Stalin's Last Crime: The Plot Against the Jewish Doctors

Jonathan Brent talked about the book he co-authored with Vladimir Naumov titled Stalin’s Last Crime: The Plot Against the Jewish Doctors, 1948-1953, published by HarperCollins Publishers. On January 13, 1953, Josef Stalin announced an alleged conspiracy among Jewish doctors to kill members of the government and destroy the USSR. Mass arrests and executions quickly followed. According to Mr. Brent, Stalin fabricated the “doctor’s plot” to accomplish several goals, including reasserting total control over the government and as justification for war with the United States. Shortly after Stalin’s death on March 5, 1953, the “doctor’s plot” was discredited. However, Mr. Brent asserted that the truth is much more complex and talked about the mindset of a system run by conspiracy. After his presentation Mr. Brent answered questions from members of the audience. close