The Cambridge Five refers to a group of five British spies who were recruited by the Soviet Union during the early Cold War. The members included Kim Philby, Donald Maclean, Guy Burgess, Anthony Blunt, and John Cairncross. They were all educated at Cambridge University and were part of the British elite, which allowed them to gain access to sensitive information. These spies provided the Soviet Union with valuable intelligence from the 1930s to the 1950s. Their activities were a significant breach of trust within the British government and intelligence services. The exposure of their espionage led to a major scandal and raised concerns about security and loyalty in the UK.