Operation Long Jump

Assassination Plot

The Nazi regime devised an audacious plan to assassinate the Allied leaders during their 1943 meeting in Tehran. This operation, known as Operation Long Jump, was orchestrated by Ernst Kotlinbrunner and tasked to Otto Skorzeny, Hitler's favored commando. The Germans organized a network of spies in Tehran, but their communications were compromised by Soviet intelligence 1.

   

Soviet Intervention

Soviet intelligence played a crucial role in thwarting Operation Long Jump. Undercover agents, including Nikolai Kutsanov and Gevork Vartanian, uncovered the plot and intercepted German communications. They forced captured radio operators to inform Berlin that the plan was exposed, leading to its cancellation 2.

   

Historical Debate

The reality of Operation Long Jump remains debated, with some historians questioning its existence due to a lack of Nazi documentation. However, Soviet archives and testimonies from Churchill and Roosevelt's aides confirm the plot's exposure. Despite Skorzeny's post-war denial, the operation's potential impact on history is undeniable 2.