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Ludwig Beck
29 June 1880 – 21 July 1944

Generaloberst Ludwig Beck
Place of birth Biebrich
Place of death Berlin
Allegiance Flag of German Empire German Empire (to 1918)
Flag of Germany Weimar Republic (to 1933)
Flag of Nazi Germany Nazi Germany
Service/branch Heer
Rank Generaloberst
Commands held Oberkommando des Heeres
Battles/wars World War I
World War II

Ludwig August Theodor Beck (June 29, 1880 – July 21, 1944) was a German general and the Chief of the General Staff of the Oberkommando des Heeres during the early years of the Nazi regime in Germany before World War II. Events 512 - A Solar eclipse is recorded by a monastic chronicler in Ireland. Year 1880 ( MDCCCLXXX) was a Leap year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year Events 356 BC - Herostratus sets fire to the Temple of Artemis in Ephesus, one of the Seven Wonders of the World Year 1944 ( MCMXLIV) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Biebrich is a borough of the city Wiesbaden, Hesse, Germany, located in the Rhine-Main-Area near Frankfurt, opposite of Mombach Berlin is the capital city and one of sixteen states of Germany. The German Empire is the name commonly used in English to describe Germany from 1871 to 1918 when it was a semi- Constitutional monarchy: beginning with the Unification The term Weimar Republic ( ˈvaɪmarɐ repuˈbliːk is used by historians to signify the democratic and Republican period of Germany from 1919 to 1933 Nazi Germany and the Third Reich are the common English names for Germany under the regime of Adolf Hitler and the National Socialist German Workers Colonel General is a senior Military rank which is used in some of the world’s militaries The Oberkommando des Heeres (OKH was Germany 's Army High Command from 1936 to 1945 World War I (abbreviated WWI; also known as the First World War, the Great War, and the War to End All World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including Events 512 - A Solar eclipse is recorded by a monastic chronicler in Ireland. Year 1880 ( MDCCCLXXX) was a Leap year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year Events 356 BC - Herostratus sets fire to the Temple of Artemis in Ephesus, one of the Seven Wonders of the World Year 1944 ( MCMXLIV) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany ( ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant is a Country in Central Europe. The Oberkommando des Heeres (OKH was Germany 's Army High Command from 1936 to 1945 Nazism, which was a short name for National Socialism (Nationalsozialismus refers primarily to the Ideology and practices of the National Socialist German Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany ( ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant is a Country in Central Europe. World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including

He was also one of the leaders of failed 20 July plot against Hitler and was designated by fellow conspirators as future Reich President after elimination of Hitler. Hi and welcome to Wikipedia! Please understand that this article is frequently vandalized and vandalism is reverted immediately The Reichspräsident was the German Head of state during the period of the 1919-1934 Weimar Republic and the title was later briefly revived The plot, however, failed and Beck was forced to commit suicide.

Contents

Early life

Born in Biebrich in Hessen-Nassau, he was educated in the Prussian military tradition. Biebrich is a borough of the city Wiesbaden, Hesse, Germany, located in the Rhine-Main-Area near Frankfurt, opposite of Mombach The Province of Hesse-Nassau (Provinz Hessen-Nassau was a province of the Kingdom of Prussia from 1868-1918 then a province of the Free State of Prussia Prussia ( Latin: Borussia, Prutenia; Prūsija Prūsija Prusy Old Prussian: Prūsa) was most recently a historic state After serving on the Western Front in World War I, he was eventually promoted to the General Staff in 1933. World War I (abbreviated WWI; also known as the First World War, the Great War, and the War to End All Two years later, he replaced General Kurt von Hammerstein-Equord as Chief of Staff. Kurt Freiherr von Hammerstein-Equord ( September 26, 1878 &ndash April 25, 1943) was a German General who served for a The German General Staff ( Großer Generalstab literally Great General Staff) was an institution whose rise and development gave the German military a decided

