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Staatsstreich: der lange Weg zum 20. Juli
On 7/20/44, with WWII reaching climax, a group of German anti-Nazi conspirators, led by a dashing, highly decorated young count, Claus Schenk von Stauffenberg, detonated a bomb at the E. Prussia military headquarters of Hitler. Altho the bomb failed to maim or kill Hitler, the explosion dramatically announced to the world the existence of a secret, indigenous opposition to the Nazi regime. In this definitive new book, Joachim Fest, an acclaimed biographer of Adolf Hitler, details the events leading up to 7/20, the tense, confused moments before the explosion, & the roundup & executions that followed. Fest recounts the heroic & unsuccessful efforts of senior military officials to persuade the Allies to help them oust the Nazis. He recreates the ill-fated schemes to blow up Hitler's private plane & to kill the Fuhrer at the opening of a museum exhibition. Cataloged here are no fewer than 15 separate assassination attempts during Hitler's reign, attempts that on several occasions came within minutes-or inches-of succeeding, but always in some instances because of bad timing or poor planning; in others, because of the omnipresent scrutiny of the Gestapo or Hitler's own instinct for danger. In the end, however, Fest's singular accomplishment is to portray the human side of the German resistance-the conviction & resolve that gave them the courage to defy almost impossible odds, & the fatal indecisiveness that caused them to fail time & again. Plotting Hitler's Death will stands as one of the definitive accounts of a tortured, misunderstood era.
Preface
The resistance that never was
The army succumbs
The September plot
From Munich to Zossen
The new generation
The army groups
Stauffenberg
The eleventh hour
July 20, 1944
Persecution & judgment
The wages of failure
Notes
Note on the Texts
Chronology
Short Biographies
Index
Preface
The resistance that never was
The army succumbs
The September plot
From Munich to Zossen
The new generation
The army groups
Stauffenberg
The eleventh hour
July 20, 1944
Persecution & judgment
The wages of failure
Notes
Note on the Texts
Chronology
Short Biographies
Index
415 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1994
2 people are currently reading
282 people want to read
About the author
Joachim Fest
44 books87 followersJoachim Clemens Fest (1926-2006) was a German historian, journalist, critic and editor, best known for his writings and public commentary on Nazi Germany, including an important biography of Adolf Hitler and books about Albert Speer and the German Resistance to Nazism. He was a leading figure in the debate among German historians about the Nazi period.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
May 20, 2014
I've read three books about attempts to assassinate Hitler during the last year. Although not exhaustive, this is by far the best of the lot both for its content and for the quality of its prose.
While a number of assassination plots are mentioned, the focus of this book is on Stauffenberg's attempt in 1944, an event recently portrayed in the Film Valkyrie. But this is more than a year-by-year, day-by-day, hour-by-hour detailing of events. It is also a serious attempt to get at the true motives--often ethical--of the conspirators, some of whom had been active since Hitler came to power in 1933.
The most distressing theme of this book for me concerned the allied response to repeated appeals from various conspirators and conspiratorial rings which occurred straight through the dozen years of Nazi hegemony. Although many of the appeals were from ranking members of the German political and military establishment, they met with deaf ears. Some of this was sheer suspicion, but some of it was motivated by a 'moral' revulsion at such traitorious behavior. Indeed, after the war, upon appealing for his release from allied custody and noting how prominent Nazis had already been let go, one of the conspirators was denied because while the Nazis 'followed orders' and, so, could be trusted, conspirators such as himself, people who also heeded the dictates of conscience, could not be.
Again, I would have readers note the quality of the prose. This book was translated from the German, but you would never guess it. Translator Little deserves great praise.
While a number of assassination plots are mentioned, the focus of this book is on Stauffenberg's attempt in 1944, an event recently portrayed in the Film Valkyrie. But this is more than a year-by-year, day-by-day, hour-by-hour detailing of events. It is also a serious attempt to get at the true motives--often ethical--of the conspirators, some of whom had been active since Hitler came to power in 1933.
The most distressing theme of this book for me concerned the allied response to repeated appeals from various conspirators and conspiratorial rings which occurred straight through the dozen years of Nazi hegemony. Although many of the appeals were from ranking members of the German political and military establishment, they met with deaf ears. Some of this was sheer suspicion, but some of it was motivated by a 'moral' revulsion at such traitorious behavior. Indeed, after the war, upon appealing for his release from allied custody and noting how prominent Nazis had already been let go, one of the conspirators was denied because while the Nazis 'followed orders' and, so, could be trusted, conspirators such as himself, people who also heeded the dictates of conscience, could not be.
Again, I would have readers note the quality of the prose. This book was translated from the German, but you would never guess it. Translator Little deserves great praise.
September 27, 2013
Late in the book appears this passage: "The conspiracy of July 20 was plainly not the work of a few disgruntled, resentful or exhausted officers...quite the contrary, the roots of the conspiracy reached as far back as 1938, the highest echelons of the Wehrmacht were involved, and the motives of the conspirators were far more complex than anyone had expected."
That's a decent summary of the book, which gives you the story known as Valkyrie today, but much more. All conspirators hated the Weimar government, some were true revolutionaries, some sought to preserve the image of Germany, and some just despised Hitler, so these groups are not easily referred to as a "resistance" movement, such as in France. Also, when the conspirators were caught, it was as useful for Hitler as it was for the allies to hide the broad based nature of the group, because both of these parties wanted to portray ein Volk ein Reich ein Fuhrer. The conspirators were ultimately aware that allied insistance on unconditional surrender to the West as well as the Soviets meant that beheading the Nazi regime might, at best, mitigate the inevitable Gotterdamerung. But their honor insisted on their acts, even though it seems odd how senior military planners were unable to put together any real assassination plan prior to Stauffenberg's July 20th bombing.
