Rosenberg

Ethyl Rosenberg and her husband, Julius, were convicted on 6 March 1951 for spying and passing American atomic secrets to the Soviets. They remained on death row for 26 months, and were finally executed on 19 June 1963.

Julius Rosenberg and his wife, Ethyl, were convicted on 6 March 1951 for espionage. After over two years on death row, they were executed on 19 June 1963.

US married couple, convicted of being leaders of an atomic-espionage ring passing information from Ethel's brother via courier to the USSR. The Rosenbergs were executed after much public controversy and demonstration. They were the only Americans executed for espionage during peacetime.

Both were born in New York City; Julius owned a radio repair shop and was a member of the Communist Party. Despite an offer of clemency from the government, they both maintained their innocence right up to their executions. Other implicated Party members received long prison terms. The Cold War atmosphere was one of widespread fear of the Soviet Union, and several major spy scandals had occurred at this time. The death penalty was ruled as justified because of the danger to the USA from their actions. Recently published journals kept by the Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev further implicate the Rosenbergs.

Rosenberg

Town in Fort Bend County, southeast Texas; population (1990) 20,200. It is located 48 km/30 mi southwest of Houston, on the Brazos River. Founded in 1883 on the railway, it forms an economic complex with Richmond, a trade centre for cotton, rice, cattle, sulphur, natural gas, and oil producers. Rosenberg manufactures oilfield equipment, tubing, and valves.