‘V’ is for Valencia: International Brigades' Counter-Intelligence Service Reports about Eileen and Eric Blair (George Orwell) in Spain, 1937

Abstract This article deals with the documents of the counter-intelligence of the International Brigades (IB) relating to Eric (George Orwell) and Eileen Blair. The documents are divided into six groups: I – scheme of connections between different political groups from counterintelligence of IB point of view; II – a report on the structure of the ILP contingent; III – Eileen and Eric Blair tracking reports; IV – the search protocol of Eileen Blair's room at the Continental Hotel; V – Observation’s Reports; VI – protocol of the search of the room David Crook. The article does not include documents from the interrogations of Georges Kopp and David Crook. We present results of a graphological analysis of handwritten marks in the margins of some documents. The IB counter-intelligence officers were identified who monitored and analyzed intelligence data for the ILP contingent and authorized the search in Blair's room. These officers were Alfredo Hertz and Tebarth Wilhelm. Commander of counterintelligence of IB was Gustav Szinda.