That's a decent summary of the book, which gives you the story known as Valkyrie today, but much more. All conspirators hated the Weimar government, some were true revolutionaries, some sought to preserve the image of Germany, and some just despised Hitler, so these groups are not easily referred to as a "resistance" movement, such as in France. Also, when the conspirators were caught, it was as useful for Hitler as it was for the allies to hide the broad based nature of the group, because both of these parties wanted to portray ein Volk ein Reich ein Fuhrer. The conspirators were ultimately aware that allied insistance on unconditional surrender to the West as well as the Soviets meant that beheading the Nazi regime might, at best, mitigate the inevitable Gotterdamerung. But their honor insisted on their acts, even though it seems odd how senior military planners were unable to put together any real assassination plan prior to Stauffenberg's July 20th bombing.
August 1, 2019
২০ জুলাই প্লটের ইতিহাস নিয়ে এখন পর্যন্ত আমার পড়া অন্যতম সেরা বই। বইটা মূলতঃ বিদ্রোহীদের চিন্তাধারা, কেন বিদ্রোহ করতে চেয়েছিলো, কি কি মনস্তাত্বিক কারণে বিদ্রোহ চরমভাবে ব্যর্থ হলো, বিদ্রোহীদের রাজনৈতিক, সামাজিক এবং ধর্মীয় দর্শন কি ছিলো সে সব প্রশ্নের জবাব খুঁজতে চেয়েছে। ইতিহাসবিদ জোয়াকিম ফেস্টের তথ্য সন্নিবেশ এবং কার্যকারণ বিশ্লেষণ অসাধারণ। একজন পেশাদার সমাজতত্ববিদের দৃষ্টিতে হিটলারের বিরুদ্ধে বিদ্রোহগুলো দেখতে পেরেছি।
August 28, 2019
Very good. Details Hitler's actions to gain control of the armed forces, and the resistance that developed in opposition to his actions in the late 1930s.
Early thoughts of a coup in 1938 and 1939 all come to naught and by 1942 some come to the conclusion that only assassinating Hitler will do. However, none of these guys has the guts to actually pull it off.
Enter Stauffenberg, man of action. In Fest's account, Stauffenberg almost forces the whole thing through singlehandedly. Sadly, it fails, as Hitler survives and the coup crumbles. Hitler's grasp on the military, even if they dislike him, is too strong. The oath to protect the Fuhrer is not taken lightly
The aftermath is even more incredible. Hitler's revenge backfires as many of the plotters come forward with complete conviction. In a sense they seem relieved that something has been done, and are happy to face the consequences. Yet, left to their own devices, they'd never pulled it off.
Early thoughts of a coup in 1938 and 1939 all come to naught and by 1942 some come to the conclusion that only assassinating Hitler will do. However, none of these guys has the guts to actually pull it off.
Enter Stauffenberg, man of action. In Fest's account, Stauffenberg almost forces the whole thing through singlehandedly. Sadly, it fails, as Hitler survives and the coup crumbles. Hitler's grasp on the military, even if they dislike him, is too strong. The oath to protect the Fuhrer is not taken lightly
The aftermath is even more incredible. Hitler's revenge backfires as many of the plotters come forward with complete conviction. In a sense they seem relieved that something has been done, and are happy to face the consequences. Yet, left to their own devices, they'd never pulled it off.
April 25, 2013
Fantastic book. Apparently well researched, definitely well annotated. Before reading this I didn't know that German resistance to the Nazis was so widespread or so nearly successful. Depressing, but well worth the read. Brought home like nothing else has how pre-Nazi Germany really wasn't all that special, how the same thing can happen again. The parallels between the Weimar Republic and the how the US is right now are truly terrifying. Just goes to show that the study of history is never obsolete. Anyway, back to the book, highly recommended to anyone who likes/cares about history.
June 7, 2025
The author of this book, Joachim Fest, was a German historian who was very public about the history and actions of the Nazi Party. Having grown up during World War II, he was able to offer a solid perspective on events in addition to his historical research and record keeping. I have read other really solid works by this author and completely forgot that I had this book until I was going through more stuff to get ready to move. This book discusses the growing German resistance to Hitler and his Nazi Party, led by Claus Schenk von Stauffenberg. I read a similar book not long ago, but this one was far better written and researched.
March 3, 2020
Well, this book is much more than just about plots to kill the Fuhrer!
It obviously sets the scene with his rise to power and so on but includes Operation Valkyrie, the plot to blow him up in a meeting at the Wolfs Lair. This operation featured in the film "Valkyrie" featuring the pint size actor Tom Cruise.
I didn't actually realise the film was based on real events.
Anyway, it's a well written book and I am surprised by the number of German soldiers (of all ranks) who were opposed to Hitler and his evil ways.
A good read if you like history.
It obviously sets the scene with his rise to power and so on but includes Operation Valkyrie, the plot to blow him up in a meeting at the Wolfs Lair. This operation featured in the film "Valkyrie" featuring the pint size actor Tom Cruise.
I didn't actually realise the film was based on real events.
Anyway, it's a well written book and I am surprised by the number of German soldiers (of all ranks) who were opposed to Hitler and his evil ways.
A good read if you like history.
September 17, 2023
I find the story of the german resistance quite pathetic. It's really the story of a bunch of quite well off and powerful people talking and doing nothing until it basically didn't matter so unless a book treats it's actors like that I'm not going to like it. At least Georg Elser planted a bomb in 1939 rather than just sitting around participating in the Nazi destruction of Europe and the Holocaust unlike the 1944 plotters yet these people have managed to so often be valorized.
April 2, 2022
Once I got back into reading this book it was fascinating. Insightful, very well researched and balanced.
December 8, 2007
They almost did it!
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews