Did Nazi commandos really plan to assassinate the leaders of the Allied powers?
In 1943, Soviet intelligence reported a terrifying Nazi conspiracy to kill Roosevelt, Churchill, and Stalin. Known as Operation Long Jump, the mission allegedly involved SS commandos and parachute drops. Yet, historians still debate if this was a genuine assassination plot or a brilliant piece of Soviet disinformation.
As 1943 drew to a close, the tide of World War II was turning decisively against the Axis. The destruction of the 6th Army at Stalingrad and the failure to regain momentum at Kursk left Nazi Germany in a state of retreat. Amidst this collapse, the Tehran Conference became a pivotal moment, marking the first time Franklin D. Roosevelt, Winston Churchill, and Joseph Stalin met face-to-face to coordinate the Allied war effort.
According to reports from Soviet intelligence, Hitler had authorized a high-stakes mission called Operation Long Jump. The alleged plan was incredibly complex, involving Abwehr agents and SS commandos using disguises and explosives. The mission reportedly included parachute drops near Qom and even a potential kidnapping of Roosevelt, paired with the targeted killings of Stalin and Churchill. The logistics suggested a sophisticated attempt to decapitate the Allied leadership at the height of their cooperation.
However, the historical reality of Operation Long Jump is shrouded in deep uncertainty. While some view it as a narrow escape from a devastating strike, others suggest it may have been a fabrication. There is significant debate over whether Joseph Stalin exaggerated or entirely invented the threat. Such a deception would have served a strategic purpose: providing a pretext for the Soviet Union to place the American president under intense surveillance during his stay in Tehran. Whether it was a triumph of Soviet counterintelligence or a masterclass in wartime propaganda remains one of the era's most enduring mysteries.
Source: Hitler’s Plot to Kill the Big Three or Stalin's Big Lie?