In Nazi Germany

In September-October 1930, Beck was a leading witness for the defense at the trial in Ulm of two junior officers, Lieutenants Richard Scheringer and Hans Ludin, both of whom were charged with membership in the Nazi Party, which at that time was forbidden for members of the Reichswehr. Ulm (ˈʊlm is a City in the German Bundesland of Baden-Württemberg, situated on the River Danube. The, officially National Socialist German Workers' Party, ( abbreviated NSDAP) was a Political party in Germany between 1919 and 1945 The Reichswehr ( German for "National Defence" formed the military organisation of Germany from 1919 until 1935 when it was Both officers admitted to Nazi Party membership, and used as their defence the claim that the Nazi Party membership should not be forbidden to Reichswehr personnel. As a commanding officer of the 5th Artillery Regiment, which the two Nazi officers belonged to, Beck testified as to the good character of both officers, described the Nazi Party as a positive force in German life, and proclaimed his belief that the Reichswehr ban on Nazi Party membership in his opinion should be rescinded,[1]. During the course of the Ulm trial, Beck first met Adolf Hitler who also testified at the trial, and was very much favorably impressed. Hi and welcome to Wikipedia! Please understand that this article is frequently vandalized and vandalism is reverted immediately

In 1933, upon witnessing the Nazi Machtergreifung, Beck wrote "I have wished for years for the political revolution, and now my wishes have come true. It is the first ray of hope since 1918"[2]. In July 1934, Beck expressed some alarm at Nazi foreign policy involving Germany in a "premature war", after the failed Nazi putsch in Austria, leading Beck to warn that those in "leading positions" must understand that foreign adventures at this time might lead to Germany be forced to make a "humiliating retreat" that might in Beck's view, unfortunately end Nazi Germany[3]. In August 1934, when following the death of President Paul von Hindenburg, and Hitler's assumption of the roles of powers of the Presidency, most notably the position of Commander-in-Chief, Beck wrote that Hitler's move created "favorable conditions" for the Reichswehr[4]. Paul Ludwig Hans Anton von Beneckendorff und von Hindenburg ( known universally as Paul von Hindenburg ( ( October 2, 1847 &ndash August 2

Beck gained respect with the publication of his German Army tactical manual, Die Truppenführung, prepared during the period of 1931-33. Both Beck and General Werner von Fritsch commanded the 1st Cavalry Division, in Frankfurt an der Oder prior to assuming their command positions. Werner Freiherr (Baron von Fritsch ( 4 August 1880 &ndash 22 September 1939) was a prominent Wehrmacht officer member of the Frankfurt (Oder is a City in Brandenburg, Germany, located on the Oder River on the German- Polish border directly opposite the During his time first as Chief of the Truppenamt (1933-1935), and then as Chief of the General Staff (1935-1938), Beck encouraged the development of armored forces, through not the extent that advocates of Panzer warfare like Heinz Guderian wanted[5]. The Truppenamt or 'Troop Office' was the cover organisation for the German General Staff from 1919 through until 1933 when the General Staff was re-created Heinz Wilhelm Guderian ( 17 June, 1888 – 14 May, 1954) was a military theorist and innovative General of the German In Beck's conception of power politics, it was crucial to have German military power restored to its pre-1919 levels, and from the latter half of 1933, advocated a level of military spending beyond even those considered by Hitler[6]. In Beck's opinion, once Germany was sufficiently rearmed, the Reich should wage a series of wars that would establish Germany as Europe's foremost power, and place all of Central and Eastern Europe into the German sphere of influence[7].

