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From the New York Times bestselling authors of The First Conspiracy and The Lincoln Conspiracy comes the little-known true story of a Nazi plot to kill FDR, Joseph Stalin, and Winston Churchill at the height of World War II.
In 1943, as the war against Nazi Germany raged abroad, President Franklin Roosevelt had a critical goal: a face-to-face sit-down with his allies Joseph Stalin and Winston Churchill. This first-ever meeting of the Big Three in Tehran, Iran, would decide some of the most crucial strategic details of the war. Yet when the Nazis found out about the meeting, their own secret plan took shape―an assassination plot that would've changed history.
A true story filled with daring rescues, body doubles, and political intrigue, The Nazi Conspiracy details FDR's pivotal meeting in Tehran and the deadly Nazi plot against the heads of state of the three major Allied powers who attended it.
With all the hallmarks of a Brad Meltzer and Josh Mensch page-turner, The Nazi Conspiracy explores the great political minds of the twentieth century, investigating the pivotal years of the war in gripping detail. This meeting of the Big Three changed the course of World War II. Here's the inside story of how it almost led to a world-shattering disaster.
1
TWO YEARS EARLIER …
The Pacific Ocean
December 7, 1941
The ships have been traveling—secretly—for ten days.
Now, on this quiet Sunday morning, as the first light of dawn winks from the Pacific Ocean, the fleet prepares to change course.
There's no land in sight. Measured against the vast scale of the Pacific, this collection of warships is a tiny blip. But on a human scale, the fleet is enormous: six massive aircraft carriers, two battleships, nine destroyers, three cruisers, eight fuel tankers, and several small support ships. Below the waves are twenty-three accompanying submarines. On each carrier, the flight decks are lined with dozens of planes. In total, tens of thousands of crewmembers are aboard and mobilized.
For most of their ten-day journey, these ships have traveled eastward. Astonishingly, their movement across more than 3,500 miles of water—from a secluded bay on East Asian shores to here in the Central Pacific—has remained undetected by radar systems throughout the ocean. Every aspect of the fleet's journey has been planned and conducted at the highest levels of secrecy.
Now, several hundred miles south of the Aleutian Islands, the fleet commander issues a series of orders to chart a southern course. As the ships begin to move in the new direction, the slower-moving tankers break off from the fleet. The rest accelerate, going from twenty knots to twenty-four knots, a speed that provides momentum suitable for aircraft to launch from carrier decks.
At 6:05 a.m., a green light is waved on the deck of the flagship carrier. It's a signal to launch. One by one, engines roar and warplanes speed across the runway, rising into the dark morning air above the ocean waters. The other carriers simultaneously launch planes of their own.
The aircraft circle above the fleet and begin to maneuver. A total of 183 planes are soon flying south in battle formation, leaving the ships behind.
A reconnaissance plane shoots ahead of the others, disappearing in the clouds. The pilot's job is to scout the sea and air ahead, tuning into nearby radio frequencies to see if there's any indication that either the planes or carriers have been detected.
Ninety minutes later, at roughly 7:40 a.m., the lead pilots can see a sliver of land in the distance. They send a signal to the others: The air fleet remains undetected. Visibility is strong. The coast is clear. Time to attack.
The target? A small island of less than six hundred square miles. It's a place they're not at war with—yet the Japanese air fleet commanders are about to unleash the full destructive power of their fighter planes, bombers, torpedo planes, and dive-bombers.
This is a surprise attack, a preemptive strike intended to inflict maximum shock and devastation.
Within the next two hours, the world will change.
Copyright © 2022 by Forty-Four Steps, Inc
Please be aware that this discussion guide will contain spoilers!
Unless otherwise stated, this discussion guide is reprinted with the permission of Flatiron Books. Any page references refer to a USA edition of the book, usually the trade paperback version, and may vary in other editions.
Here are some of the recent comments posted about The Nazi Conspiracy.
You can read the full discussion here, and please do participate if you wish.
Be aware that this discussion will contain spoilers!
Can we keep history from repeating itself, and if so, how?
According to historians Will and Ariel Durant, history only repeats itself in outline and in the large. This occurs because "human nature changes with geological leisureliness, and people are equipped to respond in stereotyped ways to ... - emilyc
Churchill used the words "storm and ruin" to describe the state of the world at the start of 1943. What word or two would you choose for this time period? What about today?
