Were the origins of the List ever explained?

While explaining the plot of Atomic Blonde to a coworker today, I mentioned the List (as it's a central plot point). My coworker responded by asking if they explained where that would have come from.

From my understanding, the List contained the names and aliases of all active field agents in the Soviet Union. Was it ever explained why this List existed to begin with? It doesn't seem like it would have been created by the Soviets, as that seems as bad of an idea as a company keeping everyone's current passwords on a sheet of paper.

Considering the movie begins with it being in the possession of James Gascoigne, was the List created by MI6?

atomic-blonde

Best Answer

The list was created by the Soviet Union's counter-intelligence unit(s), it kept track of every agent, from every nation, currently in Berlin -- at the height of the tensions just before the wall came down.

"Spyglass" was the codename of the Soviet-Union agent who had the list and was negotiating with it to defect and cross the Berlin Wall border.

This is briefly explained at the beginning of the movie, and can be confirmed with this image from the pages of the graphic novel ("The Coldest City" by Antony Johnston and Sam Hart) that the movie is based-off of:

Pictures about "Were the origins of the List ever explained?"

Were the origins of the List ever explained? - Mug, Watch, and Planner Book on Brown Wooden Surface

Were the origins of the List ever explained? - Notebook

Were the origins of the List ever explained? - Overhead view of composition of empty hardcover book lying between metallic pen and soft cotton flowers on wooden tray with recesses

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