Polyakova, Maria Iosefovna

(c. 1910–?)

   As a young member of the Communist Party, Polyakova was sent to Switzerland in the early 1930s as an illegal to establish an intelligence network for the GRU. This network became the basis for Sandor Rado’s intelligence operation during World War II. Despite the fact that several members of her family were purged in the late 1930s, Polyakova became a Red Army intelligence officer with the rank of major and served as chief of the Swiss desk during the war. She directed Rado’s efforts from GRU headquarters in Moscow, and she deserves much of the credit for his success.