The Unbelievable Story of How Stalin Asked Wolf Messing to Rob a Soviet Bank

Introduction: The Strange Request from Stalin to Wolf Messing

In the early 1940s, Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin made an unusual request to a renowned psychic named Wolf Messing. Stalin asked Messing to rob a Soviet bank and bring him the money. This bizarre request has puzzled historians and psychologists for decades, as it seems to contradict Stalin’s reputation as a ruthless leader who would not hesitate to eliminate anyone who posed a threat to his power. In this article, we will explore the story of how Stalin asked Wolf Messing to rob a Soviet bank, and try to understand the motives behind this strange request.

Who Was Wolf Messing and Why Did Stalin Choose Him?

Wolf Messing was a Polish-born psychic who gained fame in the Soviet Union in the 1930s and 1940s for his supposed ability to read minds, predict the future, and perform other paranormal feats. Messing claimed that he had developed his psychic powers through years of meditation and self-discipline, and that he could use them to help people and solve problems. Stalin was reportedly fascinated by Messing’s abilities and invited him to perform for him on several occasions.

It is not clear why Stalin chose Messing for the bank robbery mission, but some historians speculate that he may have believed in Messing’s psychic powers and thought that he could use them to help him carry out the robbery successfully. Others suggest that Stalin may have wanted to test Messing’s loyalty and obedience, or that he simply wanted to see if he could get away with such a brazen act of theft.

The Plan and Execution of the Bank Robbery

According to Messing’s own account, Stalin gave him detailed instructions on how to carry out the bank robbery. Stalin told Messing to enter the bank disguised as a high-ranking Soviet official, using a fake ID and a forged signature. He was to then use his psychic powers to hypnotize the bank staff and make them believe that he was authorized to withdraw a large sum of money from the bank’s vault.

Messing claimed that he followed Stalin’s instructions to the letter, and that he was able to hypnotize the bank staff and walk out of the bank with a large sum of money. However, there is no independent evidence to support Messing’s account, and some historians have cast doubt on the veracity of his story.

The Aftermath: What Happened to Messing and Stalin’s Motives for the Robbery

After the alleged bank robbery, Messing reportedly delivered the money to Stalin, who thanked him and gave him a medal for his services. However, Messing’s troubles were far from over. In 1941, he was arrested by the Soviet secret police and accused of being a spy for Nazi Germany. Messing was tortured and interrogated for months, but he refused to confess to any wrongdoing. Eventually, he was released from prison and allowed to leave the Soviet Union.

The motives behind Stalin’s request for the bank robbery remain a mystery. Some historians speculate that he may have wanted to test Messing’s loyalty and obedience, or that he simply wanted to see if he could get away with such a brazen act of theft. Others suggest that he may have needed the money for some secret project or to fund the war effort. Whatever the reason, the story of how Stalin asked Wolf Messing to rob a Soviet bank remains one of the most bizarre and intriguing episodes in Soviet history.