Moscow: In the course of World War-II
Soviet leader Joseph Stalin twice aborted plans to kill Nazi
dictator Adolph Hitler, fearing his elimination could lead to
a separate peace deal between Germany and his Western allies,
a Russian general has claimed.
The Soviet leadership had at least two real chances to
assassinate Adolph Hitler in 1943 and 1944, but Stalin aborted
them at the last minute.
"A concrete plan to assassinate Hitler in his bunker
was developed, but Stalin suddenly cancelled it in 1943 over
fears that after Hitler's death his associates would conclude
a separate peace treaty with Britain and the United States,"
Gen. (Ret.) Anatoly Kulikov was quoted as saying by RIA
Novosti at a conference on war history.
Gen Kulikov, who chairs the Club of Military
Commanders, added that Stalin had documentary evidence
confirming that these talks did take took place.
The Soviet Union had a second opportunity to kill
Hitler in 1944 when the assassin managed to infiltrate
Hitler's entourage and had a high degree of trust among the
German leadership.
"A detailed assassination plan was prepared, but
Stalin cancelled it again," the former general said.
According to foreign historians, at least 17 attempts
on Hitler's life were planned during 1939-1945. None of them
was successful.
After the storming of Berlin in May 1945 by the Soviet
Red Army, Hitler and his girl friend Eva Braun committed
suicide by consuming poison and their bodies charred bodies
were found in the Nazi dictator's bunker.
PTI
First Published: Tuesday, May 25, 2010, 20:47