Infamous Assassinations — Season 1, Episode 5: The Assassination of Trotsky

Episode synopsis

Russia, 1940 On 20 August 1940, the exiled Bolshevik leader was assassinated with an ice-pick by Ramon Mercader, who was undoubtedly working on behalf of Stalin and his secret police. Why was it still necessary for Stalin to assassinate him?

About Infamous Assassinations

This brand-new and exclusive series takes a closer look at some of the world's most talked-about assassinations and near misses. Always a fascinating and macabre subject, assassinations can damage a nation's confidence, create wars and shock the world. Throughout this series some of the 20th century's most outrageous attempts can, thanks to rare archive footage and reconstructions, be seen first hand and viewers are brought closer to the events than ever before. From the assassinations of John F Kennedy and Mahatma Ghandi, to attacks on royalty, politicians and media celebrities, this series uncovers the real reasons behind these events and how they unfolded.

More episodes from Season 1

• E1The Assassination of Ernst Roehm
• E2The attempt on Princess Anne
• E3The Assassination of John Lennon
• E4The Assassination of Lord Louis Mountbatten
• E6The Assassination of Pope John Paul II
• E7The Assassination of Sikorski
• E8The Assassination of President McKinley
• E9The Assassination of Heydrich
• E10The Assassination of Yitzhak Rabin
• E11The Assassination of Zia Al Huq
• E12The Assassination of Verwoerd
• E13The Assassinations of Indira & Rajiv Gandhi