soc.history.war.world-war-ii

"rhino" wrote in ...
> While all of the major wartime leaders faced issues of personal security,
> how many assasination attempts initiated by foreign governments did each
> major leader experience?
> I know that Hitler, for example, was the target of several assasination
> attempts, the best known of which is Stauffenberg's July 20, 1944 attempt.
> But all the attempts I've ever heard about were by Germans. Were there any
> concerted efforts by foreigners - or Germans acting on behalf of
> foreigners - to kill Hitler?

I do not have any supporting source handy,
But definitely believe there was a UK plan
(lots of research, contacts, training, thinking)
about putting a military man (OSS?) in position
to get a sniper hit on Hitler at Bravarian 'home'.
IIRC - moral and pragmatic concerns kept
that mission from being set in motion.

> This is basically a question about morality vs. pragmatism.

Yes, with many sharp edges on many sides.

Moral - generally OK, (CIC thought) but has an 'odor' about it.
Double edge - if one 'leader' orders it, then very likely
he then creates cause to have the favor returned to him.
Pragmatic specific - maybe? But how to actually do it?
Pragmatic general - if you do destroy all enemy
command - then how can they have command,
control, and communications enough to either
surrender as country, or as individual units?
(Many will continue fight, until ordered by their
own 'command' to give it up.)