MI5’s London exhibition features a 110-year-old lemon linked to espionage, spy tools, and artifacts revealing the agency’s history. Items include microdots and Guy Burgess’s briefcase, showcasing its shift from covert operations to transparency and counterterrorism efforts. The exhibition opens Saturday at the National Archives and runs until September 28.
A London exhibition from MI5 showcases intriguing espionage artifacts, including a 110-year-old lemon pivotal in convicting German spy Karl Muller during World War I. Other exhibits feature compact spy cameras, microdots, and items linked to Soviet defector Guy Burgess, highlighting the agency’s move towards transparency in its century-long history.
MI5 Director General Ken McCallum emphasised that the agency’s true history differs from fictional portrayals of spies, yet many stories remain thrilling. For instance, the lemon was found in Muller’s possessions, with its juice used for invisible ink detailing troop movements. Muller was executed in 1915, but MI5’s ruse of pretending he was alive to drain funds from Germany adds a twist to espionage lore.
The exhibition includes declassified documents and spans MI5’s evolution since its founding in 1909 with just two officers. It highlights successful wartime disinformation efforts, while addressing failures, such as the betrayal by the “Cambridge Spies,” including Kim Philby’s eventual confession in 1963.
Discussion around gender roles in espionage is also featured, showcasing a 1945 report by Maxwell Knight challenging the notion that women are less discreet than men, as the evidence suggested otherwise.
The display acknowledges MI5’s previous oversight of fascism threats and misdirected surveillance on the Communist Party. A key from their office, displayed as an artifact, illustrates this error.
More recent items illustrate MI5’s shift towards counterterrorism, including a mortar shell from an IRA attack on 10 Downing Street in 1991. MI5 began publicly releasing records in 1997, revealing that not everything is shared. Author Ben Macintyre remarked on the significant change in official secrecy surrounding MI5.
“MI5: Official Secrets” opens on Saturday at the National Archives, with free admission until September 28.
The MI5 exhibition provides a fascinating insight into the agency’s history, featuring significant artifacts that highlight espionage’s impact on world events. It showcases both triumphs and failures while addressing gender perceptions. The gradual release of records signals a broader shift in transparency, although many secrets remain. This exhibition is a testament to the evolving narrative of intelligence work in Britain.
Original Source: www.thespec.com