esrosedotblog

David Greenglass has died.

For most people, this is not even a tic on the scale.

He is unknown to most.

But in the day he was infamous as the man who turned in his sister and her husband, the Rosenbergs, for spying.

The Rosenbergs were executed.

Later, it turned out that much of Greenglass' testimony was wrong about his sister to protect Greenglass' own wife.

David Greenglass, Spy Who Helped Seal the Rosenbergs’ Doom, Dies at 92

At the time, it was front page news for months, years even.

Obsession.

The world was madness at that time. The Soviets, communism. The Rosenbergs did steal secrets or at least he did but the reaction to their crime was thought to be way out of proportion.

I don't know.

It is likely that anti-semitism had something to do with it too. Jewish names all around.

Greenglass changed his name and lived in anonymity most of the rest of his life.

If he had second thoughts and felt guilty of betraying his own sister is not really known although he claimed he did not feel contrite.

In any case, he got to live many more than the average years to contemplate his sins if any.

One aspect of the case is that the Rosenbergs had two kids. Over the years they have written about that time and had interviews. I was fascinated with how that was for them. There are photos of them reading headlines about their parents.

Keerist I am glad those times are long over.

I suppose there is just as much stuff now to get upset about but all this red scare stuff turned our country inside out.

Labels: history