In August 1940 , a Russian expatriate worked in hiswell - sheltered garden in Mexico City . He surrounded himself with chickens , rabbits , and peaceful trees . But the man was no holiday grandpa — he was one of the most famous political exiles in the world , and his habitation in Coyoacan was surrounded by armed safety and fort - similar wall .
Leon Trotsky had been a political financial obligation in Russia for old age before his headlong expulsion . Though he had helped lead the Communist Party to power in Russia during the Bolshevik rotation in 1917 , Trotsky quick becamepersona non grata to Joseph Stalin . Trotsky ’s opposition to Stalin ’s bloated bureaucratism and hispublicly - statedbelief that Stalinism was n’t have Communism far enough toward permanent populace revolution cost him everything .
When Vladimir Lenin died in 1924 , it was recall that Trotsky , who had endured a long marriage ceremony of political gismo with Lenin , might get to tycoon . But Stalin facilitate drum up and took advantage of anti - Trotsky sentiment to impound Soviet control instead . Stalin roleplay swiftly against the former fighter , and he swept Trotsky out of his political place , the Communist Party , and eventually the USSR itself .
As Trotsky looked for a new state to call home , Stalin scrubbed him from pic and published texts , but Trotsky was more concerned about maintain his actual life . Though he care to find political mental hospital in Mexico , hesurvived multiple assassinationattempts over the years and a raid on his compound .
However , on August 20 , 1940 , Trotsky ’s luck run out . A manwho called himself Jacques Mornardhad become Friend with Trotsky and his armed guards . They exchanged sympathetic political views and chitchat about footling matter , but Mornard was actually Ramón Mercader , a Soviet agentive role .
Trotsky was removed fromthe scene of the crimeand operated on , but he died some 25 hours after the attack . Mercader ( as " Mornard " ) was fleetly stop and tried , claiming he had hit Trotsky because he would not take into account " Mornard " to marry a woman he loved . He served 20 years in prison under his fictitious identity , thougha mystic counterintelligence projectfinally let out his real name . While the Soviet Uniondenied any involvementin the murder of Trotsky , Mercader moved to Russia after his release and waseventually givenan award for being a “ Hero of the Soviet Union . ” And as for Trotsky , the drawing card who flow from national hero to axed - down exile ? He was buriedin his own backyard .
