I just signed up and I just did a paper on this and I'm wondering what people think on the topic. Just to make sure I covered all the POV.
The attempt on Hitler's life in July 1944 had a detremental effect on the German chances to win the war (by this time they were already overstretched). It had the effect of making Hitler distrust his Generals even more which resulted in a disorganised and fragmented command structure which overall Hitler controlled and so he made all the discisions which meant that in battle when German units could have responded quickly they where slow because Hitler had to give permission for them to move. As a result the German forces lost their feared ability for fast counterattacks (though having no fuel also slowed these down) and they lost the war.
The Attentat, as it was called in Germany, did not take Hitler off the map, but instead added to his growing paranoia. After the Bomb Plot failed, the Gestapo went after scores of generals and civilians, hanging them with piano wire or forcing them (like Kluge and Rommel) to commit suicide. The loss of those two generals alone was a major blow to the German war effort. It also increased Hitler's distrust of his generals, and made him give power to pliable toadies like Bormann and Himmler. The latter was appointed head of Army Group Vistula when it was facing the Soviet assault on Berlin. Himmler thought his job would consist of making inspiring speeches and giving out medals. He was flummoxed by his job, and did it appallingly. On the Western front, the main punch of the Battle of the Bulge was delivered not by Gen. Hasso Von Manteuffel's Wehrmacht 5th Panzer Army, but Sepp Dietrich's 6th SS Panzer Army. Dietrich, a butcher in civilian life, was not too capable, but had a good chief of staff, Walther Kraemer. As it turned out, Manteuffel hit the Meuse. The SS was stalled at Elsenborn and St. Vith. The Nazis used increasingly draconian measures to deal with dissent, real or imaginary, and maintain order and discipline, which only led to "deserters" being hanged by Fliegenstandsgerichte -- Flying SS Courts Martial -- which tried and shot ont he spot anyone not marching to the front with his rifle. The damage from the bomb accelerated Hitler's Parkinson's, ear trouble, and general nervous condition. It seems to have cleared up temporarily the tremor in his left leg and arm, which began in 1943 and was caused by stress. Hitler attributed the end of the tremor to Providence. It soon returned, as Providence was not impressed.
Yes, this is all very true. However, according to many sources I read the plot went all the way back to the Sudeten incident and even before the publicised attempt messages and orders were saboutaged. Also, there were two previous failed attempts on Hitler's life.
Originally posted by SnowWolf@Dec 5 2004, 07:36 PM Yes, this is all very true. However, according to many sources I read the plot went all the way back to the Sudeten incident and even before the publicised attempt messages and orders were saboutaged. Also, there were two previous failed attempts on Hitler's life. [post=29892]Quoted post[/post] There were about 20 or so attempts on Hitler's life, including the bomb that went off in the Burgerbraukeller on November 9, 1939, just after Der Fuehrer left the podium. His life was saved numerous times by "Divine Providence." The July 20, 1944 attempt was the biggest because it and the associated coup came within inches of succeeding, and the backlash was the greatest.
Exept for the bomb at the Wolf's lair on the 20 July 1944 and the two subesequent attempts in March and November 1943 did Ludwig Beck's group try anything else to get rid of Hitler or were they all captured and killed after the failure of the bomb attempt in July 1944?
Originally posted by Thomas McCall@Dec 6 2004, 12:14 PM Exept for the bomb at the Wolf's lair on the 20 July 1944 and the two subesequent attempts in March and November 1943 did Ludwig Beck's group try anything else to get rid of Hitler or were they all captured and killed after the failure of the bomb attempt in July 1944? [post=29913]Quoted post[/post] Not sure if this is the right answer, but the Attentat of 1944 pretty much ended plots against Hitler's life. The Gestapo pretty much arrested nearly everybody connected with the plot, and a lot of people who weren't. Some guys, like Spiedel and Otto John, avoided the noose. Baron von der Heydte, related to Stauffenberg, was investigated, but cleared. But scores of other people got the rope. The trials were puppet shows -- Judge Roland Freisler, an admirer of Vishinsky -- imitating him at the hearings. Defendants had to hold up their pants and be yelled at for doing so. (No belt) Freisler had a movie camera that went on every time he went into a cross-examination, so Hitler and Himmler could watch their judge rip up the defendants. Freisler got his when a steel beam fell on his head while he was leaving the court in 1945, during an air raid. After the Attentat, the next attempt was Speer's abortive plan to induce Tabun into the bunker right before the end. In a way, it's a good thing he failed...prevents us from suffering through a Hitler martyrdom myth to empower neo-Nazis.
