The Berlin Tunnel

A fascinating story from the Central Intelligence Agency:

Turning a Cold War Scheme into Reality
Engineering the Berlin Tunnel

Fifty years ago, the CIA embarked on a project to intercept Soviet and East German messages transmitted via underground cable. Intelligence was collected to determine the best place to hit the target, and then concrete planning for a new collection site was begun.

Early in 1951 when I was working in the Engineering Division of the Office of Communications, I received a message from some people in the office of the Deputy Director of Plans�specifically the chief of Foreign Intelligence/Staff D (FI/D), and a member of his team�requesting a meeting.

The meeting was short. The only question they asked was whether a tunnel could be dug in secret. My reply was that one could dig a tunnel anywhere, but to build one in secret would depend on its size, take more time, and cost more money. After the meeting, I was transferred to FI/D. Thus began planning for the construction of the Berlin Tunnel.

We started building the tunnel in August 1954 and completed it in February 1955. It was 1,476 feet in length; 3,100 tons of soil were removed; 125 tons of steel liner plate and 1,000 cubic yards of grout were consumed. This was not a small operation!

Debate has swirled around the net intelligence value of the operation. But the completion of this demanding project�accomplished in secret and under exacting conditions�is a tribute to the resourcefulness and expertise of an outstanding team of professionals.

Almost as good a story as the underwater telephone tap we put on the Russians back in the 1970's...