Richard Sorge (1895–1944) was a journalist, a diplomat, a resident of Soviet military intelligence. His agent pseudonyms were Ramzai, Inson, and Zonter. Richard Sorge was a Hero of the Soviet Union (1964, posthumously).
Richard Sorge was born on September 22 (October 4), 1895, in the village of Sabunchi of the Baku Province of the Russian Empire. In 1925, he joined the All-Union Communist Party of Bolsheviks. At the same time, he became an agent of the Red Army's intelligence service. From October of 1929, he worked for Soviet military intelligence, and from 1930 to 1932, he was on a special assignment in China. From May of 1933 to October of 1941, he headed an illegal residency in Japan. While working in Japan, R. Sorge reported the approximate date of Germany's attack on the USSR.
On October 18, 1941, R. Sorge was arrested by the Japanese police. He retained his faith in the victory of the USSR until the very end. On September 29, 1943, Sorge was sentenced to death. The sentence was carried out on November 7, 1944.
The postage stamp provides a portrait of Richard Sorge.
| Paper |
Printing method |
Perforation |
Format of the stamp |
Edition |
| Chalk surfaced |
Offset + security system |
Comb 12:12¼ |
30 × 42 mm |
42 thousand stamps |