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| Germany remembers Hitler plotters | Germany remembers Hitler plotters |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Germany has marked the 65th anniversary of the failed attempt by a group of officers to assassinate Adolf Hitler and drive the Nazis from power. | Germany has marked the 65th anniversary of the failed attempt by a group of officers to assassinate Adolf Hitler and drive the Nazis from power. |
| The 20 July Plot saw Colonel Count Claus von Stauffenberg plant a bomb under a table inside the "Wolf's Lair", Hitler's command post in East Prussia. | The 20 July Plot saw Colonel Count Claus von Stauffenberg plant a bomb under a table inside the "Wolf's Lair", Hitler's command post in East Prussia. |
| But through a series of lucky circumstances Hitler was only slightly hurt, and the conspiracy was exposed. | But through a series of lucky circumstances Hitler was only slightly hurt, and the conspiracy was exposed. |
| The assassination attempt is one of the proudest traditions of the German army. | The assassination attempt is one of the proudest traditions of the German army. |
| During a ceremony in Berlin on Monday, hundreds of young recruits to the force took their ceremonial oath to a democratic Germany. | During a ceremony in Berlin on Monday, hundreds of young recruits to the force took their ceremonial oath to a democratic Germany. |
| Memorial | Memorial |
| For many Germans, Von Stauffenberg is a hero - one of the few officers who chose to follow his conscience rather than orders, says the BBC's Oliver Berlau. | For many Germans, Von Stauffenberg is a hero - one of the few officers who chose to follow his conscience rather than orders, says the BBC's Oliver Berlau. |
| Click to see where the bomb was planted and who was hurt | |
| The plot in which he participated was the closest Hitler's opponents within the German armed forces ever got to killing him. | The plot in which he participated was the closest Hitler's opponents within the German armed forces ever got to killing him. |
| The attempted coup, which would have seen the establishment of a conservative military regime in Germany which was willing to negotiate an honourable peace, was led by senior military leaders like Field Marshal Erwin von Witzleben and Gen Ludwig Beck. | The attempted coup, which would have seen the establishment of a conservative military regime in Germany which was willing to negotiate an honourable peace, was led by senior military leaders like Field Marshal Erwin von Witzleben and Gen Ludwig Beck. |
| Col Von Stauffenberg was convinced Hitler had to be removed from power | |
| As had been planned, Von Stauffenberg placed a briefcase containing explosives under the table next to Hitler inside the Wolf's Lair. After he left the building, he heard the bomb explode and assumed the German dictator was dead. | As had been planned, Von Stauffenberg placed a briefcase containing explosives under the table next to Hitler inside the Wolf's Lair. After he left the building, he heard the bomb explode and assumed the German dictator was dead. |
| But an officer had moved the briefcase behind a sturdy leg of the table, and Hitler suffered only minor burns and concussion. | But an officer had moved the briefcase behind a sturdy leg of the table, and Hitler suffered only minor burns and concussion. |
| Unaware, Von Stauffenberg flew to Berlin to join Von Witzleben and Beck and to take over using the German Home Army. However, they had hesitated and failed to take over the communications network. | Unaware, Von Stauffenberg flew to Berlin to join Von Witzleben and Beck and to take over using the German Home Army. However, they had hesitated and failed to take over the communications network. |
| Once it became known that Hitler was still alive, the plot crumbled. | Once it became known that Hitler was still alive, the plot crumbled. |
| Von Stauffenberg and several of his co-conspirators were shot the same night in the courtyard of the Bendlerblock, a building in Berlin which is still part of the defence ministry and the site of a memorial. | Von Stauffenberg and several of his co-conspirators were shot the same night in the courtyard of the Bendlerblock, a building in Berlin which is still part of the defence ministry and the site of a memorial. |
| Dozens of others were later humiliated in a show trial and executed, hanged with piano wire from meat-hooks. Their deaths were filmed and shown to senior members of the Nazi Party and the armed forces. | Dozens of others were later humiliated in a show trial and executed, hanged with piano wire from meat-hooks. Their deaths were filmed and shown to senior members of the Nazi Party and the armed forces. |
| THE 20 JULY PLOT | |
| Click here to return |
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