What was Ethel's role? The decoded cables indicate pretty clearly that she wasn't a "spy" in the sense of acquiring classified information herself and passing it on. She wasn't considered an "agent" of sorts by the Soviets, and was never assigned a codename. But she was aware her husband was a spy.
![Decrypted Soviet communication from 27 November 1944: "Information on LIBERAL’s [Julius Rosenberg] wife. Surname that of her husband, first name ETHEL, 29 years old. Married five years. Finished secondary school. A FELLOWCOUNTRYMAN [member of the Communist Party] since 1938. Sufficiently well developed politically. Knows about her husband’s work and the role of METR and NIL [two other spies]. In view of delicate health does not work. Is characterized positively and as a devoted person."](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:d6lghffuwlinx22c2rtfbdwv/bafkreidlzylmvpxutksajfzgbtya4i7mkb3kuipjyulz627cstql45hd44)
November 1, 2024 at 8:10 PM
What was Ethel's role? The decoded cables indicate pretty clearly that she wasn't a "spy" in the sense of acquiring classified information herself and passing it on. She wasn't considered an "agent" of sorts by the Soviets, and was never assigned a codename. But she was aware her husband was a spy.
