SMERSH (in capitalised letters) was featured in Ian Fleming's early James Bond novels and films as 007's nemesis. SMERSH is a conjunction of two Russian words: "Smyert Shpionam", (Смерть Шпионам), which means "Death to Spies". Though Fleming's SMERSH was supposed to be modelled on the real SMERSH organization, the novels had SMERSH as a massive Soviet counterintelligence operation aimed at sending operatives abroad to subvert the west with an additional goal of killing western spies, particularly Bond.
Overview
The novel, Casino Royale, breaks SMERSH down into five departments:
- Department I: In charge of counterintelligence among Soviet organizations at home and abroad.
- Department II: Operations, including executions.
- Department III: Administration and finance.
- Department IV: Investigations and legal work. Personnel.
- Department V: Prosecutions — the section which passes final judgment on all victims.
SMERSH made its longest-lasting impact on Bond in Casino Royale when a SMERSH agent carved a Russian letter (representing SMERSH) into the back of his hand. Despite skin grafts, a faint scar remained on Bond's hand which was referenced numerous times in future novels.
The film version of The Living Daylights, the expanded plot (an extension of the short story) was based around a faked re-activation of SMERSH, it having been defunct for twenty years prior to the film (as claimed by General Pushkin ). A few passing references to SMERSH can also be found in the James Bond novels of John Gardner, most notably Icebreaker.
In later novels, as well as in the James Bond movies, Bond's archenemy became S.P.E.C.T.R.E. Film versions of books in which SMERSH was featured either substituted S.P.E.C.T.R.E. or made the villains independent operatives, though in From Russia with Love Bond initially thinks he is combatting SMERSH only to find that the film's villains are actually working for S.P.E.C.T.R.E.
Villians of SMERSH
Villains in the Bond novels who were SMERSH agents include:
The novel From Russia With Love lists many villains involved with SMERSH. Most notably:
- Colonel General Grubozaboyschikov — Head of SMERSH
- Colonel Rosa Klebb — Head of department of torture and death (Otdyel II)
-
Donovan "Red" Grant — Chief executioner
- Lieutenant General Slavin — Head of "Intelligence department of the General Staff of the Army" (GRU)
- Lieutenant General Vozdvishensky — Head of "Intelligence department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs" (R.U.M.I.D.)
- Colonel Niktin — Head of Soviet Secret Service (MGB known as KGB post 1953)
- Colonel Kronsteen — Head of "Planning department"
Spoof
A joking reference to SMERSH also appears in the spoof film, Casino Royale in which anyone who uttered the phrase was quieted by someone going "SHHHHHHHH!" thereby making the acronym sound like "SMERSHHHHHHHHH..."
See also
Last updated: 05-07-2005 12:18:24
Last updated: 05-13-2005 07:56:04