I would use the words division and tribal righteousness. It is unnerving that Congress doesn't want to find solutions but wishes to "dig in" to obstruct Biden's agenda. Nothing is being done to HELP people who have great needs. ... - helenp
Did your opinion of any of the three leaders change as a result of reading this book?
Yes and no. My father, a lifelong Democrat, who served in WWII in North Africa, Sicily, Italy, and Austria had tremendous regard for Roosevelt, not only because of his leadership during the war, but also because of what he did to preserve our ... - BuffaloGirl
Do you believe the conspiracy was real? Why or why not?
Paulagb: spoilers are fine in all threads except the “What did you think” one. And I’m curious! Please post more! 😊 - kimk
Do you think the level of secrecy required to pull off an attack as large as Pearl Harbor would be possible today?
This type of attack would be very difficult today with all the imaging we have and all the spying that is done, even on friends, as we just saw from the leaks in the past few weeks. - tamih
Had you heard of the Dolittle Raid before? Were you surprised by the repercussions?
Thank you BuffaloGirl for recommending the Rape of Nanking. I just read a summary of the book and will definitely need to read this book. - Jill
How has war changed since WWII? Under what circumstances do you believe countries would be willing to commit the same resources today as they did then?
Wars today are more local, and seem to be more the case of a large power deciding to "fix" a small one (Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan) or local civil wars. However, the current environment, with the Russian invasion of Ukarine and ... - tamih
In what ways do you think these conferences would be the same if held today, and in what ways would they differ?
Obviously, the level of security for the leaders today would be much more high tech than in 1943, but the attempts to do harm would also be much higher tech, so the level of danger is probably comparable. Would there be a comparable outcome today... - BuffaloGirl
Overall, what do you think of The Nazi Conspiracy? (no spoilers in this thread, please)
Historical Fiction is my preferred genre. As much as I love history, I have never been able to fully grasp the unfolding of military conflict. That is until Brad Meltzer's "The Nazi Conspiracy." From the first page, I was hooked. He is... - robinsb
Several men besides the Big Three were mentioned throughout The Nazi Conspiracy. Did you find yourself wanting to know more about any of these figures? Which, if any, did you end up researching further?
I looked up several of the other individuals mentioned in the book including Allies and Axis. I find it fascinating to learn about people in the background and their impact on events. - BuffaloGirl
Stalin suggested "liquidating" 50,000 to 100,000 German military officers, and then claimed he was joking. Do you believe he was?
I agree with BuffaloGirl. Stalin had no qualms slaughtering tens of millions of his own people in the gulags and during the Terror. He was quoted (although I'm not sure how accurately) that the death of one individual is a tragedy, but... - AlwaysSunny
The author states that "most Americans simply did not know or care about the threat of Nazism in Europe." The world faces similar threats today. How aware do you think most Americans are, and how much do we care?
I haven’t read Frazier’s latest book and therefore can’t comment specifically about his novel’s portrayal of how poverty and unemployment supported isolationism. While paulagb noted several factors in Frazier’s novel ... - Jill
The U.S. and Russia were once close allies, yet a few years later they were embroiled in the Cold War. What do you think led to this shift?
The US and the Soviet Union were never "close" allies. As Meltzer points out, an alliance between the two countries was a "complicated business". At the time of World War 2 the alliance was one of expediency. It was not ... - emilyc
What characteristics do you feel a leader should demonstrate during a time of war? In your opinion, did the Big Three display these characteristics? And which traits, if any, hindered their ability to be effective?
Two other qualities I’d add to BuffaloGirl’s list is humility and a willingness to listen to those who share different opinions. Lincoln intentionally selected people as part of his inner circle who had opinions that were different from ... - Jill
What did you think of Roosevelt's decision to go behind Churchill's back in his attempts to have a one-on-one meeting with Stalin.
Totally understood why he went behind Churchill's back and had absolutely no problem with him. Churchill was looking out for his country, but that was to the detriment of the Allied effort. It appears that Roosevelt knew that, although ... - BuffaloGirl
What did you think of Roosevelt's decision to have Yamamoto assassinated?
