WI the NKVD assassinated Hitler during the war?

It appears that Hitler's personal security wasn't very good, most certainly not as good as Stalin's since the latter never even saw an attempted assassination. Suppose the NKVD capitalizes on flaws in the Führer's security and assassinates him during the war. Given that they managed to infiltrate the Manhattan Project, getting close to Hitler should be possible. So Hitler's been killed by a Soviet operative. What happens next?
 
I think when it occurs is going to be a big part in any scenario that anyone writes up--you're gonna want to specify that.
 

Deleted member 1487

It appears that Hitler's personal security wasn't very good, most certainly not as good as Stalin's since the latter never even saw an attempted assassination. Suppose the NKVD capitalizes on flaws in the Führer's security and assassinates him during the war. Given that they managed to infiltrate the Manhattan Project, getting close to Hitler should be possible. So Hitler's been killed by a Soviet operative. What happens next?
Um, that's not a great criteria. There were a huge number of failed attempts on Hitler's life. His security was actually quite good. The reason Stalin did not was do to the extreme fear he caused by his massive purges, which Hitler never even attempted even at the end of the war. Even the post-Valkyrie attempt the body count was tiny compared to the Soviet purges. Stalin just had less people trying to kill him out of extreme fear. It should be noted too that Stalin killed far more people than Hitler until 1941 when the Holocaust began with the Einsatzgruppen genocide efforts; keep in mind that was directed outwards, not inward on German society unlike Stalin's purges. After the terror resulting from the 1944 attempt there were no more attempts on Hitler.

The NKVD couldn't get to Hitler, only his inner circle could, which was why von Stauffenberg was able to do what he did. External efforts would have likely failed. Operation Foxley by the British was probably as good a chance as any foreign intelligence service could get and they had far better intelligence into Hitler's life than the Soviets did.
 
I think when it occurs is going to be a big part in any scenario that anyone writes up--you're gonna want to specify that.

OK. Let's say anywhere between June 1941 and June 1942.

Um, that's not a great criteria. There were a huge number of failed attempts on Hitler's life. His security was actually quite good. The reason Stalin did not was do to the extreme fear he caused by his massive purges, which Hitler never even attempted even at the end of the war. Even the post-Valkyrie attempt the body count was tiny compared to the Soviet purges. Stalin just had less people trying to kill him out of extreme fear. It should be noted too that Stalin killed far more people than Hitler until 1941 when the Holocaust began with the Einsatzgruppen genocide efforts; keep in mind that was directed outwards, not inward on German society unlike Stalin's purges. After the terror resulting from the 1944 attempt there were no more attempts on Hitler.

Quite good isn't the same as impervious though. Besides that, as I understand it, Hitler dodged a lot of attempts through luck and the habit of changing his schedule at the last minute.
 
The Germans figure out that the agents that terminated Herr Hitler were from Stalin's NKVD group and gear themselves for a Total War against their hated foe, the Soviet Union..

If Goering becomes der new Fuhrer..
He might start listening to the General Staff more logically and allow them to field the Armies to fight a better war against the Soviet Army...

that is if this was done in either late 41 or early 42...

Past 43... Goering's Germany will probably send more troops and equipment to fight off the Soviets in bloody counter-strikes... maybe..
 
Ironically the Manhatten project would have been far easier, they had a lot of help in the form of communist scientists unwilling to let that kind of weapon only belong to capitalists, and there being an incredibly broad number of jobs associated with the Manhatten project. Hitlers guards are almost certainly picked first and foremost on reliability ideologically.

And why would they pursue it if they're winning the war, and thus open the door for a German leadership who might turn things around or pursue seperate peace with the west?
 

