About this video

• Video Title: Заговор против Ленина | Исторический детектив
• Channel: Лекторий Dостоевский
• Speakers: [Not explicitly mentioned]
• Duration: 38:18

Overview

This video is a historical detective investigation into the assassination attempt on Vladimir Lenin on August 30, 1918. It explores various theories, including the official version attributing the act to Fanny Kaplan and Socialist-Revolutionaries, and other possibilities involving foreign intelligence agencies, internal political struggles within the Bolshevik party, and the potential for a staged event to justify the Red Terror.

Key takeaways

• August 30, 1918, Assassination Attempt: The video begins by recounting the assassination attempt on Lenin, with the official version identifying Fanny Kaplan as the perpetrator, supposedly acting on behalf of the Socialist-Revolutionaries who opposed the Brest peace treaty and the dissolution of the Constituent Assembly.
• Doubts about the Official Version: The transcript raises significant doubts about Fanny Kaplan's ability to have carried out the assassination, citing her poor eyesight due to previous imprisonment and torture, the presence of a handgun not immediately found on her person, and inconsistencies in her confession.
• Alternative Suspects and Theories: Several alternative theories are presented:
  • Foreign Intelligence: British and French intelligence agencies are suggested as potential orchestrators, motivated by Russia's withdrawal from World War I due to the Brest Peace treaty and the nationalization of banks, which impacted foreign investments.
  • Internal Bolshevik Power Struggle: Yakov Sverdlov, a key Bolshevik figure, is explored as a possible suspect, with theories suggesting he may have been positioning himself to take control of the country, especially in the event of Lenin's death. His actions immediately following the attempt, including going through Lenin's papers, are highlighted.
  • Bolshevik Staging: The possibility that the assassination attempt was staged or manipulated by the Bolsheviks to legitimize the implementation of the Red Terror is also discussed.
• The Role of Yakov Peters and the "Plot of the Three Ambassadors": The video delves into the background of Yakov Peters, a deputy head of the Cheka, suggesting he might have been a British agent involved in a plot with British, French, and American ambassadors to stage a coup and arrest Lenin.
• The Latvian Division and Foreign Intervention: A plan involving the Latvian Division, which was guarding the Kremlin, is discussed. Foreign powers allegedly promised Latvia independence in exchange for their participation in a coup to arrest Lenin and other Bolshevik leaders.
• The Official Culprit: Right-Wing Socialist-Revolutionaries: Later in the video, evidence from a trial of Right-wing Socialist-Revolutionaries in 1922 points to Grigory Semenov as the organizer of the assassination attempt. He confessed to orchestrating it, with Fanny Kaplan allegedly acting as a "piglet" – a scapegoat to take the blame.
• The Red Terror as a Consequence: Regardless of the exact perpetrator, the video concludes that the assassination attempt on Lenin served as the catalyst for the widespread implementation of the Red Terror, a period of political repression and executions that followed.

Here are some engaging segments from the video, perfect for YouTube Shorts, along with catchy title ideas:

Segment 1:

• Timestamp: 00:00:17 - 00:00:35
• Content: The immediate aftermath of the assassination attempt on Lenin, introducing the official version involving Fanny Kaplan and the Socialist-Revolutionaries.
• Catchy Title: Lenin Shot! Who Was Behind the Attack? 💥

Segment 2:

• Timestamp: 00:00:50 - 00:01:03
• Content: The introduction of alternative theories, hinting at foreign intelligence (British/French) and even a close associate like Sverdlov.
• Catchy Title: Was Lenin Betrayed by His Own? 🤫

Segment 3:

• Timestamp: 00:01:16 - 00:01:21
• Content: The central question of the video: "who was it beneficial for to attempt to assassinate the leader of the world proletariat?"
• Catchy Title: The BIG Question: Who Benefited from Lenin's Assassination? 🤔

Segment 4:

• Timestamp: 00:06:57 - 00:08:04
• Content: The inconsistencies in the official story about Fanny Kaplan's eyesight and her alleged actions during the shooting.
• Catchy Title: Did a BLIND Woman Shoot Lenin? The Official Story Unravels 🤯

Segment 5:

• Timestamp: 00:12:52 - 00:13:09
• Content: The suspicious and hasty execution of Fanny Kaplan, with her body being burned and ashes scattered, raising questions about covering up evidence.
• Catchy Title: The Mystery of Fanny Kaplan's Execution... 💀

Segment 6:

• Timestamp: 00:16:28 - 00:17:06
• Content: Sverdlov's immediate actions after the assassination attempt, including entering Lenin's office and the theory that he was preparing to take over.
• Catchy Title: Sverdlov: Lenin's Rival or Loyalist? 🧐

Segment 7:

• Timestamp: 00:25:37 - 00:26:18
• Content: The involvement of British intelligence, specifically Captain Cromie, and the raid on the British consulate.
• Catchy Title: British Spies & Soviet Secrets: The Plot Thickens 🕵️‍♀️

Segment 8:

• Timestamp: 00:27:53 - 00:28:47
• Content: The "Plot of the Three Ambassadors" and the nationalization of banks, explaining the financial motives of foreign powers.
• Catchy Title: Billions Lost: Why Foreign Powers Wanted Lenin GONE 💰

Segment 9:

• Timestamp: 00:30:55 - 00:31:31
• Content: The theory of Yakov Peters as a British agent and the possibility of a planned state coup.
• Catchy Title: Was Lenin's Deputy a SPY? 🇬🇧

Segment 10:

• Timestamp: 00:33:08 - 00:34:12
• Content: The alleged plan involving the Latvian Division and the promise of an independent Latvia.
• Catchy Title: The Latvian Plot Against Lenin! 🇱🇻

Segment 11:

• Timestamp: 00:35:16 - 00:36:11
• Content: The confession of Grigory Semenov and the idea of Fanny Kaplan as a scapegoat ("porosenok").
• Catchy Title: The REAL Mastermind Behind the Lenin Attack? 😱

Segment 12:

• Timestamp: 00:37:53 - 00:38:06
• Content: The direct link between the assassination attempt and the start of the Red Terror.
• Catchy Title: The Spark That Ignited the Red Terror 🔥