It caught me off guard. I think that we Americans like to believe that we don't do things like assassination. To be honest, I can't really say what I think of it. I understand it, just as I understood the taking out of Osama Bin Laden, ... - BuffaloGirl
What surprised you about The Nazi Conspiracy? Did you learn anything new about the era?
valeriei -- I also want to thank you for your much needed perspective. WWII was extremely complex and while books that focus on a specific element make things manageable for armchair historians like myself, it is so important to see the bigger ... - davinamw
Why do you feel Churchill was so invested in the "soft underbelly" strategy? How would this strategy have impacted the war?
He saw the soft underbelly strategy as being the most effective in keeping Germany away from Great Britain. As the daughter of a soldier who fought in North Africa, Sicily, and Italy I did agree with Churchill that it was extremely important to the ... - BuffaloGirl
Why do you feel Stalin was so slow to agree to a meeting with Churchill and Roosevelt? Was his insistence on Tehran reasonable?
I think Stalin was a master manipulator and he knew that the longer he held his cards to his chest he could further manipulate Churchill and Roosevelt into concessions to what he wanted. He knew how important the Soviet manpower was to the war and ... - BuffaloGirl
The Nazi Conspiracy by Brad Meltzer and Josh Mensch was a big hit with our First Impressions readers, earning an overall average rating of 4.8 out of 5 stars. Meltzer, a bestselling author of thrillers, previously worked with Mensch, an acclaimed writer and television producer, on two other books about historical schemes: The First Conspiracy and The Lincoln Conspiracy.
What the book is about:
The story centers around a possible Nazi attempt to kill Franklin D. Roosevelt (USA), Winston Churchill (UK) and Joseph Stalin (USSR) while they met at the secret summit of the Big Three in Tehran, Iran, in 1943, while World War II was raging. The book details the history of these three different men, how their countries were plunged into the war, the decisions they made to work together to strategically end WWII, and the pressure this war put upon them mentally, emotionally and physically (Anke V). Eminently readable, The Nazi Conspiracy uses the German efforts to assassinate the three Allied leaders as a framework to recount personal, political and military events — for both the Allies and Axis nations — as well as the geopolitical importance of Iran to both sides of the war, a subject that doesn't seem to be addressed in many books about WWII (Carol C).
Readers were repeatedly impressed with the The Nazi Conspiracy's ability to engage and tell a good story.
I found myself talking about the book with family throughout the reading of it. To me, that eagerness to discuss is a sign of such a smooth engrossing style of writing that is much different than the history book lessons we learned as kids (Melissa S). The authors kept me on the edge of my seat… This book is the best thriller I read in 2022 (Janis H). Unlike many nonfiction books, this one is well-paced, and moves along at a good clip. Much like a spy novel, the story details intrigue and subplots at a crucial time of WWII (Daniel H). The authors have put together a story that includes much of what the war was about, but also how far Adolf Hitler was willing to go to win. The meeting at Tehran was crucial for the Allies but more crucial was Hitler's plan to kill all three leaders. The book tells this so well and without a single boring war story. It is an amazing tale (Peggy K).
Many reviewers also remarked that the work contained information they had never encountered before.
School history classes give WWII short shrift, and much of this was very new to me. I plan to reread it soon and maybe pick up some other books about the era. A winner! (Barbara C). I wasn't even aware that Iran played a role in WWII. I've read a good number of books about this war yet had never heard about this particular conspiracy (Ruth O). Even though I have good knowledge of the people and events of WWII, this book taught me much I didn't know (Janet H).
Some mentioned that the book is broader than its framing might suggest, giving a fresh perspective on the World War II era and even current affairs.
I think the title does not do the work justice. Both sides of the inner workings of leadership of the war are represented as well as the multitude of actions that took place before the Big Three meeting (Melissa S). This book not only allows for an understanding of the current Ukraine issue but of issues that were imposed on various countries in the past (Babe H). While about the conspiracy, the story also tells of the culture and politics of the time (Patricia W). The authors quite thoroughly document the roles of each of the three leaders... It is one of the most readable histories of the forces driving the war effort and result (Henry W).
Ultimately, readers thought The Nazi Conspiracy should appeal both to history enthusiasts and those who don't usually read historical nonfiction.
Highly recommended to anyone who is already a fan of WWII history and wants to explore a different perspective or those who want to expand their knowledge of iconic events and leaders of the 20th century (Florrie C). Would provide plenty of fuel for book club discussions. And you don't have to be a WWII fan to enjoy this book (Vicky S).
