About Alexander Foote

Alexander Allan Foote was a radio operator for a Soviet espionage ring in Switzerland during World War II.

Alexander Foote completed his education at sixteen and, after working in different professions, joined the Royal Air Force in 1935.

Alexander Foote decided to continue his efforts against Fascism and volunteered for clandestine work with Red Orchestra.

Alexander Foote was put into contact with Ursula Kuczynski in Switzerland.

Alexander Foote became a radio operator for the Soviet espionage operation run by Alexander Rado and was one of those who passed information to Moscow from the Lucy spy ring run by Rudolf Roessler.

Alexander Foote was one of those arrested when the Swiss police shut down most of the operation and was detained for a time.

Since Alexander Foote, as the Lucy Ring's radio operator, was a central cog in the chain of supply and therefore in a position to know much, his subsequent account has been thought to be rather dubious in places.

This, and the fact that he seemingly managed to return to the West rather easily, has led some to suggest Alexander Foote was a British Secret Service double agent and one conduit of intelligence from Britain to Roessler and thence to Moscow.

Alexander Foote was confronted with an instance of disinformation sent from his transmitter in May 1942 and told "That message cost us 100 000 men at Kharkov and resulted in the Germans reaching Stalingrad".

Alexander Foote said that he merely passed on what he received from Rado.

Muggeridge is firmly of the opinion that the information Alexander Foote sent "could only, in fact, have come from Bletchley".

Alexander Foote himself defected from his Russian control in Berlin, escaping to the British sector.