It is an exceptional collection without equivalent in Europe of nearly 2,000 pieces exhibited for the first time in France. These often unique objects from the Soviet secret services belong to a private collection.
The exhibition entitled “The Invisibles of the Cold War: KGB and Stasi” at the Galerie Dauphine (inside the Dauphine Market in Saint-Ouen) focuses on the materials and techniques used by the Soviet (KGB) and East German (Stasi) secret services during the Cold War (1947-1991).
Various clandestine equipment from the Eastern bloc is presented to the French public for the first time and allows a projection of visitors during the dark days of the Iron Curtain. Visitors will thus be able to contemplate the oldest known model of the Soviet “Enigma” (“Fialka”) electromechanical encryption machine, the various types of radio wave transceivers used by KGB and/or GRU secret agents (on espionage missions in the field), clandestine tape recorders, movie cameras and cameras specifically developed for use by special services.
But also exceptional uniforms, decorations, documents and relics from this dark period of recent history are also on display for a “total” immersion of visitors in the secret world of the “invisible”.
“Les invisibles de la guerre froide : KGB et Stasi” Galerie Dauphine 132-140 rue des Rosiers-94300 Saint-Ouen (inside the Dauphine marché). Every week-end until the end of August. Free entrance.
Left: Photo ID card giving Vladimir Yefimovich SEMICHASTNY, President of the KGB (USSR) from 1961 to 1967, privileges for excellent special services rendered to the USSR (dated 1992, after the fall of the USSR). Identity card with photo of Vladimir Yefimovich SEMICHASTNY’s wife (wife pictured in the book about Vladimir Yefimovich SEMICHASTNY). On the right: Passport (reisepass) of the GDR in the name of Martin RICHTER, STASI agent (appears on the list of STASI agents). GDR passport (reisepass) in the name of Renate RICHTER, Martin RICHTER’s false wife and STASI agent (appears on the list of STASI agents). Marché Dauphine – Florence Verrier
IDENTIKIT” case (USSR) containing a camera and the portrait viewer for facial identification (1988 to 1989). Used by the MVD (police) and the KGB (secret services). Comes from Soviet Belarus. Marché Dauphine – Photo Sistine Legrand
IDENTIKIT” case (USSR) containing hundreds of cards for facial identification (1988 to 1989). Used by the MVD (police) and the KGB (secret services) to draw up sketches. Comes from Soviet Belarus. Marché Dauphine – Photo Sixtine Legrand
On the left, an “IDENTIKIT” case (USSR) with hundreds of cards for facial identification (1988 to 1989). On the right, a book showing various types of hairstyles. This set was used by the MVD (police) and the KGB (secret services) to draw up sketches. Comes from Soviet Belarus. Marché Dauphine – Photo Sixtine Legrand
Small suitcase containing a power supply battery for the KGB (USSR) clandestine radio transceiver model P-57 code “RION”. The suitcase comes from the KGB office in Riga (Latvia). Marché Dauphine – Photo Sixtine Legrand
On the left, a suitcase containing a clandestine KGB (USSR) radio transceiver model P-57 code “RION”. On the right, a small suitcase containing its power supply battery. This set comes from the KGB office in Riga (Latvia). Marché Dauphine – Photo Florence Verrier
Special case used by a KGB (USSR) General for his secret encrypted communications, circa 1990. The communications with this case are inviolable because the encryption evolves and changes during telephone conversations. Marché Dauphine – Photo Sixtine Legrand
e cufflinks (silver 875/1000) manufactured in Sverdlovsk in 1961 for the KGB (USSR), with a secret compartment (microdot/microfilm, etc.). Production from 1958-1967. Dauphine Market – Florence Glassmaker
KMZ “Quartz” camera 1×8 S-2 modified by the KGB (USSR), with a F-22 “NAILON” camera hidden inside, allowing for clandestine photography at an angle of 90°. Marche Dauphine – Florence Glassmaker
Lighter spy camera ECHO 8 (1951 to 1956). Spy camera “Kiev 30” (1974-1983) hidden in a pack of “Brooklyn” brand cigarettes. Marché Dauphine – Photo Sixtine Legrand
Extremely rare unpublished photograph of the “collegium” of the KGB (USSR) dating from 1982, with KGB President Yuri ANDROPOV (1967-1982) in his office, in the presence of the first vice-president of the KGB, the vice-presidents of the KGB, the heads of the various KGB directorates, as well as the two presidents of KGB state agencies. This photo is exceptional because it shows 4 KGB presidents (1st on the left: Vladimir KRYUCHKOV (president from 1988 to 1991), 7th on the left: Viktor CHEBRIKOV (president from 1982 to 1988), 8th on the left: Vitaly FEDORCHUK (president in 1988), and 10th on the left: Yuri ANDROPOV (president from 1967 to 1982).
Original photograph of the commemoration of the 30th anniversary (1945-1975) of the victory in the USSR (1975) with Soviet dignitaries, including Yuri STOROZHEV (second row in the back, 3rd person from the right) in KGB General’s uniform, to whom this photograph belonged.
Unique photograph of the visit of the leaders of STASI of the GDR (General Erich MIELKE, General Markus WOLF, etc.) to Moscow (USSR) during the winter of 1980. None of the Western secret services had succeeded in photographing Markus WOLF (known as “the man without a face”), head of HV A (STASI’s external intelligence) during the Cold War period, which makes this photo “unique”. The photo was taken at the foot of an Aeroflot plane and shows 3 successive KGB presidents (5th left: Vitaly FEDORCHUK (president in 1988), 8th left: Viktor CHEBRIKOV (president from 1982 to 1988), and far right: Vladimir KRYUCHKOV (president from 1988 to 1991)), in the presence of STASI Generals Markus WOLF (4th left) and Erich MIELKE (6th left).
Unique photograph of the visit of the GDR STASI leaders (General Erich MIELKE, General Markus WOLF, etc.) to Moscow (USSR) during the winter of 1980.
Original photograph showing the military chiefs-marshals and colonels-general of the USSR during the Cold War around 1970