Reviewed by BookBrowse First Impression Reviewers
Rated of 5
by Lloyde Newman
History Uncovered......What Might Have Been
I totally enjoyed reading Brad Meltzer's latest book "The Nazi Conspiracy". There is much to the ending of World War II that is just now becoming known. The writing is fast paced and crisp, yet able to clearly draw a picture in the reader's eye what was going on and the pace of life on Oahu before the bombing of Pearl Harbor, and the Japanese chiseled plans to bring the United States to her knees.
The sections about the Concentration Camps was especially hard for me to read because Meltzer writes with such clarity what life was like during the gruesome period of darkness for the world. The descriptions of the people digging trenches then later being shot a few days later was just gut wrenching for me.
I had 3 family members who served honorably in World War II, a bridge engineer who saved his platoon be refusing to blow up a bridge that would have led to certain ambush, a young 20 year old uncle who made every single parachute jump in Europe, to have a jeep overturn and take his life once he returned to the states, and lastly my father because of his height signed up for the Air Corp (then a division of the Army) and put his life and heart on the line to serve his country. All heroes, each in their own different way.
I have greatly enjoyed Brad Meltzer's writing and have read 3 books completely, and started about 5. His take and foresight of history is stellar. He has earned his place in the genre of excellent history writers. Now on to his next book....(thank you Mr. Meltzer)
Rated of 5
by BeckyH
Scary, and real
The plot to kill the three leaders of the United States, the United Kingdom and the Soviet Union at the Tehran Conference (World War II) was led by an untrained, unskilled and abandoned “spy” who had been sent to Tehran very early in the war. His only orders were to gather information and set up a “team” of Nazi sympathizers who might be called upon later. Then Russia entered the war on the Allied side and Franz Mayr was simply abandoned by his Nazi controllers until late in the war when Mayr was able to reestablish contact with the Nazi regime.
The Nazi Conspiracy was part history and part spy thriller. I discovered that Roosevelt and Stalin tried to cut Churchill out of one conference and Churchill and Roosevelt tried to keep Stalin out of another! Churchill was not enthusiastic about D-Day and Stalin wanted it to happen much earlier in the war. Meltzer was able to convey the differing personalities and needs of the three world leaders and a spy story along with a vast trove of back story in an entertaining and truthful way.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading The NAZI CONSPIRACY. I would recommend it to anyone interested in history or a thrilling spy story. Although Meltzer conveyed a vast amount of information, the book never lost my interest and seemed to follow a clear path to its conclusion.
Rated of 5
by BuffaloGirlKS
As Fast Paced as Any Espionage Thriller
Although Nonfiction History, The Nazi Conspiracy is as fast paced as any espionage thriller. About the Nazi plot to assassinate the three supreme WWII Allied leaders; Roosevelt, Churchill, and Stalin; during the Teheran Conference in the Fall of 1943, it delivers the planning and events leading up to the conference from the perspectives of each of the participating countries and Nazi Germany. I was particularly taken by the book’s identification and crediting of the individuals behind the scenes who put their lives on the line to protect the Allies' leaders. The book outlines in the first few chapters how Hitler and the Nazis took control of Germany in a few short years which should US citizens pause given the current political situation in our country.
Rated of 5
by Charles Francis
CF Review of The Nazi Conspiracy, The Secret Plot to Kill Roosevelt, Stalin, and Churchill
This review expresses my own personal opinion. I have not been asked to post it by the author, their publishing company or anyone connected with the book or author.
The setting is 1943 and the Second World War is raging across the globe. The Allied powers are fighting on their respective fronts and cooperating where and when needed, trying to show a united front, but behind the scenes this is far from the truth. Whether he wanted to or not, President Franklin D. Roosevelt has found himself in the unenviable position of having to corral his allies Joseph Stalin and Winston Churchill and get them to see they all have a common purpose, the defeat of Nazi Germany and its Axis allies. To do this he must arrange a face-to-face meeting with the three of them.
Brad Meltzer and Josh Mensch present this true story of what could have been the most devastating blow to the war, the assassination of Roosevelt, Churchill, and Stalin. In painstakingly detail they describe the assassination plot, but before getting into how the plot came about, the authors provide the backdrop. They describe how Roosevelt worked all the levers to arrange the meeting, the setting to be Tehran, Iran. How he had to coddle Churchill and deal with his at times petulance, work through the intransigence of Stalin, all while leading the American war effort. Like most secrets, it’s not a secret if two or more people know about it and once the Nazis got a whiff of Roosevelt’s planned meeting, the assassination plot was put in motion.