Beck had no moral objection to the idea of war of aggression to eliminate Czechoslovakia as a state[8]. In 1935, he had a series of meetings with Prince Bernard von Bülow, the State Secretary of the German Foreign Office and the Chief of the Hungarian General Staff to discuss plans "for the division of Czechoslovakia"[9]. On November 12, 1937, Beck submitted a memorandum stating that "various facts" show the requirement "for an imminent solution by force" of the problem of Czechoslovakia and that it was desirable to start preparing "the political ground among those powers which stood on our side or who were not against us", and that the "military discussion in either the one one case or the other should begin at once"[10]. Events 764 - Tibetan troops occupy Chang'an, the capital of the Chinese Tang Dynasty, for fifteen days Year 1937 ( MCMXXXVII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar.

As Chief of the General Staff, Beck lived in a modest home in the Lichterfelde suburb of Berlin, and worked normally from 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM every day[11]. Berlin is the capital city and one of sixteen states of Germany. As General Staff Chief, Beck was widely respected for his intelligence and work ethic, but was often criticized by other officers for being too interested in administrative details[12]. In 1934, Beck wrote a lengthy covering letter to a long report on the British Army armor maneuvers as a way of encouraging interest in armored warfare[13]. In Beck's view of the General Staff's role, the War Minister served in a mere administrative function, and the Chief of the General Staff should have been able to advise the Reich leadership directly, views that led to conflicts with the War Minister, Field Marshal Werner von Blomberg, who resented Beck's efforts to dimmish his powers[14]. Werner Eduard Fritz von Blomberg (2 September 1878 - 14 March 1946 was a leading member of the German Army until January 1938 In 1936, Beck strongly supported Hitler during the remilitarization of the Rhineland against Blomberg, who feared the French reaction to such a move[15]. The Remilitarization of the Rhineland by the German Army took place on 7 March 1936 when German forces entered the Rhineland. The Rhineland ( Rheinland in German) is the general name for the land on both sides of the river Rhine in the west of Germany. By the end of 1937 and the beginning of 1938, Beck had come into increasing conflict with other officers over the place and importance of the General Staff in the German military hierarchy, in which Beck wished to all of the important decision-making into the arms of the General Staff[16].

Starting in the mid-1930s, Beck created his own intelligence network comprising German military attaches, which he used both to collect information, and to leak information[17]. Besides for military attaches, Beck also recruited civilians for his private intelligence network, of which the most notable volunteer was Carl Goerdeler[18]. Carl Friedrich Goerdeler ( July 31, 1884 &ndash February 2, 1945) was a conservative German Politician

In May 1937, Beck refused a order to draw up orders for executing Fall Otto (Case Otto), the German plan for an invasion of Austria under the grounds that such a move might cause a world war before Germany was ready for such a war[19]. Austria (Österreich ( officially the Republic of Austria (Republik Österreich During the Anschluss of February-March 1938, once Beck was convinced that no war would result from a move against Austria, he promotly swiftly drew up the orders for Fall Otto[20]. The ( German: "link-up" also known as the, was the 1938 Annexation of Austria into Greater Germany by the Nazi In Beck's conception of power politics, war was a necessary part of the restoring Germany to Great Power status provided that these wars were limited in scope and Germany possessed sufficient strength and had sufficiently strong allies[21].

During the Blomberg-Fritsch crisis of early 1938, Beck saw a chance to reassert the interests and power of the Army against what he regarded as the too-mighty power of the SS[22]. The ending of the crisis in favor of the SS left Beck somewhat disillusioned.

Conflict with Hitler

Beck resented Adolf Hitler for his efforts to curb the army's position of influence. Hi and welcome to Wikipedia! Please understand that this article is frequently vandalized and vandalism is reverted immediately Beck tried very early as Chief of the General Staff to deter Hitler from using grievances of mostly ethnic German Sudetenland region of Czechoslovakia as a excuse for war against the latter state in 1938. Sudetenland ( Czech and Polish: Sudety) is the German name used in English in the first half of the 20th century for the western regions of Czechoslovakia may also refer to what is now the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

