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Hamish Macdonald, Anna Levy, Greg Muller and Linda Lopresti for Take Me To Your Leader

The Soviet spy films that inspired a young Vladimir Putin

Vladimir Putin KGB Philip Short Boris Yeltsin Susan Glasser Yuri Andropov Dmitry Medvedev Russia Kremlin
Actor Stanislav Lyubshin's (right) portrayal of a Russian spy was one of the things that convinced a young Vladimir Putin (left) to pursue a career with the KGB. (Getty: Laski Diffusion / Supplied: Mosfilm)

Nazi Germany, 1940. Russian spy Alexander Belov is cool in a crisis.

In a crisp white suit and tie, his hair immaculately coiffed, Belov infiltrates the SS headquarters in Berlin, assuming a German alias and manipulating his way to the top.

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