Rosenberg+Trial+-+12-13





**Brief Background**
On July 17, 1950, Julius Rosenberg, an electrical engineer and employee for the U.S. Army Signal Corps, was arrested for supposedly giving Russia American atomic secrets. The next month, Julius’ wife, Ethel, was also arrested for apparently helping her husband with his illicit activity. The two were exposed by Ethel’s brother-in-law, David Greenglass, and a Philadelphia chemist, Harry Gold (two primary witnesses in the trial). Although the existing evidence was inconclusive at best, the couple was sentenced to death under the Espionage Act of 1917. Despite seven attempts to appeal, they were executed by the electric chair on June 19, 1953. While much of the public protested the unfairness of the verdict that had been based on such flimsy evidence, at the end of the Cold War, information confirming Julius Rothelberg’s espionage activities was released, and it was clear that he had been guilty of what he was sentenced to death for.

**Major Players Involved**
Julius and Ethel Rosenberg Morton Sobell Emanuel Bloch - defense attorney William Perl, Klaus Fuchs, and Aleksandr Feklisov - assorted spies Irving Saypol and Roy Cohn - prosecuting attorneys Max Elitcher, Harry Gold, David and Ruth Greenglass, Elizabeth Bentley - prosecution witnesses Irving Kaufman - the judge Robert & Michael Meeropol - the sons Igor Gouzenko Soviet Union USA FBI American Communist Party

**Important Dates**
1917: Espionage Act is enacted 1929: Communist Party of the United States is founded 1943: Rosenbergs cease to openly work with the Communist Party 1943: Soviet spymaster Feklisov meets with Julius for the first time November 1944: Julius gets Greenglass’s help in obtaining info about the Manhattan Project December 1944: Julius provides Soviet with a proximity fuse January 1945: David Greenglass provides his own notes and a sketch of high-explosive lens from the Manhattan Project September 1945: Greenglass meets with Rosenberg while on forlough in New York June 30, 1948: Max Elitcher and Morton Sobell meet Julius to exchange microfilm February 2, 1950: Klaus Fuchs arrested March 1950: Julius warns Greenglass to flee the country May 1950: Julius asks physician what shots are necessary for a trip to Mexico (hints at his intention to flee as well) May 22, 1950: Harry Gold confesses to the FBI June 15, 1950: David Greenglass names Julius as the man that recruited him to spy for the USSR June 16, 1950: FBI interviews Julius for the first time July 17, 1950: Julius is arrested August 11, 1950: Ethel is arrested August 1950: Sobell and family are kidnapped by Mexican thugs and handed over to U.S authorities at the border January 31, 1951: grand jury indicts Rosenbergs, Sobell, Greenglass, and Yakolev February 1951: Greenglasses change the story, now saying that Ethel was also involved in spy activity March 6, 1951: trial begins March 28, 1951: trial ends March 29, 1951: jury returns verdict (guilty of conspiracy to commit espionage) April 5, 1951: judge gives the death sentence to the Rosenbergs, Sobell 30 years June 19, 1953: Rosenbergs executed 1970-1974: Khrushchev tape records his observations on the Rosenbergs’ spying 1990: the records are published, suggesting that the Rosenbergs helped USSR acquire the A-bomb July 11, 1995: NSA and CIA release decoded Venona cables showing the involvement of the Rosenbergs in espionage 2008: Martin Sobell admits that he spied for the USSR. Newly released testimony also reveals that the Greenglasses may have lied in their trial testimony

**Outcome of the Event**
Despite seven attempts at appealing, Julius and Ethel Rosenberg were executed. They became the first U.S. civilians to suffer the death penalty in an espionage trial. The proceedings of the trial left many in tears, and many more angrily feeling that justice had not been served. Questions such as ‘were the Rosenbergs given a fair trial?’ and ‘did the sentence fit the evidence?’ still remain today. Furthermore, the Rosenbergs’ two sons had been orphaned at ages 10 and 6; they were refused to be taken in by any of their family members, due to the fear of being fired by employers, or worse.

**How the Event Influenced the Cold War**
If the Rosenbergs had not passed the USSR such crucial information on the makings of an atomic bomb, it is likely that the Soviets would not have gotten ahold of a nuclear weapon for at least a few more years down the road. The event also made multiple nations and governments question the level of corruption that existed in high ranking organizations, especially in the governments where spies could be lurking. How should security be tightened? Who is dependable and who isn’t? These were questions that were asked more frequently after the Rosenberg trial took place. The trial also because the center of a stormy debate over communist influence in America. It caused many to become more paranoid about the pull communism was having in the nation that opposed it most.

**Works Cited**
Casalaspi, David. "Cold War Museum." //Cold War Museum//. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Apr. 2013. < [] >.

"Chronology of the Rosenberg Trial." //UMKC School of Law//. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Apr. 2013. < [] >.

Hughes, Timothy. "Julius and Ethel Rosenberg Trial Begins." //Timothy Hughes Rare & Early Newspapers - RareNewspapers.com//. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Apr. 2013. < [] >.

"Julius and Ethel Rosenberg." //United States American History//. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Apr. 2013. < [] >.

Lerner, Adrienne Wilmoth. "Rosenberg (Ethel and Julius) Espionage Case - ." //Internet FAQ Archives - Online Education - faqs.org//. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Apr. 2013. < [] >.

Linder, Doug. "Rosenbergs Trial: An Account of the Trial with links.." //UMKC School of Law//. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Apr. 2013. < [] >.

McMillan, Peter. "Rosenberg Trial." //Spartacus Educational//. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Apr. 2013. < [] >.

Price, Steven. "Trial of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg -- Biographies of Participants - UMKC School of Law." //UMKC School of Law//. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Apr. 2013. < [] >.

"Rosenberg, Julius; Rosenberg, Ethel -- Britannica Online Encyclopedia." //Britannica Online Encyclopedia//. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Apr. 2013. < [] >.