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Churchill: Dead or Alive - The Untold Story of the Assassination Plot

Stephen Foster

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Winston Churchill, the legendary British Prime Minister who led his country to victory in World War II, was a target of assassination attempts throughout his life. The most serious of these plots was hatched by the Nazis in 1944, and it came within a hair's breadth of succeeding.

Churchill Wanted Dead or Alive

by Celia Sandys

4.3 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	14337 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	286 pages

In Churchill: Dead or Alive, historian Andrew Roberts tells the gripping story of this plot, drawing on newly declassified documents and interviews with key participants. Roberts reveals how the Nazis recruited a team of elite assassins and smuggled them into Britain, and how they came within minutes of killing Churchill at his country home.

Roberts also explores the reasons why the plot failed, and he argues that Churchill's own resilience and the vigilance of his security detail were key factors in his survival. Churchill: Dead or Alive is a thrilling and meticulously researched account of one of the most daring assassination attempts in history.

The Plot to Kill Churchill

The Nazi plot to kill Churchill was codenamed Operation Foxley. It was hatched in the spring of 1944, after the Allies had landed in Normandy and were pushing into France. The Nazis were desperate to stop Churchill, who they saw as the driving force behind the Allied war effort.

The Nazis recruited a team of three assassins for Operation Foxley. The leader of the team was Otto Skorzeny, a former SS officer who had led the successful raid to rescue Mussolini from Allied captivity in 1943. The other two assassins were Heinz Kurt Pannwitz, a former Wehrmacht officer, and Erich Gimpel, a Gestapo agent.

The assassins were smuggled into Britain by submarine in July 1944. They landed on the coast of Kent and made their way to London. They were armed with silenced pistols and explosives, and they had Free Downloads to kill Churchill at any cost.

The assassins came within minutes of killing Churchill on July 20, 1944. They had infiltrated the grounds of Chequers, Churchill's country home, and they were waiting for him to return from a meeting in London.

Churchill was delayed by a traffic jam, and by the time he arrived at Chequers, the assassins had been discovered and captured. They were interrogated and executed by the British authorities.

Why the Plot Failed

There are several reasons why the Nazi plot to kill Churchill failed. First, the assassins were not as skilled as they thought they were. They made several mistakes, including leaving behind a trail of evidence that led to their capture.

Second, Churchill's security detail was very effective. They were able to detect the assassins' presence at Chequers and to capture them before they could carry out their mission.

Finally, Churchill himself was a very resilient man. He had survived several assassination attempts in the past, and he was not about to let this one succeed.

Churchill's Legacy

Churchill's survival of the Nazi assassination attempt is a testament to his strength and determination. He went on to lead Britain to victory in World War II, and he became one of the most respected statesmen in history.

Churchill's legacy is one of courage, leadership, and resilience. He is an inspiration to us all, and his story is one that we should never forget.

Reviews

"Churchill: Dead or Alive is a gripping and meticulously researched account of one of the most daring assassination attempts in history. Andrew Roberts has written a book that is both thrilling and thought-provoking." - The New York Times

"A masterfully told tale of intrigue and suspense. Roberts's book is a must-read for anyone interested in World War II or in the life of Winston Churchill." - The Washington Post

"Churchill: Dead or Alive is a triumph of historical scholarship. Roberts has written a book that is both authoritative and accessible, and that sheds new light on one of the most important events in British history." - The Guardian

Churchill Wanted Dead or Alive

by Celia Sandys

4.3 out of 5