Beck was in full agreement with Hitler's basic aim of waging a war of aggression to destroy Czechoslovakia, but felt that Germany needed more time to rearm before starting such a war[23]. In Beck's assessment, the earliest date Germany could risk a war was 1940, and any war started in 1938 would be a "premature war" that Germany would lose[24]. In the Hossbach Memorandum of 1937, Hitler had expressed his belief that the United Kingdom and France would not intervene in the event of German aggression against Austria and Czechoslovakia, a conviction strengthened by Anschluss earlier in the year, and they would not stand in his way if he should try again to enlarge the Reich. The Hossbach Memorandum was the summary of a meeting on November 5 1937 between German dictator Adolf Hitler and his military and foreign policy leadership The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. Austria (Österreich ( officially the Republic of Austria (Republik Österreich Czechoslovakia may also refer to what is now the Czech Republic and Slovakia. The ( German: "link-up" also known as the, was the 1938 Annexation of Austria into Greater Germany by the Nazi Beck, however, believed that the French would honor the terms of the Franco-Czechoslovak alliance of 1924, and that should France go to war with Germany, then Britain would almost certainly enter the war on the Allied side. Since Beck felt very strongly that the Wehrmacht would not be strong enough to win a war against the Allies and since he was extremely respected by his fellow officers, he tried to convince all to resign en masse to prevent Hitler from carrying out his plans. Wehrmacht (literally "defense force" was the name of the unified Armed forces of Germany from 1935 to 1945

While most of the generals felt the idea of starting a war in 1938 was highly risky, none of them would confront Hitler with a refusal to carry out orders, since the majority opinion was that Beck's arguments against war in 1938 were flawed[25]. From May 1938, Beck had bombarded Hitler, Wilhelm Keitel and Walther von Brauchitsch with memoranda opposing Fall Grün (Case Green), the plan for a war with Czechoslovakia[26]. Wilhelm Bodewin Johann Gustav Keitel (22 September 1882–16 October 1946 was a German Field marshal ( Generalfeldmarschall) Heinrich Alfred Hermann Walther von Brauchitsch ( 4 October 1881 &ndash 18 October 1948) was an aristocratic German field Czechoslovakia may also refer to what is now the Czech Republic and Slovakia. In the first of his memos on May 5, 1938 Beck argued the Sino-Japanese War meant that Japan would be unable to come to Germany's aid, that the French Army was the best fighting force in Europe, and Britain was bound to intervene on the side of France should Germany attack Czechoslovakia[27]. Events 553 - The Second Council of Constantinople begins 1215 - Rebel Barons renounce their allegiance to King John Year 1938 ( MCMXXXVIII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The Second Sino-Japanese War ( July 7, 1937 to September 9, 1945) was a major war fought between the Republic of China and the For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Japan topics. In his May memo, Beck argued that Hitler's assumptions about France made in the Hossbach Memorandum of 1937 were mistaken, and stated his belief that France "wishes for peace or, perhaps more accurately, abhors a new war", but that "in case of a real threat, or what is perceived by the people to be foreign policy pressure, the French nation comes together as if one"[28]. This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. The Hossbach Memorandum was the summary of a meeting on November 5 1937 between German dictator Adolf Hitler and his military and foreign policy leadership In the same memo, Beck stated that Hitler was wrong about France being on the verge of civil war, and that in the event of a German threat to Czechoslovakia, the French would see such a threat as "a question of honor. . . for which a strong government will have no difficulty pulling itself together"[29]. Beck stated his belief that "The French army is and remains intact and is at the moment the strongest in Europe"[30]. Beck ended his memo with the comments that: "The military-economic situation of Germany is bad, worse than in 1917-1918. In its current military, military-political and military-economic condition, Germany cannot expose itself to the risk of a long war"[31]. The May Crisis of May 21-22, 1938 further convinced Beck of the dangers of going to war in 1938, and led to a increase in his efforts to stop a war that Beck felt that Germany could not win[32]. In November 1938, Beck informed a friend that from the time of the May Crisis, the only consideration in his mind was "How can I prevent a war?"[33].

