The Nazi Conspiracy

The Nazi Conspiracy Plot Summary

Introduction

In the frigid winter of 1943, as World War II raged across continents, three men who controlled the destiny of millions converged in an unlikely location: Tehran, Iran. Franklin Roosevelt, Winston Churchill, and Joseph Stalin—the "Big Three"—were meeting for the first time to coordinate their strategy against Nazi Germany. What few people realized was that Adolf Hitler had dispatched a team of elite commandos with a single mission: assassinate all three Allied leaders in one devastating strike. Had this audacious plot succeeded, the course of the war—and indeed world history—might have been dramatically altered. This extraordinary episode reveals the high-stakes nature of wartime leadership, where the personal security of key decision-makers could determine the fate of nations. Through examining this little-known assassination plot, we gain insight into the shadowy world of wartime intelligence operations, the complex personal dynamics between the Allied leaders, and how their relationships shaped the postwar world order. History enthusiasts, espionage aficionados, and anyone fascinated by the hidden stories behind major historical events will find this tale of deception, security, and high-level diplomacy both enlightening and thrilling.

Chapter 1: Forging the Grand Alliance: Roosevelt, Churchill, and Stalin (1939-1943)

The path to alliance between the United States, Great Britain, and the Soviet Union was neither straight nor smooth. When Hitler's forces stormed into Poland in September 1939, igniting the European phase of World War II, these three powers were far from united. Britain immediately declared war on Germany, while the United States maintained its isolationist stance. Most surprisingly, the Soviet Union, under Stalin's calculating leadership, had signed a non-aggression pact with Nazi Germany just days before the invasion, effectively becoming Hitler's accomplice in Poland's dismemberment. This uneasy global arrangement was shattered in June 1941 when Hitler launched Operation Barbarossa, sending over three million German troops across the Soviet border in the largest invasion force in military history. Stalin, caught unprepared despite numerous warnings, watched in horror as Nazi forces advanced hundreds of miles into Soviet territory, capturing millions of prisoners and threatening Moscow itself. Churchill, despite his lifelong anticommunism, immediately offered support to the Soviets, famously declaring: "If Hitler invaded Hell, I would make at least a favorable reference to the Devil in the House of Commons." Franklin Roosevelt, still constrained by American isolationism, found creative ways to support the Allied cause through programs like Lend-Lease, which provided crucial supplies to Britain and later the Soviet Union. The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941, followed by Hitler's declaration of war against the United States, finally brought America fully into the conflict. Roosevelt could now openly join what Churchill called "The Grand Alliance" – a coalition of necessity among three vastly different systems: American democracy, British imperialism, and Soviet communism. Despite their common enemy, tensions plagued the alliance from the beginning. Stalin repeatedly demanded the opening of a "second front" in Western Europe to relieve pressure on Soviet forces, while Churchill favored a Mediterranean strategy and Roosevelt was initially focused on the Pacific theater. The Soviet leader suspected his Western allies of deliberately allowing the USSR to bear the brunt of the fighting against Hitler's forces. These suspicions were not entirely unfounded – some Western strategists did see advantage in letting the Nazi and Soviet systems exhaust each other. By mid-1943, the war's tide had begun to turn. The Soviet victory at Stalingrad, Allied success in North Africa, and growing American industrial might created new strategic possibilities. The time had come for the three leaders to meet face-to-face to coordinate their military efforts and begin planning for the postwar world. After months of diplomatic wrangling over location, they agreed to convene in Tehran, Iran – a neutral country where all three powers had influence. This unprecedented summit would bring together the most powerful Allied leaders at a critical juncture in the war, creating both a historic opportunity and an irresistible target for Nazi intelligence. The formation of this unlikely alliance demonstrated how existential threats could temporarily overcome deep ideological divisions. Roosevelt, Churchill, and Stalin – despite their mutual suspicions and competing visions for the postwar world – recognized that only through cooperation could they defeat the Nazi menace. Their convergence in Tehran would test whether this partnership of convenience could be transformed into a lasting foundation for peace.

