Communists and suspected Communists

Communists and suspected Communists

Solomon Frankel (KV 2/2934) 1941-1957

Frankel, who died in May 2007, was a prominent London Communist Party member, a veteran of the Battle of Cable Street and the International Brigade, and of the less well-known Communist Party-inspired demonstrations at the Savoy Hotel in 1940.

Despite this, it was not until 1941 that a Security Service file was opened on him (largely because of suspicions surrounding his sister Jenny, also a member of the Communist Party, who was working as a fitter for Handley Page). By then, Frankel was working as a shelter marshal (and later as an air-raid warden) in Stepney.

This file, which covers 1941-1957, throws much light on the activities of the Party in London clothing manufacturers. Frankel acted as branch secretary at several of these after the war. It also presents an interesting view of the lives of a London Jewish Communist family during this period, as the file covers not just Solomon but also the activities of his siblings.

Reuben Falber (KV 2/2916-2921) 1939-1957

This release also contains six files covering the Security Service's interest in leading London communist, Reuben Falber. Falber eventually rose high enough in the Communist Party hierarchy to take over responsibility from the ailing Bob Stewart for channelling covert Soviet funds into the Party's hands . The files are very detailed on this point and contain a great deal of material documenting Falber's daily work for the Party.

The files released now cover 1938 to 1957, with the last three, KV 2/2919-2921 covering just three years, including as they do the year in which Falber took over this duty from Stewart and observation of his activities intensified markedly. The first indication that the Service knew of this development is recorded at minute 236 (6 February 1957) in KV 2/2919.

KV 2/2916 includes a photograph of Falber (serial 1a).