January 13: Pravda, the Communist Party newspaper organ in the Soviet Union, publishes an article “Vicious Spies and Killers under the Mask of Academic Physicians.”
This was the infamous fabricated “Doctor’s Plot,” which accused leading Jewish doctors of involvement in a massive “plot” to poison the Soviet leadership. Hundreds of Jewish physicians and academics were arrested, with many sent to the GULAG (the Siberian prison world) or executed. Stalin’s (fortuitous) death March 5, less than two months into the grisly saga, ended the sordid matter. The arrested that were still alive were acquitted and released by Beria et al. (of the incoming Soviet leadership cadre).