On July 20 1944, exactly 60 years ago today, a small group of high-ranked officers led by Von Stauffenberg made an attempt to assasinate Hitler by putting a bomb in a small suitcase under the chair where Hitler was seated during a meeting. But miracurously Hitler survived, and completely outraged he ordered about 5,000 German officers executed for their suspected part in the plot. One of these officers was Feldmarschall Erwin Rommel, for he had seen Von Stauffenberg or one of his associates and apparently knew some little bits about the plan. He wasn't directly involved and had even refused to help Von Stauffenberg when he asked him, but it was enough for Hitler.
One Luftwaffe ace (I forget which one) stated in a book that he thought the conspirators were idiots for using a bomb. At the time of the attempt, all officers were allowed to carry their side arms into conferences with Hitler and no guards were inside. He wondered why had von Stauffenberg just shot Hitler when he had the chance?
One Luftwaffe ace (I forget which one) stated in a book that he thought the conspirators were idiots for using a bomb. At the time of the attempt, all officers were allowed to carry their side arms into conferences with Hitler and no guards were inside. He wondered why had von Stauffenberg just shot Hitler when he had the chance?[/quote] Same thing you can read in Skorzeny's memories. In many other books but a different oppinion.
I believe these meetings were usually held in a bunker. With no doors or window that could be blown out the presure inside the bunker would stand an much better chance of killing everyone regardless of were it was positioned. If your attempting a coupe there alot to be said for taking out as many senior people as possible not just the top man. The more decapatated the old regime has been the easier it is for the new one to install itself.
But the meeting wasn't held in a bunker, and some suggest that Von SAtauffenberg knew this. I think he didn't carry his gun because he intended to survive; the SS guards surely would shoot him, or one of the other officers would, had he assasinated Hitler on the spot.
But like I said, if the other officers were allowed to wear their sidearms then some of them surely would have used them.
Not in time to actually stop von Stauffenberg. He could have easily fired at least two shots before anyone could have reacted, assuming they even tried to stop him.
My point was that they would shoot him afterwards, and therefore if he intended to live (and he did), he wouln't have been able to just shoot AH.
He didn't live long. At nine p.m. the conspirators were startled to hear a radio announcement that Hitler would shortly address the nation. By eleven that night the dwindling leadership of the conspiracy was sequestered in the war ministry when a group of loyal Nazis burst in. During the ensuing scuffle, Stauffenberg was shot in his remaining arm. Within half an hour, his former superior office, General Friedrich Fromm, announced that Stauffenberg and three others had been sentenced by a summary court-martial to immediate execution. Stauffenberg, the sleeve of his wounded arm soaked in blood, was led to a courtyard in back of the ministry. There an army truck's headlights lit a wall where the condemned men were lined up to be shot. "Long live our sacred Germany!" Stauffenberg shouted as he fell to the floor, dead at the age of thirty-six. From. http://www.poopdeck90210.com/ww2his/stauffenberg.htm
Wasn't there several attempts on Hitler's life, two dozen or so? Perhaps this is why Hitler couldn't trust anyone, and thought there was a conspirator behind every tree? Cheers!