Target Tokyo

The Story of the Sorge Spy Ring

By: Gordon Prange, Donald M. Goldstein, Katherine V. Dillon

Narrated by: David Rapkin

Length: 20 hrs and 25 mins

Publisher's summary

From deep within imperial Japan, a Soviet agent smuggled out intelligence that helped the Allies win the war

Richard Sorge was dispatched to Tokyo in 1933 to serve the spymasters of Moscow. For eight years, he masqueraded as a Nazi journalist and burrowed deep into the German embassy, digging for the secrets of Hitler's invasion of Russia and the Japanese plans for the East. In a nation obsessed with rooting out moles, he kept a high profile - boozing, womanizing, and operating entirely under his own name. But he policed his spy ring scrupulously, keeping such a firm grip that by the time the Japanese uncovered his infiltration, he had done irreversible damage to the cause of the Axis.

The first definitive account of one of the most remarkable espionage sagas of World War II, Target Tokyo is a tightly wound portrayal of a man who risked his life for his country, hiding in plain sight.

©1984 Anne Prange and Prange Enterprises, Inc. (P)2014 Audible Inc.

Riveting

I found this book fascinating and was struck by the fact that Stalin refused to believe the information his spies provided him. The author’s tell the story of Richard Sorge (1895-1944) who was a soviet military intelligence officer. Prange et al go into detail about his most famous activity. He was in Japan in 1940-1941 working undercover as a German journalist. He was spying on both the Japanese and Nazi Germans. His code name was “Ramsay”.

The authors state that Sorge provided Stalin with the information that the Germans were planning to attack Russia. Stalin did nothing because he did not believe his own spy. In 1941 Sorge found out that Japan was not going to attack Russia. Stalin was then able to transfer 18 divisions, 1700 tanks and 1500 aircraft from Siberia to the Western Front to use against the Nazis. This was a turning point for the Russians.

The author covers his life but mostly covers his time in Japan in the 1930s and 40’s. Prange et al show how he managed to infiltrate himself into two of the most paranoid regimes of the time, Japan and Germany. Sorge was arrested about 18 October 1941 for espionage. The Japanese at first thought he was an Abwehr spy, but after torture he revealed he worked for the Soviets. He was incarcerated in Sugamo Prison in Tokyo then on the 7 November 1944 he was executed. In 1964 the Soviet’s awarded him the “Hero of the Soviet Union Medal”.

The book is well written and meticulously researched. It is easy to read and kept my attention throughout the book. If you are interested in World War II history or in espionage this is the book for you. David Rapkin did a good job narrating the book.

Fascinating, complex story

I knew the name Sorge but had no idea the complexity and skill of the ring. Despite his service of international communism, it is hard not to be impressed with this mans ability. For those who think Russian games or new, this book is a must read.

Great book and insightful history

A very well researched and written book. Truly provides great insight into pre-World War 2 Tokyo and geopolitics.

Good story if you haven't heard it before

Would you listen to Target Tokyo again? Why?

No. There is only so much to the story, and I don't think there would be many new things I would learn by listening again.

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

Most interesting parts were facts collected from journals and first-hand accounts. Interesting to see the day-to-day operations of a spy ting.

Which character – as performed by David Rapkin – was your favorite?

He didn't really distinguish much.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

No

Cliche heaven!

Any additional comments?

I wanted to learn this history not how to write cliches. The author was obviously confused between writing a bad novel or a bad history book. Guess what, two bads make a really bad book!

Ugh!

As I listened to this book, I knew that I was in deep doo-doo when the reader talked about documenting the sources...ugh, thought I, footnotes of infinite length :-( in a Senior Level Poly-Sci class. The preface took about a half hour and then the book started. It was written/read like an academic tome suitable for a 400-level class on spies in WWII and it may be suitable for such research. When the reader began to sound like Charlie Brown's teacher, I gave up and thought to myself: "I'm driving down this long road, listening to this book and I'm more bored than usual. I've got better ways to spend my time. So, I deleted the book after about an hour. DNF.