The Assassination of Leon Trotsky

On Aug. 20, 1940, Leon Trotsky was attacked in his home by a NKVD agent, Ramón Mercader, who drove the pick of an ice axe into Trotsky's skull. The blow was poorly delivered and failed to kill Trotsky instantly, as Mercader had intended. Witnesses stated that Trotsky spat on Mercader and began struggling fiercely with him. Trotsky was taken to a hospital, operated on, and survived for more than a day, dying at the age of 60 on Aug. 21, 1940 as a result of severe brain damage.