The Conspirators: 20th July 1944

by Roger Manvell

As Stauffenberg reached the staff car, the explosion went off with an enormous, deafening sound. Stauffenberg knew at once from its sheer magnitude that his mission must have been successful. It was 12.42 by their watches - the historic moment (he was convinced) of Hitler's death.
The Conspirators: 20th July 1944 is part of Ballantine's Illustrated History of the Violent Century, and is Book #1 in the Politics in Action book series.

Genres: History, World War II, Nonfiction

160 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 1971

Reviews

[Julio The Fox · Rating 4 out of 5]

Patriots, traitors or fools? The true story of a failed plot, among dozens, to eliminate Hitler in July of 1944 though not necessarily end the war. Hitler was not Mr. Lucky. His enemies inside the Reich took their sweet time hatching a plot and military coup destined to flop through lack of conviction.

[Sebastian Sandino · Rating 4 out of 5]

Written in 1971, Roger Manvell, summarizes the conspiracy against Adolf Hitler on July 20, 1944 with an extraordinary investigation that must be reinforced with more recent studies, but which reveals a badly planned, badly executed attack with too many characters involved.

It is fascinating to understand the history of the events knowing that after July 20, 1944 until June 1945, a higher number of people died compared to the previous five years. What would have happened if this attack had been successful? Could lives have been saved?

The great problem of the historians of the 20th century with respect to German history is to see the facts from the future with a mirror towards the past and not achieve an empathy with the reality of that moment, with its fears, uncertainties and dreams of the future. Therefore, judging those who did not get involved in the attack in 1944 is very easy.

It is a shame that such disgusting people as Roger Freisler had not been tried and sentenced in a post war court, he used all his power to humiliate and sentence thousands of opponents, he played God. However, it remains the great satisfaction that he died under the weight of the columns of the place where he saw him commit so many injustices, perhaps through a divine act.

[Craig · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really great insight into the plot and conspiracy to assassinate Hitler. I think Manwell does a great job of showing how it all went down that day. I think maybe tying it together with those that were convicted and what they exactly contributed could have been a little clearer but that's my only gripe. I appreciate that it doesn't gloss over the fact that these people were not supported by the Allies but that put both sides in a precarious position if they were. Total war and an absolutely defeated Germany had to be the only answer here so as to not repeat the events of the past and create newer Nazis under a different name. It is an interesting thought exercise to think of what would have come about if they were successful but we will never know.

[Thomas Kanyak · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good overview of the various resistance groups against Hitler from the mid 1930's to 1944. Lots of photos, which was a major strength of the Ballantine Illustrated History of the Violent Century series of short books(all were limited to 160 pages) of the early 1970's. The photos were of low quality in the paperbacks compared to today, but still a great feature. The author was vague about how many of the conspirators came and went from the various plots but that was understandable in a concise book on the subject. One curious error was the author claiming the US declared war on Germany! Of course they did, but not until Germany had declared war first, after Pearl Harbor.

[Rafael Sales · Rating 5 out of 5]

Edição:
Os conspiradores: atentado contra o Fuhrer (Política em Ação #2)

Li a versão em português. Mais uma vez a coleção História Ilustrada da 2ª Guerra Mundial apresenta uma obra espetacular, embora seja difícil acompanhar a quantidade de personalidades envolvidas na Operação Valquíria. A obra serve como advertência para aqueles que não imaginam o papel da resistência alemã à Hitler.

[Ryuta Fukuya · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is easy non fiction about the history of WW2.
I recommend this book to grasp the overview of Anti-Nazism movement .
The different from Japan, in Germany the part of Army committed the Anti Nazism movement, therefore it succeeded to keep from Nazism during anti-Nazi movement after WW2.

[John E · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sure needed a "players sheet" of who was who. Whoever designed the text for this series needed a different type face; pages of dense black text was really difficult.

[Russell R · Rating 5 out of 5]

excellent ballantine book