The VENONA Project

In February 1943, the U.S. Army's Signal Intelligence Service, a forerunner of the National Security Agency, began a small, very secret program, which was eventually codenamed VENONA. The object of the VENONA program was to examine, and possibly exploit, encrypted Soviet diplomatic communications. Analysis of the messages revealed that some of the messages were from KGB and GRU operatives working undercover in the United States.

In the summer of 1946, linguists began to read portions of the decrypted messages. Over the next several months, analysts uncovered references to the Manhattan Project and other espionage activities in the intercepted messages. U.S. Army Intelligence, G-2, became very alarmed at the content of the messages which were being decrypted and contacted the Federal Bureau of Investigation about the messages. The FBI used this information to develop leads that led to some arrests and convictions for espionage against the United States.

Eventually over 2000 messages were decrypted at least in part and show the detail of KGB tradecraft; espionage against the U.S. Atomic Program; the large number of people (about 200) claimed as intelligence assets; and the activities of the American Communist Party among other things.

The National Security Agency is now in the process of releasing declassified copies of the messages. All of the released documents are available for review at the Museum and some significant messages are part of museum displays. In addition, you may wish to visit the VENONA archives.

This display includes photographs of the American citizens who gave information about the U.S. Atomic Program to the Soviet KGB; replicas of the messages revealing the espionage; and some World War II-era artifacts similar to those used by KGB officers.

Shown are various medals and uniform insignia from the KGB officer and enlisted corps. The display also includes replicas of three messages relating to controversial figures mentioned in VENONA messages: Judith Coplon, Alger Hiss and Harry Dexter White.