Do you believe the conspiracy was real? Why or why not?

Toward the end of the book, the author explores the possibility that the plot to assassinate the Big Three was a ruse by Stalin, and says "the answer may come down to whether you choose to believe a former Soviet spy or an ex-Nazi." Do you believe the conspiracy was real? Why or why not?

I struggled with this as we don't seem to get a definite answer. However, I personally think it was real. If the main spy hadn't been put out of commission, the plot would have been carried out, or at least a strong attempt made to make it happen.

I think there was something there, but I do wonder if the author made it appear more certain than it actually was.

I have no doubt it was discussed. Whether or not it would have been a priority over disrupting arms transport through Iran, I don't know.

I think it was probably real, but I think the authors used the scant information they had about the plot to build an interesting and compelling story that was more about the three leaders and the war in general. I actually forgot about the conspiracy as I was reading.

I have great difficulty believing that the conspiracy was real. It just seems too fantastical and impossible to complete.

Since " the conspiracy" did not come to fruition, it is impossible to know. I agree with Katherinep that it was discussed but the question is, when does an idea, or a plan involve into a conspiracy. That can only be determined in hindsight if the action planned occurs.

I do believe the conspiracy was real. It's believable that Hitler and his minions would have loved to have accomplished this coup. At the time no-one believed that railroad cars were transporting Jews to death camps either.

I think the plot was real. Time and again, I've found that the most fantastical parts of historical fiction turn out to be the true parts, and the logic of the authors' argument for concluding that it was a real plot felt sound to me, particularly given that almost a third of the book was taken up by the bibliography!

As Mark Twain put it: Truth is stranger than fiction, but it is because Fiction is obliged to stick to possibilities; Truth isn't.”

(and before him, Byron in "Don Juan": 'Tis strange -- but true; for truth is always strange; Stranger than fiction; if it could be told...)

By the end of the book when all analysis is given, I did believe it was highly possible that it was real. It was believable that all the major players and those with first hand knowledge were German or Soviet who would have kept these facts secret.

I’m still on the fence. The author discussed the negative and positive evidence that a plot existed, but could not prove the plot existed with 100% certainty. Clearly, however, all three countries were concerned about security for the big 3 in Tehran.

I would be surprised to discover there wasn't a conspiracy to kill all three leaders at Tehran. I'm a little disappointed that the book didn't include more new information.

Even the authors admit, a great deal of this cannot be confirmed. Maybe this info is still locked up to be released at another time. There is not much about this in the good history books.

I finished the book with the impression that it was real. How many conspirators were involved or how far they got in planning are unknown variables. I did appreciate the dilemma presented to Mike Reilly as the person whose sole responsibility was to keep President Roosevelt safe.

I think davinamw‘s post said it best. Clearly, FDR’s team thought it was possible, given that they had FDR ride on the floor of his car with only one other vehicle in his “motorcade” while the rest of his motorcade proceeded with someone posing as FDR on the way to the meeting.

Yes, I do....there were lots of conspiracies on all sides...that was at governments did! I really believed after I read the interview with Meltzer about how he found the idea and the research he did...he is very credible.

Like an old Star Trek poster I had in college, you “never put all your ranking officers in the same shuttle craft!” That being said, I think it is reasonable that if Hitler knew that the Allied leaders were meeting, it would have been too big a target for him not to try to eliminate all three at one time. And with the travel involved with moving them all to one location, how could Hitler not know? So I do believe there was a plan on some kind. The players and the timing set forth in this book are all very plausible and a very credible theory.

I think we may never know if it was real or not. I'm sure based on the information given that it was discussed. And there were Nazi operatives in Tehran, so it is possible. It could have happened, but everyone that knows the truth is dead and even when they were alive, most of them weren't talking.

I agree with christineb. Hilter would have LOVED to have taken out the big 3! They were fortunate they had such good people in the security details that were able to stay ahead of the game and keep them safe.

Most definitely! We know that Hitler and his SS subordinates were capable of anything; no matter how despicable it was or at the cost of world opinion. They simply did not care about anything but "Triumph of the Will", i.e., the fulfilment of their evil ideologies. What a coup; to strike fear in all human inhabitants of the earth at that time!

Not sure if it was real or not. Until this book I had never known about the conspiracy. I have seen a lot of videos regarding WWII and it was never mentioned. On the other hand, Germany would not have wanted it revealed. Stalin was glad for the opportunity
to have Roosevelt in the Russian Embassy to spy on the Americans.

I had not learned of this before. I have read numerous WWII books, but they were mostly about the more well known events, in both the Pacific and in Europe. I still don't know after reading this if the conspiracy was real. That was a big disappointment for me in finishing the book. Until the last of the book, I believed the book was about a known plan that was the Allies were able to stop.

We may never know if this plot was real but I was persuaded by the author's research and analysis that it could have happened as he presents it. It definitely made a great story.

Yes, I absolutely believe it was real. If Hitler knew about the plan for The Big Three to meet and be in the same place, his narcissism and power-hungry drive for world domination would have made this too tempting to resist. The location of the meeting being Tehran especially would have been a very appealing and easier target for Hitler because of the pro-Nazi network already in existence there.

I believe it was real, but I did not really like the way this was handled in the book. To avoid spoilers I cannot say more.

Paulagb: spoilers are fine in all threads except the “What did you think” one. And I’m curious! Please post more! 😊