The Hitler Conspirator: The Story of Kurt Freiherr von Plettenberg and Stauffenberg's Valkyrie Plot to Kill the Führer

by Eberhard Schmidt

Overview

One man’s part in the Nazi plan to assassinate Hitler during WWII—and “an interesting account of one of the key figures in the resistance movement” (Britain at War).
 
As the descendant of an aristocratic family from Westphalia, Germany, Kurt Baron von Plettenberg served as an officer in both world wars. But he never supported the twisted ideals that drove the Third Reich.
 
So, when he found a group of soldiers—including Operation Valkyrie mastermind Claus von Stauffenberg—who realized the true insanity of the Nazi regime, von Plettenberg was compelled to join the resistance that was growing within Hitler’s own circle. On July 20, 1944, the plot to assassinate the führer was finally put into action. Unfortunately for von Plettenberg and his fellow conspirators, the effort failed.
 
Von Plettenberg was not immediately discovered as one of the conspirators. But only a few weeks before the end of the war, he was condemned and arrested. It was then that he was forced to make a terrible decision: betray his friends under torture—or do what his personal honor dictated . . .
 
This gripping biography shows for the first time how von Plettenberg found a way to prevail during those dark days and how significantly he influenced the resistance against Hitler.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781473856929
Publisher:	Pen & Sword Books Limited
Publication date:	02/20/2019
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	256
File size:	6 MB

About the Author

Professor Dr Eberhard Schmidt was born in Berlin in 1939. He studied German, History and Philosophy. In 1973, he received his professorial chair. In 2004, he became director of the Institute of Political Science at the University of Oldenburg.

Table of Contents

Foreword Peter Hoffmann RR.S.C vi

Preface ix

Chapter 1 The Prussian Heritage 1

Chapter 2 Lieutenant in the First World War 13

Chapter 3 Difficult Years 37

Chapter 4 Marion Countess Dönhoff 47

Chapter 5 Hopes for the 'Third Reich' 62

Chapter 6 Arianne Baroness von Maltzahn 71

Chapter 7 Resignation from Public Service 80

Chapter 8 Infantry Regiment 9 89

Chapter 9 In the Service of the Hohenzollerns 102

Chapter 10 Inside the Resistance Network 109

Chapter 11 After the Failure of Operation Valkyrie 129

Chapter 12 Denunciation 142

Chapter 13 Prinz-Albrecht-Strafie 8 153

Epilogue 165

Acknowledgements 169

Timeline of Kurt Freiherr von Plettenberg 171

Bibliography and Sources 177

Index 193

Editorial Reviews

This biography is an interesting account of one of the key figures in the resistance movement and his brave sacrifice to save the lives of others.

Britain at War