Redl: The Spy Who Betrayed the Habsburg Empire

In 1913, Colonel Alfred Redl, the deputy head of Austrian counterintelligence, was unmasked as a Russian spy. His betrayal compromised Austria-Hungary's war plans and intelligence networks on the eve of World War I. This episode explores Redl's rise through the k.u.k. Army, his double life as a homosexual man in a repressive era, the blackmail that turned him into a traitor, and the botched cover-up that followed his suicide. We discuss the damage Redl inflicted—including handing over the 'Plan 3' mobilization schedules for the Balkans—and how the scandal shattered public trust in the Habsburg military establishment. The episode also touches on the role of the Evidenzbureau, the tense atmosphere of pre-war espionage, and the lingering questions about who else might have been compromised. A story of ambition, secrecy, and the cracks in an empire's foundation. #AlfredRedl #Espionage #AustriaHungary #Evidenzbureau #WWIOrigins #HabsburgEmpire #Counterintelligence #RussianSpy #kukArmy #Plan3 #Prague #Ballhausplatz #MilitaryIntelligence #Treason #Scandal #EmpireOnTheBrink #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo