Ramon Mercader
Timeline
7 Feb 1914 |
Ramon Mercader born to Eustacia Maria Caridad del Rio Hernandez and Don Pablo Mercader Marina, Barcelona Spain. |
12 Jun 1935 |
Arrested as a member of an underground Communist group he founded, the Cervantes Artistic Recreational Circle. |
1937 |
Travels to Moscow for assassination training. |
1938 |
The dismembered body of Rudolf Klement, Trotsky's former secretary, found floating in the Seine, Paris. |
1938 |
Leon Trotsky's son, Lev Sedov, murdered. |
Sep 1939 |
Arrives in New York City under a false Canadian passport of "Frank Jacson" (sic.) |
Oct 1939 |
Arrives in Mexico City, again as "Frank Jacson." |
24 May 1940 |
An attempt is made to assassinate Leon Trotsky. Over 300 rounds are fired at Trotsky's residence, though the target and his wife survive unscathed. |
28 May 1940 |
Leon Trotsky introduces himself to Ramon Mercader. |
12 Jun 1940 |
Mercader lends Trotsky his Buick, while the former travels to New York City. |
10 Aug 1940 |
Mercader and associate Ageloff have tea with Trotsky. |
Aug 1940 |
Mercader meets privately with Trotsky to show him a magazine article he is writing. |
20 Aug 1940 |
At 5:20 pm, Mercader attempts to assassinate Leon Trotsky with an ice pick to the back of the head. Trotsky survives, telling his guards as they began to beat the would-be assassin, "Do not kill him. This man has a story to tell." Mercader is arrested as "Jacques Mornard", a Belgian "diplomat." |
21 Aug 1940 |
Leon Trotsky dies from his injuries. |
Aug 1953 |
Mercader's identity is revealed by Barcelona authorities as Jaime Ramon Mercader del Rio Hernandez, after a fingerprint comparison. |
6 May 1960 |
Freed from Lecumberri Prison. Czech diplomats give him a diplomatic passport under the name Jacques Vendendreschd. Vendendreschd then travels to Havana, Cuba, and from there, Eastern Europe. |
1978 |
Dies in Cuba. Given a hero's burial in Kuntsevo Cemetery, Moscow. |
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