Chapter 2: Nazi Intelligence Networks in Iran: Operation Franz

Long before the Allied leaders considered meeting in Tehran, Nazi Germany had established a sophisticated intelligence network in Iran. Beginning in the late 1930s, the Reich Security Main Office dispatched agents to this strategically vital country, which bordered the Soviet Union and sat astride crucial oil fields and supply routes. Iran's ruler, Reza Shah Pahlavi, maintained cordial relations with Germany, allowing hundreds of German "technical advisors" to enter the country. Many of these individuals were actually intelligence operatives tasked with gathering information and cultivating local assets. At the center of this network was Franz Mayr, an Austrian-born SS officer who arrived in Tehran in 1940 under diplomatic cover. Mayr, a charismatic and resourceful agent, quickly established connections with Iranian military officers, tribal leaders, and politicians sympathetic to the Nazi cause. He created a clandestine organization called the Melliun-Iran (Iranian Nationalists), which combined anti-British sentiment with admiration for German efficiency and power. Through bribes, ideological persuasion, and exploitation of local grievances, Mayr built a network that extended throughout Iranian society. The strategic importance of this intelligence operation increased dramatically in August 1941, when British and Soviet forces invaded Iran. Concerned about the Shah's pro-German leanings and the security of vital supply lines to the USSR, the Allies forced Reza Shah to abdicate in favor of his young son, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. This invasion drove most German agents underground, but Mayr managed to evade capture, continuing his operations with remarkable persistence. Using a series of safe houses and disguises, he maintained contact with Berlin through hidden radio transmitters, providing valuable intelligence about Allied activities. In early 1943, Berlin launched Operation Franz to reinforce Mayr's network. Six specially trained agents parachuted into the Iranian desert, carrying advanced radio equipment and substantial funds. Led by Roman Gamotha, these operatives made their way to Tehran, establishing new communication channels and recruiting additional assets. Their arrival significantly enhanced Nazi intelligence capabilities in the region, allowing for more frequent and detailed reports to Germany about Allied troop movements, supply shipments, and political developments. What neither Mayr nor his handlers in Berlin could have anticipated was that Tehran would soon become the focus of intense international attention. As plans for the Allied leaders' conference began taking shape in the fall of 1943, the extensive Nazi intelligence network in Iran suddenly acquired tremendous strategic value. The groundwork laid by years of patient espionage would provide the foundation for one of the war's most audacious operations – an attempt to decapitate the Allied leadership with a single, devastating strike. The Nazi intelligence network in Iran demonstrates how Germany invested in long-term espionage operations in strategically important regions, creating assets that could be activated when opportunities arose. This foresight would give Hitler's regime a potential chance to change the course of the war through a single, bold stroke against the Allied leadership. The stage was set for a deadly game of espionage and counterintelligence with the highest possible stakes.

