Strange As It Seems Death in the Adirondacks
Nov 13, 2024
Historian Richard B. Spence delves into the mysterious 1925 deaths of two Soviet envoys, Isaiya Hurgin and Efraim Sklyansky, in the Adirondacks. They explore whether their drownings were mere accidents or politically motivated acts in the context of the Trotsky-Stalin power struggle. Spence uncovers the significance of U.S.-Soviet trade relations, the potential for covert meetings, and the surrounding secrecy. Eyewitness accounts raise questions about foul play, suggesting a chilling blend of espionage, conspiracy, and ideological intrigue.
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High-Profile Drownings Spark Political Suspicion
- Two Soviet envoys drowned in Long Lake in August 1925 under suspicious circumstances that prompted immediate accusations of a political hit.
- The deaths raised questions because the victims were high-profile Trotsky allies during a bitter Stalin–Trotsky power struggle.
Trotsky's Role In Concessions
- Trotsky moved from War Commissar to head the main concessions committee in early 1925, controlling who got foreign deals in the USSR.
- Concessions mattered because they brought expertise and capital from American firms during the NEP era.
How Concessions Were Vulnerable
- Mixed concessions were temporary 50-50 partnerships where foreign firms supplied expertise and expected profit shares.
- Soviet authorities could terminate deals by manipulating labor or production, forcing foreigners out and seizing equipment.