Claus Von Stauffenberg - Research Paper Example

Claus Von Stauffenberg Claus von Stauffenberg is famous because of the attempt he made to kill German dictator Adolf Hitler and remove the Nazi Party from power. He has made this failed attempt during World War II. “At least six attempts were aborted before Stauffenberg decided on trying again during a conference attended by Hitler on 20th July, 1944”(Spartacus Educational) He was belonged to a German Roman Catholic aristocratic family. He is remembered in the history not only because of his brave attempt to kill Hitler but for his charismatic leadership as well. This paper briefly explains the biography of Claus von Stauffenberg and his accomplishments. Claus von Stauffenberg was born in Jettingen, Germany on November 15, 1907. (Claus von Stauffenberg) His father was a religious man with a philosophic bent, an accomplished horseman, and a lover of poetry. (Jones) He was the third of the four sons his parent had. He was a bright student and was brought up under better living conditions because of his aristocratic family background. He and his brothers were brave peoples and they joined German scout agency during their youth hood. At the age of nineteen he became an officer cadet because of his smartness and abilities. His intelligence and smartness has made him a commissioned officer in 1930. He has trained specifically in using modern weapons and war equipments during this period. Although he has supported some of the policies of the Nazi regime and Hitler, many other policies of Nazis were indigestible to him. His strong moral backgrounds forced him to disagree with many of the Nazi policies. He has participated in most of the wars Germany conducted during this period. Conquest of Poland, 1939, Battle of France, 1940, Operation Barbarossa, 1941, campaign against Russia in 1941, Tunisian operations, and 1942 were some of the major wars he has participated. Initially Stauffenberg thought that some of these wars were justifiable for the interest of Germany as a country, the mass murder of Jews in 1942 by the Nazi led Germany forced him to think against Hitler and his regime more strongly. He has realized the hidden agenda Hitler had in killing Jews and expanding his power. He has realized that Hitler is becoming a strong threat not only to the Jews, but even for the rest of the world as well. In the Tunisian operation he has suffered severe injuries and lost one of his eyes and hands and almost met with death. He has forced to spend 3 months in hospital where the thought about dethroning Hitler and Nazi regime first came into his mind. He has realized that Hitler and his passion for war have cost him one eye and a hand and hence he decided to kill Hitler at any cost. Because of his religious base and belief in strong moral principles, at first he has re- thought about his decision many times. "Fate has offered us this opportunity, and I would not refuse it for anything in the world," von Stauffenberg says, continuing, "I have examined myself before God and my conscience. It must be done because this man (Hitler) is evil personified." (Count Claus von Stauffenberg) Stauffenberg has contacted many other military officers who were dissatisfied over the Nazi massacres against the rest of the world and they decided to assassinate Hitler at any cost. In 1944 1 July von Stauffenberg is promoted to colonel and appointed chief-of-staff to the Reserve Army commanding general. The position gives him direct access to Hitler's briefing sessions. (Count Claus von Stauffenberg) Hitler and his loyalist never suspected Stauffenberg because of his handicapped conditions. He has planned many operations to kill Hitler, but all failed because of unexpected problems occurred in between the planning and the actual operation. The advanced training he ahs received during his military career in handling weapons helped him in planning his plot carefully. “As planned, von Stauffenberg arms the bomb and places it under the table across which Hitler and his officers are discussing the military situation. Excusing himself, von Stauffenberg leaves the room just minutes before the bomb is set to detonate and waits at a safe distance. At 12:42 p.m. the bomb explodes. The room is destroyed, killing four and seriously wounding seven others, but Hitler survives with damaged ear drums, burns to his left side, and a shredded trouser leg” (Count Claus von Stauffenberg) Stauffenberg has thought that his mission was successful and Hitler is being assassinated and hence immediately he returned to Berlin in order to seize the power. But the Hitler loyalists prevented him from doing so and captured him and his associates and executed them on July 21 early morning in 1944 “Stauffenberg married Nina Freiin von Lerchenfeld on 26 September, 1933 in Bamberg. They had five children: Berthold, Heimeran, Franz-Ludwig, Valerie, and Konstanze, who was born in Frankfurt on the Oder after Stauffenberg's execution.” (Claus Schenk Graf von Stauffenberg) Claus von Stauffenberg is still regarded as a great figure in German history because of his contributions and motivations given to the society to end the Nazi regime. The major contribution Stauffenberg has given to the German public is the motivation against the rule of Nazis and Hitler. He is a hero in Germany and elsewhere in the world. The street where he has been executed is renamed in his name in order to mark respect towards the brave soldier. “Von Stauffenberg has been eulogized as a man of culture and spirit, a man of action, and a man of thought.” (Count Claus von Stauffenberg) The contributions of less privileged people like Stauffenberg against the Nazi regime are an inspiring one for the German people even now. The story of Stauffenberg motivates many German youths in accepting challenges against social evils even now. The destruction of Berlin wall which separates East and West Germanys is the latest in the list which is indirectly related to Stauffenberg’s contributions to the German public. Conclusions Stauffenberg was a brave soldier with immense faith in moral principles. He never sacrificed his beliefs because of any fear or pressure from any external sources. Even the threatening figure of Hitler has not created many concerns to him. He did whatever the things he believed right. Prejudices or bias never come on his way. His contributions to the German public and the rest of the world as a person of immense courage and faith in abilities will remain ever in the hearts of German public and the rest of the world. Works Cited 1. Spartacus Educational, Retrieved on May 24, 2009 from http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/GERstauffenberg.htm 2. Claus von Stauffenberg, Retrieved on May 24, 2009 from http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/biography/Stauffenberg.html 3. Jones Nigel, Claus von Stauffenberg - The Man Who Tried to Kill Hitler, Retrieved on May 24, 2009 from http://www.historynet.com/claus-von-stauffenberg-the-man-who-tried-to-kill-hitler.htm 4. Count Claus von Stauffenberg, Retrieved on May 24, 2009 from http://www.moreorless.au.com/heroes/stauffenberg.html 5. Claus Schenk Graf von Stauffenberg, Retrieved on May 24, 2009 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Claus_von_Stauffenberg Read More