The book reads like a spy novel, full of political intrigue, spies, double and triple spies, backbiting, double-cross, action, body doubles, daring escapes and rescues, paranoia, egos, and more. While the book may have all the trappings of a spy novel, these are real world events and the authors pull no punches in describing the horrors of war, the inhumanity of it and how all would have been lost had the Nazis succeeded in their plan. Their investigative detail transports you to the Nazi concentration camps, the bombing of Pearl Harbor, imprisonment and rescue of Mussolini. They take you inside the minds of the major and some minor characters of the war, tell the stories of unknown heroes on both sides of the conflict, take you to front line battles, and provide a view of the war from a macro and micro level. This is a mini history lesson.
I listened to the audio book read by Scott Brick. Scott brings a level of passion to his narration that pulls you in and never lets you go. He doesn’t miss a beat when describing the changing landscapes of the war, the characters, the plot. His narration brings the words of the authors front and center, captivating you from the first word spoken until the end.
Pick up this book if you want to know about the little known plot to turn the tide of the war by assassinating the three most powerful Allied leaders.
Rated of 5
by Katherine Pond
Well-researched and Interesting Story of The Big Three
One of the most engrossing, interesting and stirring books I've ever read about the Second World War. Having been born in Washington DC in 1942 this is a particular chapter in American history that has fascinated me very much. There is no flamboyant language or overly dramatic flourishes to the writing and yet it is a fast and moving read. It is not a dry rendition of facts but rather a flowing narrative that is, at times, blood curdling in its bare and succinct description of genocide carried out coldly and in numbers beyond comprehension. At other times, it is an espionage saga with spies at every turn. And, at still other places, it is a political tale of three men---all intelligent, all powerful, all intent on controlling the Allied response to an enemy as intelligent and powerful as they. They are patriots to their countries but also defenders of freedom and though, not truly friends, they are determined to defeat without compromise or conditions the movement they see threatening to take over the entire world--Nazism. br /Never, however, have a read a book that gives as much insight into the man and his officers who are in charge of the danger. Their backgrounds and personalities are fascinating and their unstinting belief in a Master race and the threat of the Jews of the world is almost difficult to truly comprehend. Yet, at the same time, my mind kept seeing seeds of the same type of belief in today's world. Chilling and frightening to think that might be true.
Rated of 5
by BarbaraP
Observing History As A Fly On The Wall
I had looked forward to this book since first seeing it in an ad for books to be published in 2023. As an avid reader of Historic Fiction revolving around WWII, and occasionally delving into the world of non-fiction of the same time period, this was a book that made my "must read" list with no hesitation - and I was not disappointed. The authors took us on a journey though the war with specific attention paid to the Allied leaders and their personal relationships. In my arrogance, I did not expect to be surprised with facts surrounding the attitude of the nation and original tolerance toward Naziism, when, who and how war was declared, the multiple layers of international agencies working independently but toward the same goal, and so much more. We are taken into meetings of planning and layers of deception among friends and allies that made perfect sense and left me hopeful and cautious toward our international future. There is so much more here than just an assassination plot or just another WWII story. I wish all of history could be presented and reviewed in the way this book is constructed - then we might not be so certain to repeat mistakes of the past.
Rated of 5
by Jill M.
The Nazi Conspiracy
This book had me hooked with the very first sentence: “The President is hiding.” This book is a must read for anyone who wants to understand the relationship between Roosevelt, Churchill and Stalin and how the three finally worked together to bring the war to its conclusion. The authors did a nice job highlighting the rise of Hitler’s power, how Japan and Italy entered the war while also explaining Roosevelt’s reluctance to involve the U.S. All of this is done in a way that sets the stage for understanding the intricacies of the secret plot to kill the three leaders.
Rated of 5
by Melissa S. (Rowland, NC)
The Untold History Lessons
Brad Meltzer and Josh Mensch's account of the possible conspiracy to assassinate the leaders of the three largest WWII allied countries is a historical work that reads, in most places, like a true crime fiction novel. I found myself engrossed throughout most of the book and eager to turn the page. I do however, think the title does not give the work justice. Both sides of the inner workings of leadership of the war are represented and the multitude of actions that took place before the big three meeting. There's so much history woven into a book that is written in a such a way that the reader eagerly absorbs the lessons presented.
