Night of the Assassins

Howard Blum's "Night of the Assassins" brings to light a remarkable World War II episode that has remained largely obscure despite its potentially catastrophic implications. The book centers on Operation Long Jump, Nazi Germany's audacious plan to assassinate Franklin D. Roosevelt, Winston Churchill, and Joseph Stalin during their 1943 meeting in Tehran. This conference, the first time all three Allied leaders met together, represented a pivotal moment in coordinating strategy for the final phase of the war against the Axis powers.

Blum, a journalist and historian with previous works examining espionage and covert operations, constructs his narrative around the convergence of multiple intelligence services working to uncover and thwart the German plot. The Tehran Conference took place from November 28 to December 1, 1943, bringing together the leaders of the United States, Great Britain, and the Soviet Union to discuss the opening of a second front in Europe and the postwar order. The symbolic and strategic value of such a gathering made it an irresistible target for Nazi planners desperate to alter the course of a war that was increasingly turning against Germany.

The author draws on declassified documents, intelligence reports, and historical records to reconstruct the events surrounding the alleged assassination plot. At the center of the German operation was Otto Skorzeny, the SS commando who had recently achieved fame for his daring rescue of Benito Mussolini from Italian captivity. According to the historical accounts Blum examines, German intelligence identified the Tehran meeting as an opportunity to decapitate Allied leadership in a single stroke, potentially throwing the coalition into disarray and buying Germany valuable time.

The Soviet NKVD, under the direction of security chief Lavrenty Beria, played a crucial role in detecting the threat. Soviet intelligence operatives allegedly uncovered evidence of German agents being infiltrated into Iran, then occupied jointly by Soviet and British forces. The book details how Soviet counterintelligence worked to identify these operatives and neutralize the threat before the conference began. Stalin's security apparatus, notorious for its thoroughness and ruthlessness, took extraordinary measures to protect the three leaders during their time in Tehran.

Blum structures the book as a thriller, building tension through parallel narratives that follow both the alleged plotters and those working to stop them. The author provides context about the broader intelligence war being waged across multiple fronts, including the complex political situation in Iran, which had been occupied by Allied forces to secure supply routes to the Soviet Union. This occupation created opportunities for both Allied and Axis intelligence operations in a region far from the main theaters of combat.

One of the book's strengths lies in its exploration of the personalities involved, from the three Allied leaders to the intelligence officers and operatives on both sides. Blum examines how the conference itself unfolded, with Roosevelt, Churchill, and Stalin negotiating the shape of the postwar world even as security services worked to ensure they survived to see it. The dynamics among the three leaders, their competing visions, and the delicate diplomacy required to maintain the alliance provide important context for understanding why protecting them mattered so much.

The historical record regarding Operation Long Jump remains somewhat contested among scholars. While Soviet sources documented the plot and the subsequent capture and execution of German agents, some historians have questioned aspects of the official narrative, suggesting the threat may have been exaggerated for political purposes. Blum acknowledges these debates while making the case that the evidence supports the existence of a genuine assassination plot, even if all details cannot be confirmed with absolute certainty.

The book also illuminates the broader context of assassination attempts and security concerns during World War II. Both Hitler and other Nazi leaders faced their own assassination plots, most notably the failed July 20, 1944 attempt by German military officers. The willingness of various parties to consider eliminating enemy leaders reflected the total nature of the conflict and the stakes involved.

Blum's narrative approach makes complex intelligence operations accessible to general readers without sacrificing historical rigor. The book moves at a steady pace, maintaining interest through its focus on human drama and high stakes rather than merely recounting dry facts. For readers interested in World War II history, intelligence operations, or the relationships among the Allied leaders, "Night of the Assassins" offers an engaging account of a little-known episode that could have dramatically altered the course of history. The book serves as a reminder of how vulnerable even the most powerful figures were during the war and how much depended on the skill and dedication of those working behind the scenes to protect them.