Chapter 3: The Tehran Conference: High-Stakes Diplomacy in Wartime

The Tehran Conference, code-named "Eureka" by the Allies, convened on November 28, 1943, marking the first time Roosevelt, Churchill, and Stalin met face-to-face. The choice of location had been contentious – Roosevelt had preferred somewhere closer to the United States, while Churchill suggested various Mediterranean locations. Stalin, however, insisted on Tehran, citing his inability to travel far from Moscow during a critical phase of the war. The Soviet leader's insistence on Tehran would later raise questions about whether he had deliberately selected a location where his intelligence services held the advantage. The logistics of bringing these three world leaders together in wartime were staggering. Roosevelt's journey was particularly arduous, involving a secret train ride to Miami, a flight to North Africa aboard a military transport plane, meetings in Cairo with Churchill and Chinese leader Chiang Kai-shek, and finally a flight over the treacherous Zagros Mountains to Tehran. Churchill followed a similar route, while Stalin traveled by armored train to Baku and then flew to Tehran. The security concerns were unprecedented – never before had the three principal Allied leaders gathered in one place during the war. Once in Tehran, the leaders stayed in separate compounds within the city. Roosevelt initially resided at the American legation, while Churchill stayed at the British embassy and Stalin at the Soviet embassy. This arrangement created significant security challenges, as Roosevelt would need to travel through the streets of Tehran multiple times daily to attend meetings. After Soviet intelligence warned of a potential German plot against the Allied leaders, Roosevelt relocated to a villa within the Soviet embassy compound, allowing the three men to meet without traversing the dangerous city streets. The conference discussions focused on three main areas: military strategy, the postwar treatment of Germany, and the structure of the postwar international order. The most pressing military decision concerned Operation Overlord – the cross-Channel invasion of France planned for spring 1944. Stalin forcefully demanded this operation proceed as scheduled, while Churchill continued to advocate for his "soft underbelly" approach through the Mediterranean and Balkans. Roosevelt sided with Stalin, effectively isolating Churchill and cementing the commitment to Overlord. In exchange, Stalin promised to launch a major offensive on the Eastern Front to coincide with the invasion and agreed to enter the war against Japan once Germany was defeated. Beyond military matters, the three leaders began sketching the outlines of the postwar world. They discussed the dismemberment of Germany, the establishment of the United Nations, and the redrawing of national boundaries in Eastern Europe. Stalin secured tentative agreement for Soviet territorial gains, including parts of Poland and the Baltic states. Roosevelt pushed his vision of international cooperation through a new global organization, while Churchill expressed concerns about the fate of smaller nations in a world dominated by "Great Powers." The personal dynamics between the three men significantly influenced the conference outcomes. Roosevelt believed he could charm Stalin and build a working relationship that would extend into the postwar era. He frequently sided with the Soviet leader against Churchill, sometimes deliberately excluding the British Prime Minister from discussions. Churchill, though somewhat marginalized during the conference, remained committed to the alliance while harboring deep concerns about Soviet intentions in Eastern Europe. Stalin, calculating and reserved, revealed little of his true thinking while securing concrete commitments that advanced Soviet interests. When the conference concluded on December 1, the three leaders issued a joint declaration affirming their determination to work together for "the organization of peace and security" after the war. More importantly, they had established personal connections and made critical decisions that would shape the remainder of the conflict and the postwar order. The Tehran Conference represented a diplomatic triumph for Stalin, who secured both the second front he had long demanded and tacit acceptance of Soviet territorial ambitions. For Roosevelt and Churchill, it provided clarity on military strategy while leaving many difficult political questions unresolved.

Chapter 4: Assassins in the Shadows: Hitler's Plot Against the Big Three

By late 1943, with the war turning against Germany on multiple fronts, Adolf Hitler grew increasingly desperate for a game-changing operation. The Führer, known for his belief in decisive strokes of fate, became fixated on the idea that eliminating the Allied leadership could dramatically alter the war's trajectory. When German intelligence learned of the planned meeting in Tehran through various sources, including the "Cicero" spy operation in Turkey, Hitler saw an unprecedented opportunity to decapitate the Allied command structure in a single strike. The man Hitler chose to plan this audacious operation was Walter Schellenberg, the brilliant and ambitious head of the Sicherheitsdienst (SD) foreign intelligence service. At just 33 years old, Schellenberg had already distinguished himself through several successful intelligence operations. He immediately recognized both the enormous potential and the extreme difficulties of targeting the Allied leaders in Tehran. Schellenberg knew that Nazi Germany already had intelligence assets in Iran, including the network established by Franz Mayr, though many of these operatives had been captured or forced underground following the Allied occupation in 1941. For the actual execution of the mission, Hitler turned to his favorite commando, Otto Skorzeny, who had recently rocketed to fame by rescuing Mussolini from captivity in a daring glider assault on a mountaintop fortress. The tall, scarred Austrian had a reputation for accomplishing the impossible, and Hitler believed he was the only man who could lead such a high-risk operation. According to postwar accounts from Skorzeny himself, he was summoned to Hitler's headquarters in early November 1943 for a special briefing on the Tehran mission. The operational plan, code-named "Long Jump," involved multiple teams of German agents. The first phase had already begun with the infiltration of advance scouts into the Tehran area, some parachuted in and others activated from the existing network. These agents were tasked with gathering intelligence on security arrangements and preparing for the arrival of the main assault team. The second phase would involve Skorzeny and a group of specially selected SS commandos parachuting into the mountains near Tehran, equipped with weapons, explosives, and detailed maps of the city. The exact details of how the assassins planned to strike remain somewhat murky in the historical record, but several approaches were considered. One plan involved infiltrating the conference venue disguised as Soviet security personnel, using German agents who spoke fluent Russian. Another possibility was to attack the motorcades transporting the leaders between locations. A third option involved using explosives to breach the compound walls, followed by a direct assault on the meeting site. Regardless of the specific method, the goal was clear: kill or capture Roosevelt, Churchill, and Stalin, throwing the Allied war effort into chaos. What the Nazi plotters didn't realize was that their operation had been compromised almost from the beginning. Soviet intelligence had received warning of the plot through an extraordinary source: Nikolai Kuznetsov, a Soviet spy posing as a German officer in occupied Ukraine. During a drinking session with SS officer Hans Ulrich von Ortel, Kuznetsov learned of a special operation being prepared against the "Big Three" in Tehran. This intelligence was promptly reported to Moscow, allowing Soviet security forces to prepare countermeasures and warn their Allied counterparts. The Tehran assassination plot represented Hitler's desperate gamble to change the war's course through a single, dramatic action. Had it succeeded, the consequences for the Allied war effort would have been devastating, potentially creating leadership vacuums and strategic confusion at a critical moment. The operation's ultimate failure demonstrated both the increasing effectiveness of Allied counterintelligence and the growing disconnect between Hitler's strategic fantasies and the harsh realities of Germany's deteriorating position.

