The Attempt on Stalin's Life
Zamach na Stalina

Summary/Abstract: The article is devoted to one of the episodes in the fight between the secret services of the Soviet Union and Japan. It presents the story of the escape of Henry Lushkov, a high-ranking NKVD officer who went over to the Japanese side. The text describes the actions of the Japanese intelligence that using the possibilities, competence and knowledge of the defector, decided to eliminate the Soviet leader, Joseph Stalin. On the one hand, the description shows the operational capabilities of the Japanese intelligence at the end of 1930s, and on the other hand, the efficiency and operational capabilities of the Soviet intelligence, which having obtained information on the planned assassination attempt was able to take effective countermeasures. At the same time, the instrumental treatment by the Japanese intelligence of the traitor shows how defectors have always been treated. If they are lucky, they may live until old age, if they are not – they end up liquidated by the services whose side they went over to. The failed operation Bear was one of the most interesting and colourful events in the fierce struggle between the Soviet security bodies and the Japanese secret services known for their brutality.

• Details
• Contents