“There was a man who changed the world.” That is a bold claim. But many believe it about Dr. R. Sorge. We are standing before the Dr. R. Sorge Plaque. This plaque commemorates a fascinating figure. Richard Sorge was a German communist and Soviet spy. He is famous for his intelligence work during World War II.
The Dr. R. Sorge Plaque here at Weidenweg 29 is not the first. The original plaque was placed in 1969. This was when the street was renamed Richard-Sorge-Straße. Before that, it was Tilsiter Straße. Someone removed the original plaque in 1990.
In 1993, Aktives Museum Faschismus und Widerstand in Berlin e.V. put up a replacement. The replacement read “Hier war eine Erinnerungstafel für Richard Sorge 4.10.1895 – 7.11.1944”. It continued “Als Journalist in Tokio arbeitete Dr. Richard Sorge für den sowjetischen Nachrichtendienst”. The plaque also stated that “Er berichtete 1941 von dem bevorstehenden deutschen Überfall und darüber, daß Japan die Sowjetunion nicht angreifen werde”. It concluded with “Er wurde in Japan zum Tode verurteilt und hingerichtet” and the date of May 8, 1993.
That plaque disappeared too. In 2007, local residents installed another replacement. This one lacked a portrait. It had a simple inscription like the first plaque. Above it was a red triangle. This was a symbol used in Nazi concentration camps. The current Dr. R. Sorge Plaque was renewed in 2016. It features a relief portrait of Sorge.
Richard Sorge was born in Baku, Azerbaijan, in 1895. He fought in World War I and was wounded. He later studied economics and joined the Communist Party. Sorge became a Soviet spy. He worked as a journalist to cover his activities.
In 1933, Sorge went to Japan to create a spy network. He joined the Nazi Party to gain credibility. He became close to the German embassy. Sorge even had an affair with the ambassador’s wife. This gave him access to valuable information.
Sorge provided crucial intelligence to the Soviet Union. He warned of the German invasion. He also reported that Japan would not attack the Soviet Union. This allowed the Soviets to move troops from the east to defend Moscow. Some historians believe this was vital to the Soviet war effort.
The Japanese arrested Sorge in 1941. He was convicted of espionage. Despite offers to trade him, the Soviets denied knowing him. Richard Sorge was hanged in Tokyo on November 7, 1944. The Soviet Union only acknowledged him in 1964. He was posthumously awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union.
Sorge’s legacy is complex. Some see him as a hero. They say he saved the Soviet Union. Others criticize his methods. They point to his deception and betrayal. Whatever your view, Dr. R. Sorge remains a significant figure of the 20th century. The Dr. R. Sorge Plaque stands as a reminder of his life and actions. It prompts us to remember a complicated history.