Deleted member 1487

Quite good isn't the same as impervious though. Besides that, as I understand it, Hitler dodged a lot of attempts through luck and the habit of changing his schedule at the last minute.
Changing his schedule constantly was part of his security measures. He knew he was a massive target, so participated in his security. No foreign intelligence service ever got close; the Brits might have with Foxley, but it was a suicide mission. Only the German resistance could have gotten to him, which is why they in the end were the only ones able to attempt; the NKVD would have LOVED to kill Hitler, but were not good at foreign assassinations in another police state and only managed to kill Trotsky because a pro-Stalin Mexican ended up volunteering to do the deed. So really you'd just need a German to find a way to kill Hitler via a suicide mission.
 

Deleted member 1487

Ironically the Manhatten project would have been far easier, they had a lot of help in the form of communist scientists unwilling to let that kind of weapon only belong to capitalists, and there being an incredibly broad number of jobs associated with the Manhatten project. Hitlers guards are almost certainly picked first and foremost on reliability ideologically.

And why would they pursue it if they're winning the war, and thus open the door for a German leadership who might turn things around or pursue seperate peace with the west?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SS-Begleitkommando_des_Führers
In the spring of 1934, the Führerschutzkommando (FSK) replaced the SS-Begleitkommando des Führers for Hitler's overall protection throughout Germany.[3] The small SS-Begleitkommando des Führers unit continued to provide personal security for Hitler.[4] The FSK was also responsible for general security measures, preventive measures, and prosecution of assassination attempts.[5] The Führerschutzkommando was officially renamed the Reichssicherheitsdienst (Reich Security Service; RSD) on 1 August 1935.[6] The FSK and the SS-Begleitkommando cooperated with the Ordnungspolizei (uniformed order police), Gestapo, and other agencies to provide the inner security requirements, whereas outer protection was handled by general SS units.


Later the SS-Begleitkommando was expanded and became known as the Führerbegleitkommando (Escort Command of the Führer; FBK).[7] The FBK continued under separate command and to provide the close, personal security for Hitler, alone.[8] The additional members for the FBK were drawn from 1st SS Panzer Division Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler (LSSAH).[9] Hitler used them for guard duty, but also as orderlies, valets, waiters, and couriers.[9] Although the FBK was administratively under the control of the LSSAH, they received their orders directly from Hitler and in the last years from his chief adjutant, Julius Schaub.


When on duty, the FBK members were the only ones Hitler allowed to be near him. They never had to surrender their Walther PPK 7.65 pistols and were never searched when they were with Hitler.[10] The FBK and RSD worked together for security and protection during trips and public events, but they operated as two groups and used separate vehicles. Johann Rattenhuber, chief of the RSD, was in overall command and the current FBK chief acted as his deputy.[11] By March 1938, both units wore the standard field grey uniform of the Schutzstaffel (SS). Both units were under the control of the SS and both units were made up of SS members.[12] The RSD uniform had the Sicherheitsdienst (SD) diamond on the lower left sleeve.[13]


The FBK accompanied Hitler on all his travels and was always present at the several Führerhauptquartiere (Führer Headquarters) located in various parts of occupied Europe during World War II.[14] The FBK men continued to provide close security protection for Hitler while RSD men would patrol the grounds.[2] By June 1941, the FBK had grown to 35 members. Later by 15 January 1943 it had expanded to 31 SS officers and 112 men.[15] Thirty-three were used in escort duties, rotating in groups of eleven. The rest were used as guards for Hitler's residence and as drivers, orderlies, valets, waiters, couriers and for communication duties.[15] The term Begleit-Kommando or Begleitkommando-SS were used at times when referring to the Führerbegleitkommando.[16]


The last FBK commander was SS-Obersturmbannführer Franz Schädle, who was appointed on 5 January 1945, after the dismissal of Bruno Gesche.[17] Thereafter, Schädle and the FBK accompanied Hitler (and his entourage) into the Führerbunker complex under the Reich Chancellery garden in the central government sector of Berlin.[17] By 23 April 1945, Schädle commanded approximately 30 members of the unit who stood guard for Hitler until his suicide on 30 April 1945.[18]
 
Top