Chapter 5: Security Countermeasures: How the Plot Was Foiled

The security operation protecting the Allied leaders in Tehran represented an unprecedented collaboration between American, British, and Soviet intelligence services. Despite their political differences and mutual suspicions, the three powers recognized that protecting their leaders required pooling resources and information. The Soviet security presence was particularly strong, with thousands of NKVD agents and Red Army soldiers deployed throughout the city under the command of General Dmitri Arkadiev, one of Stalin's most trusted security officials. Days before the conference began, Soviet intelligence detected alarming signs of German activity in the region. According to NKVD reports, approximately six Nazi agents had been tracked to a villa in Tehran, where they were operating a radio transmitter to communicate with Berlin. Rather than immediately arresting these operatives, Soviet security chose to monitor their activities, hoping to gather intelligence about the larger plot. Meanwhile, Soviet troops conducted sweeps of the surrounding mountains where additional German agents might be hiding. The most significant security decision came on November 27, just hours before the conference was scheduled to begin. Mike Reilly, head of Roosevelt's Secret Service detail, received an urgent message from General Arkadiev warning of a specific threat to the American President. The Soviet security chief explained that German agents had learned of Roosevelt's presence in the city and were planning what he called a "demonstration" – possibly an assassination attempt. Arkadiev strongly urged that Roosevelt relocate from the American legation to the Soviet embassy compound, where he could remain in close proximity to the other leaders without exposing himself to unnecessary risk. After consulting with his advisors, Roosevelt agreed to the move, setting in motion one of the most unusual security operations of the war. Rather than transporting the President in his official motorcade – which would be an obvious target – Reilly arranged for a decoy procession to draw attention while Roosevelt was secretly moved in an unmarked vehicle. As the official motorcade with flags and armed escorts departed the American legation, drawing crowds and potential assassins, Roosevelt was quietly ushered into a nondescript sedan accompanied only by a few close aides. This small convoy took a completely different route through the back streets of Tehran, with the President ducking down to avoid being seen through the windows. Once Roosevelt arrived safely at the Soviet embassy, security measures intensified around the entire diplomatic quarter. Soviet NKVD agents established multiple security perimeters, with the innermost ring consisting of elite guards who had been personally vetted by Stalin's security chief. The narrow street separating the Soviet and British embassies was closed off and heavily guarded, creating a secure zone for the leaders to move between buildings. The most vulnerable moment came on November 30, when all three leaders gathered at the British embassy for Churchill's birthday dinner. Security forces conducted exhaustive sweeps of the building and grounds, checking for explosives or hidden intruders. A key figure in the counterintelligence operation was Gevork Vartanian, a 19-year-old Soviet agent who led a team nicknamed the "Light Cavalry" – young operatives who patrolled Tehran on bicycles, conducting surveillance and tracking suspected Nazi sympathizers. According to Vartanian's later account, his team had been monitoring the German radio operators for weeks, gathering crucial intelligence about their communications with Berlin. This information allowed Soviet security to anticipate German moves and adjust their protective measures accordingly. The effectiveness of these security measures became clear when the conference concluded on December 1 without incident. The Allied leaders had been able to conduct their crucial discussions – including the final agreement on Operation Overlord – in safety. Whether due to the capture of key Nazi agents, the extensive security precautions, or some combination of factors, the assassination plot never materialized into an actual attack. The failure of "Operation Long Jump" represented a significant intelligence victory for the Allies and a missed opportunity for Nazi Germany to change the course of the war through a single, bold stroke.

