Lenin assassinated?

[Pavel Samsonov]

At 11:31 AM 10/20/00 EDT, you wrote:
>Two of my Russian-born students told me they were taught that Lenin was
>killed by a female assassin. Have any of you heard about this being taught in
>Soviet/Russian schools? I assume they are referring to the failed
>assassination attempt in 1918...
>Thanks,
>Laura Kline
>Lecturer in Russian
>Wayne State University

There are many "conspiracy" theories here.
Indeed, Ms. Kaplan did shoot at Lenin during his meeting with workers at
Michaelson plant in Petrograd.
The bullet (allegedly poisoned) hit Lenin somewhere between his neck and
shoulder. It stuck
there and was removed shortly after the assassination attempt.
Some sources argue that Lenin's blood circulation was seriously affected,
and the complications that set in after the operation resulted in a poor
blood supply of his brain.
Some allege that he later developed a brain tumor. His last photographs
suggest that he had some mental problems (strange look on his face).

According to these sources, Lenin's death in 1924 can be directly related
to the trauma sustained in the assassination. So in a way, your students
can be correct.

However, there are other theories (brain cancer, syphilis and the like). It
is hard to prove or disprove any of those for lack of realiable medical
records still kept from public
access (za sem'ju pechat'jami).

regards,

Pavel Samsonov

Texas A&M University

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