Home > Ethel and Julius Rosenberg
Ethel Greenglass Rosenberg (1915-1953) and Julius Rosenberg (1918-1953) were American Communists who captured and maintained world attention after being tried, convicted, and executed for spying for the Soviet Union. The accuracy of these charges remains controversial, though decades later, Soviet communications decrypted by the VENONA project became publicly available and appeared to indicate that at least Julius Rosenberg was actively involved in espionage (although they provided no new evidence that he performed the specific acts of espionage for which he was convicted).The couple were the only two American civilians to be executed for conspiracy to commit espionage during the Cold War. In imposing the death penalty, Judge Irving Kaufman noted that he held them responsible not only for espionage but also for the deaths of the Korean War:
- I believe your conduct in putting into the hands of the Russians the A-bomb [...] has already caused, in my opinion, the Communist aggression in Korea, with the resultant casualties exceeding 50,000 and who knows but that millions more of innocent people may pay the price of your treason.
Their case has been at the center of the controversy over communism in the United States ever since, with supporters steadfastly maintaining that their conviction was an egregious example of persecution typical of the "hysteria" of those times (see Red Scare, McCarthyism) and likening it to the witch hunts that marred Salem and medieval Europe.
To the very end, the couple denied all charges and insisted they were innocent, but they were executed in New York's Sing Sing in 1953, despite protests in the United States and abroad. The Rosenbergs were convicted of "conspiring to commit espionage in wartime" despite the fact that the US was not at war with the Soviet Union at the time of the alleged offences[1].
At the time, some Americans believed both Rosenbergs were innocent or received too harsh a punishment, and a grass-roots campaign was started to try to stop the couple's execution. Other Americans felt that the couple got what they deserved. Pope Pius XII appealed to President Dwight D. EisenhowerDwight David "Ike" Eisenhower ( October 14, 1890 March 28, 1969), American soldier and politician, was the 34th President of the United States ( 1953 1961) and supreme commander of the Allied forces in Europe during World War II, with the rank of General to spare the couple, but he refused on February 11February 11 is the 42nd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. There are 323 days remaining, 324 in leap years. Events through 1799 660 BC Traditional founding date of Japan by Emperor Jimmu Tenno. 731 Gregory II ends his reign as Pope. 824 Paschal I, 1953 and all other appeals were also unsuccessful. The couple were executed by the electric chairThe word electric chair has sometimes been used in disabled persons' organizations' publications to mean "electric-powered wheelchair". The electric chair was a device commonly used for the execution of convicted criminals during the 20th century in the U on June 19June 19 is the 170th day of the year (171st in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 195 days remaining. Events 1306 Forces of Earl of Pembroke defeat Bruce's Scottish army at the Battle of Methven 1846 First baseball game under recognizable modern, 1953. Reports of the execution state that Julius died after the first application of electricity, but Ethel did not succumb immediately and was subjected to two more electrical charges before being pronounced dead. The chair was designed for a man, and Ethel Rosenberg was a petite woman.
Julius Rosenberg was born on May 12May 12 is the 132nd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (133rd in leap years). There are 233 days remaining. Events 1191 Richard I of England marries Berengaria of Navarre. 1264 The Battle of Lewes, between King Henry III of England and the rebel Si, 1918Events January January 8 President Woodrow Wilson announces his " Fourteen Points" for the aftermath of World War I. February February 3 The Twin Peaks Tunnel begins service in San Francisco as the longest streetcar tunnel in the world (11,920 feet long). in New York. He graduated from the City College of New York with a degree in electrical engineering in 1939 and joined the Army Signal Corps where he worked on radar equipment. He became a leader in the Young Communist League, where he met Ethel in 1936, before marrying Ethel three years later.
Ethel Rosenberg was born on September 28, 1915 in New York. She was an aspiring actress and singer, but eventually took a secretary job at a shipping company. She became involved in labor disputes and joined the Young Communist League, where she first met Julius. The Rosenbergs had two sons.