Chapter 6: Legacy of Tehran: Shaping the War and Postwar World

The Tehran Conference produced decisions that directly shaped the final phases of World War II and established patterns that would define the postwar era. Militarily, the most significant outcome was the firm commitment to Operation Overlord – the cross-Channel invasion of northern France scheduled for spring 1944. Despite Churchill's continued reservations, Roosevelt and Stalin's alliance on this issue prevailed, setting in motion the massive preparations for what would become D-Day. Stalin, in turn, promised a major Soviet offensive on the Eastern Front to coincide with the invasion, ensuring that German forces would be stretched to their breaking point. Beyond these immediate military decisions, the conference laid the groundwork for the postwar international order. The three leaders discussed the creation of the United Nations, with Roosevelt articulating his vision of an international body that could prevent future conflicts. They tentatively agreed on the division of Germany into occupation zones and debated the redrawing of national boundaries in Eastern Europe. Stalin secured tacit acceptance of Soviet territorial ambitions, including the annexation of the Baltic states and parts of eastern Poland. These discussions revealed fundamental differences in how each leader viewed the postwar world, but these disagreements were temporarily set aside in the interest of wartime unity. The personal relationships established at Tehran significantly influenced subsequent Allied interactions. Roosevelt believed he had established a rapport with Stalin that would facilitate postwar cooperation, leading him to sometimes side with the Soviet leader against Churchill. This approach reflected Roosevelt's conviction that the Soviet Union would be a necessary partner in maintaining postwar peace and his concern that Churchill's views were too colored by traditional European power politics. The President's strategy would later be criticized as naive, particularly as Soviet-American relations deteriorated after his death in April 1945. For Churchill, the conference was somewhat disappointing, as he found himself frequently outvoted on strategic questions. The Prime Minister's concerns about Soviet intentions in Eastern Europe were largely dismissed by Roosevelt, who believed such issues could be resolved through personal diplomacy with Stalin. Churchill's famous description of the Iron Curtain that would descend across Europe was still years away, but the seeds of that division were already being planted in the decisions made at Tehran. Stalin emerged as the conference's most successful participant, having secured both the second front he had long demanded and implicit acceptance of Soviet territorial claims. The Soviet leader revealed little of his true thinking during the meetings, maintaining a reserved demeanor while carefully advancing his interests. His willingness to promise entry into the war against Japan – a commitment he would honor in August 1945 – helped cement his position as a valuable ally despite growing concerns about Soviet expansionism. The failed Nazi assassination plot against the Big Three in Tehran has often been overshadowed by the conference's diplomatic outcomes, but it represents a fascinating "what if" moment in World War II history. Had Hitler's commandos succeeded in killing or capturing the Allied leaders, the consequences for the war effort would have been profound. New leadership might have pursued different strategies, potentially delaying the Normandy invasion or altering the terms of Germany's eventual surrender. The postwar order, shaped so significantly by the personal dynamics between Roosevelt, Churchill, and Stalin, might have taken a very different form. In the broader historical context, the Tehran Conference marked the moment when the United States began to displace Great Britain as the leading Western power, while the Soviet Union established its claim to superpower status. The meeting foreshadowed the bipolar world that would emerge after 1945, with the United States and Soviet Union as the dominant global players. The security arrangements that protected the Big Three from Nazi assassins in Tehran would evolve into the elaborate protective measures that surround world leaders today, reflecting the continuing vulnerability of individual leaders in an age of global politics.

