Tresckow, Henning von (1901-44)
Career officer, eventually brigadier general. In the late 1920s joined with officers who supported Hitler but soon changed his mind and ultimately proved one of the most courageous opponents of the regime. From 1941 to 1943 was a general staff officer in the high command of Army Group Center. In 1942 became a colonel. Beginning in mid-1942 planned a number of attacks on Hitler. Posted in late July 1943 to the elite “Führer reserve.” Worked in Berlin with Stauffenberg on transforming the Valkyrie plans for “internal disturbances” into plans for a coup d’ état. Dispatched in the fall of 1943 to the southern wing of the eastern front. In late November 1943 made chief of staff to the Second Army. Maintained his contacts with the conspirators and cited in the Kaltenbrunner reports as the “driving force” and “evil spirit” behind the coup attempt of July 20. When the attempt failed, killed himself at the front with a grenade.
Trott zu Solz, Adam von (1909-44)
Lawyer. Studied at Oxford in 1932-33. Posted to China between 1937 and 1938, traveling by way of the United States. Used that trip and numerous others to establish contacts on behalf of the resistance, sometimes with exiled opponents of the regime. Joined the NSDAP in 1940 to provide a cover. Legation counselor in the Foreign Office’s information division. Later worked in the India branch. Foreign policy adviser to the Kreisau Circle. Undertook further travels abroad in 1941 and 1943 to explore the Allied attitude toward a new German government but bitterly disappointed by the indifference of the Western Allies. After the attempted coup of July 20, 1944, not arrested until July 26. Condemned by the People’s Court on August 15 and executed in Plötzensee prison.
Wirmer, Josef (1901-44)
Lawyer. Acted before 1933 on behalf of the Catholic Student Unions. Belonged to the left wing of the Center Party. As an opponent of the Nazis from the outset and a frequent legal adviser to persecuted Jews, expelled by the Nazis from the lawyers’ syndicate. After 1936, forged friendship with Jakob Kaiser and increasingly close contacts with trade union circles. Established many ties between resistance groups that had been cut off from one another by old differences. His house was one of the most important meeting places of the opposition, frequented not only by Kaiser, Leuschner, and Habermann but also by Goerdeler and the conspirators in Military Intelligence. Arrested on August 4, 1944, and incarcerated in the Ravensbrück concentration camp. Defended himself before the People’s Court with great verve and self-assurance. Condemned on September 8 and executed the same day at Plötzensee prison.
Witzleben, Erwin von (1881-1944)
Career officer. In 1934 appointed commander of the Berlin military district. Participated in the coup and assassination plans of 1938-39. In 1940 became a field marshal and commander in chief of Army Group D in the West. From April 1941 until March 1942 commander in chief in the West in France. Retired in March 1942 for health reasons. Took part in preparations for a coup in 1943-44 and agreed to assume command of the Wehrmacht under a new government. On July 20, 1944, did not appear at army headquarters on Bendlerstrasse until the evening. Arrested on July 21. Sentenced to death by the People’s Court on August 8 and executed the same day in Plötzensee prison.
Yorck von Wartenburg, Count Peter (1904-44)
Lawyer. From 1936 to 1941 assistant secretary on the staff of the Reich price commissioner. In 1939 a first lieutenant in the reserves. In 1942 joined the OKW Defense Economy Office. The central figure in the Kreisau Circle, along with Helmuth von Moltke. Most of its meetings, including the most important ones, took place in his house on Hortensienstrasse. After long hesitation, was won over to the idea of assassinating Hitler. Maintained close ties with his cousin Stauffenberg. Was expected to become state secretary in the chancellor’s office after a successful coup. Went to Bendlerstrasse on July 20, 1944, and was arrested there. Condemned to death by the People’s Court on August 8 and executed the same day in Plötzensee prison.
About the Author
Joachim C. Fest was born in Berlin in 1926. After the war, in which he served and was taken prisoner, he joined the radio station RIAS-Berlin where he became the head of the Department of Contemporary History. In 1961 he became Editor-in-Chief of TV for Norddeutscher Rundfunk and published his highly acclaimed work The Face of the Third Reich in 1963. In 1973 he published the first comprehensive German life of Hitler since 1945. One of the world’s leading authorities on Nazi period, Joachim Fest lives in central Germany, near Frankfurt.
Praise for Plotting Hitler’s Death:
‘A marvellous account of the brave men who failed to assassinate Hitler. Was it their fault – or ours? Joachim Fest’s controversial book argues that the Allies were in part to blame as early as 1938 in ignoring the efforts of the German resistance to stop Hitler.’
Noel Annan
‘A book that does full justice to the dramatic, heroic story of patriotic German officers and civilians, who from 1938 on – intermittently and under desperate conditions – sought to free Germany of Hitler’s criminal rule. A poignant account, brilliantly told…’
Fritz Stern
Also by Joachim Fest:
HITLER
‘Joachim C. Fest… has written a book that combines the virtues of intellectual and narrative organisation with the attractions of bravura, and will clearly influence a whole generation of readers.’
Michael Ratcliffe, THE TIMES
‘The best single volume available on tortuous life and savage reign of Adolf Hitler; Fest tells the story as no non-German could, dispassionately, but from inside.’
TIME
THE FACE OF THE THIRD REICH
‘Fest’s constant probing for insights into the nature of modern totalitarianism gives his book a unique and powerful intensity.’
WALL STREET JOURNAL
Credits
Jacket picture: Hitler circa 1925 (Popperfoto).
Author photograph: Andreas Pohlmann.
Copyright
Wiedenfeld and Nicolson
The Orion Publishing Group
Orion House
5 Upper Saint Martin’s Lane
London WC2H 9EA
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Plotting Hitler's Death Page 42