Having little knowledge (ok, maybe next to none) of the Soviet's plight during WWII, I found myself talking about the book with family throughout the reading of it. To me, that eagerness to discuss is a sign of such a smooth engrossing style of writing that is much different than the history book lessons we learned as kids. The "human" element of the three allied leaders' personalities that Meltzer brings to life makes the book very interesting. Even the intimate representation of the axis leaders and spies' personalities add a rich level to the book.
My only issue with the work is I found myself a little bogged down towards the middle (before the "big three summit") and I found the sole focus on the leaders and the logistics of the war a little cold. The atrocities to the Jewish, and many other, populations were only mentioned briefly and practically none, other than the actual numbers, on the Soviet side. However, I do understand this particular account is meant to focus on the leaders and the inner workings of the war, not so much the human suffering and casualties. I can appreciate that direction.
I definitely recommend this work not just to history buffs, but to all readers. My interest has been sparked and I have lots of questions to research on aspects of the war touched on in "The Nazi Conspiracy".
The Nazi Conspiracy by Brad Meltzer and Josh Mensch centers on an alleged plot by the Germans during World War II to kill or kidnap the three major world leaders representing the Allied powers: American president Franklin D. Roosevelt, British prime minister Winston Churchill and premier of the Soviet Union Joseph Stalin.
The plan, known as Operation Long Jump (Operation Rösselsprung in German) was meant to be carried out during the Tehran Conference, also known as Eureka, when the three met secretly in Iran in November of 1943 to discuss the particulars of winning the war. The meeting's location was chosen mainly for its strategic advantages. At the time, Iran was occupied by both the Soviets and Britain, and it served as a shipping route between the United States and USSR. Though Iran outwardly showed support for the Germans, it had technically remained neutral in the war, and while German spy activity was prevalent in Tehran, the Soviets had bolstered their own intelligence in the area.
According to a Warfare History Network article by Mason B. Webb, German intelligence became aware of the Tehran meeting in October of 1943, and a plan was concocted to take advantage of the situation and assassinate the three leaders. The mission was headed by Otto Skorzeny, an Austrian SS officer who had been responsible for the rescue of Mussolini after his capture by the Allies earlier that year. However, Soviet intelligence soon learned of this plan, supposedly through one of their own who disguised himself as a German and went behind enemy lines, and were able to successfully thwart the attempt, arresting a group of Nazi radio operators involved in the plot as they arrived in Tehran. Webb points out that much of this information is contested, partly because of its dependence on Soviet sources that some consider unreliable. Arguments have been presented that there was never a conspiracy at all.
In their book, Meltzer and Mensch acknowledge these challenges as well, but present evidence for why they think a plot existed. They additionally take a broad view of the factors surrounding the conspiracy, using both their own in-depth research and historical context to set the scene for their theories of what really happened. "To learn and write about our particular story," Meltzer said, "[W]e had to comb through British and U.S. intelligence files, search for material in German libraries, and dig into obscure Russian-language sources. By the end, we felt we had a pretty good understanding of what happened and what didn't, although some mysteries and questions certainly remain."
Regardless of what happened, Roosevelt, Stalin and Churchill survived their meeting in Tehran and took the opportunity to discuss strategies against Germany and Japan, which would lead to military actions such as Operation Overlord (aka the Battle of Normandy) — the invasion of Nazi-occupied Northern France — and the end of the war. Shortly after the conference, Roosevelt disclosed some of the details of the secret gathering and mentioned that he had learned from Soviet forces that his life had been in danger, remarking casually, "I suppose it would make a pretty good haul if they could get all three of us going through the streets."
In talking about the process of writing the book, Meltzer has stressed how much the eventual outcome of WWII was not guaranteed, both because of the possibility of a successful Nazi assassination plot and because the Allied leaders clashed in their views, making it difficult for them to work together. "I mean, we love to tell the story of Normandy and how we stormed the beaches and the day was saved," he said, "But, my God, it almost didn't happen… And you just realize how easily it could have gone the other way, especially if the plot to kill them had succeeded."
Left to right: Joseph Stalin, Franklin D. Roosevelt and Winston Churchill at the Tehran Conference, via Library of Congress
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