Summary

The Tehran Conference of November 1943 represents one of history's most consequential diplomatic summits, occurring at a pivotal moment when the tide of World War II was beginning to turn against Nazi Germany. The unprecedented gathering of Roosevelt, Churchill, and Stalin not only coordinated the final military push that would defeat Hitler but also sketched the outlines of the postwar international order. Running parallel to this momentous diplomatic event was the shadowy world of espionage and counterintelligence, where Nazi agents plotted to eliminate the Allied leadership while Soviet, British, and American security services worked to protect them. This dramatic convergence of high-level diplomacy and covert operations illustrates how the personal security of key decision-makers can have profound implications for global events. The legacy of Tehran continues to resonate in our contemporary world. The conference demonstrated how leaders with vastly different ideologies and national interests could temporarily set aside their differences to confront a common threat, while simultaneously maneuvering for postwar advantage. Today's international summits, with their elaborate security measures and careful diplomatic choreography, follow patterns established at Tehran. The episode reminds us that history often hinges on specific moments and individual leaders, whose protection becomes a matter of national security. For modern leaders facing complex global challenges, Tehran offers enduring lessons about the value of face-to-face diplomacy, the importance of personal relationships in international affairs, and the constant need to balance immediate cooperation against long-term strategic interests in an uncertain and dangerous world.

About Author

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Brad Meltzer

Brad Meltzer is the Emmy-nominated, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Lightning Rod, The Escape Artist, and eleven other bestselling thrillers. He also writes non-fiction books like The JFK Conspiracy, about a secret plot to kill JFK before he was sworn in – and the Ordinary People Change the World kids book series, which he does with Chris Eliopoulos and inspired the PBS KIDS TV show, Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum. His newest kids books are We are the Beatles, We are the Beatles, and I am Simone Biles. His newest inspirational book is Make Magic, based on his viral commencement address.In addition to his fiction, Brad is one of the only authors to ever have books on the bestseller list for Non-Fiction (The Nazi Conspiracy), Advice (Heroes for My Son and Heroes for My Daughter), Children’s Books (I Am Amelia Earhart and I Am Abraham Lincoln) and even comic books (Justice League of America), for which he won the prestigious Eisner Award.He is also the host of Brad Meltzer’s Lost History and Brad Meltzer’s Decoded on the History Channel, and is responsible for helping find the missing 9/11 flag that the firefighters raised at Ground Zero, making national news on the 15th anniversary of 9/11. Meltzer unveiled the flag at the 9/11 Museum in New York, where it is now on display. See the video here. The Hollywood Reporter recently put him on their list of Hollywood’s 25 Most Powerful Authors.He also recently delivered the commencement address at the University of Michigan, in front of 70,000 people, including his graduating son. Entitled Make Magic and called “one of the best commencement addresses of all time,” it’s been shared millions of times across social media. Do yourself a favor, watch it here and buy the book here.For sure, it’s tough to find anyone being so successful in so many different mediums of the popular culture. But why does Brad thrive in all these different professions? His belief that ordinary people change the world. It is that core belief that runs through every one of his projects.His newest thriller, The Lightning Rod, brings back characters Nola and Zig in a setting that will blow your mind (you won't believe where the government let Brad go). For now, we'll say this: What's the one secret no one knows about you? It's about to come out. Nearly 2,000 five-star reviews. Raves by everyone from the Wall Street Journal, to James Patterson, to Brad's mother-in-law. Plus that twist at the end! And yes, the new Zig & Nola thriller is coming soon!His newest non-fiction book, The JFK Conspiracy: The Secret Plot to Kill Kennedy -- and Why It Failed, which he wrote with Josh Mensch, is a true story about a secret assassination plot to kill JFK at the start of his Presidency and, if successful, would’ve changed history. His illustrated children’s books I Am Amelia Earhart and I Am Abraham Lincoln, which he does with artist Chris Eliopoulos, were written for his own children, to give them better heroes to look up to. Try them. You won’t believe how inspired you and your family will be. Some of our favorites in the series are I am Mister Rogers and I am Dolly Parton.His other non-fiction books, Heroes for My Son and Heroes for My Daughter, are collections of heroes – from Jim Henson to Sally Ride — that he’s been working on since the day his kids were born and is on sale now, as well as History Decoded: The 10 Greatest Conspiracies of All Time.He’s also one of the co-creators of the TV show, Jack & Bobby.Raised in Brooklyn and Miami, Brad is a graduate of the University of Michigan and Columbia Law School. The Tenth Justice was his first published work and became an instant New York Times bestseller. Dead Even followed a year later and also hit the New York Times bestseller list, as have all thirteen of his novels. The First Counsel came next, which was about a White House lawyer dating the President’s daughter, then The Millionaires, which was about two brothers who

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