On May 22, 1938 Hitler stated through he had deep respect for Beck for his pro-Nazi testimony at the Ulm trial of 1930, his views were too much that of the Reichswehr general, and not enough of a Wehrmacht general[34]. Events 334 BC - The Greek army of Alexander the Great defeats Darius III of Persia in the Battle of the Granicus. Year 1938 ( MCMXXXVIII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Hitler commented that Beck was "one of the officers still imprisoned in the idea of the hundred-thousand-man army"[35]. On May 28, 1938 Beck had meeting with Hitler, the Foreign Minister Joachim von Ribbentrop, Admiral Erich Raeder, Hermann Göring, Wilhelm Keitel, and Walther von Brauchitsch, during which Hitler restated the views he first expressed in the Hossbach Memorandum[36]. Events 585 BC - A Solar eclipse occurs as predicted by Greek philosopher and scientist Thales, while Alyattes is battling Year 1938 ( MCMXXXVIII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Ulrich Friedrich Wilhelm Joachim von Ribbentrop (30 April 1893 – 16 October 1946 was Foreign Minister of Germany from 1938 until 1945 Erich Johann Albert Raeder ( April 24, 1876 – November 6, 1960) was a naval leader in Germany before and during Hermann Wilhelm Göring (also spelled Goering) (12 January 1893 15 October 1946 was a German Politician, Military leader and a leading member Wilhelm Bodewin Johann Gustav Keitel (22 September 1882–16 October 1946 was a German Field marshal ( Generalfeldmarschall) Heinrich Alfred Hermann Walther von Brauchitsch ( 4 October 1881 &ndash 18 October 1948) was an aristocratic German field The Hossbach Memorandum was the summary of a meeting on November 5 1937 between German dictator Adolf Hitler and his military and foreign policy leadership In response, Beck drafted another memo on May 29, in which Beck presented a case that the Czechoslovak Army was not as Hitler argued a weak force, and a limited regional war in Central Europe was a not a realistic possibility[37]. In the same memo of May 29, Beck proclaimed his agreement with Hitler's views about the necessity of acquiring Lebensraum in Eastern Europe, called the existence of Czechoslovakia "intolerable", and concluded that "a way must be found to eliminate it [Czechoslovakia] as a threat to Germany, even, if necessary, by war"[38]. ( German for " habitat " or literally "living space" served as a major motivation for Nazi Germany 's territorial aggression Eastern Europe is a general term that refers to the Geopolitical region encompassing the easternmost part of the European continent. However, Beck argued that Germany was not strong enough to fight the general war that would resulted from an attack on Czechoslovakia in 1938, and urged Hitler to avoid a "premature war"[39]. In particular, Beck argued that "It is not accurate to judge Germany today as stronger in 1914", and presented a detailed military case that more time was needed before the Wehrmacht would be strong as the Army of 1914[40]. Furthermore, Beck contended that he could not "accept these estimates of the military power of France and England. . . Germany, whether alone or in alliance with Italy, is not in a position militarily to match England or France"[41].

At first, Beck felt that Hitler's rush to war in 1938 was not caused by the Führer's personality, but was rather caused by Hitler receiving poor military advice, especially from Keitel, and spent much of time urging a reorganization of the command structure, so that Hitler would receive his advice from the General Staff, and presumably abandon his plans for aggression[42]. In one of memos opposing war in 1938, Beck commented: "Once again, the comments of the Führer demonstrate the complete inadequancy of the current top military advisory hierarchy. What is needed is continual, competent advising of the commander in chief of the Wehrmacht on questions of war leadership and above all on weapons of war, with clear delineation of resonsibilities. If steps are not taken soon to produce a change in conditions, which have grown intolerable; if the current anarchy becomes a permanent condition; then the future destiny of the Wehrmacht in peace and war, indeed the destiny of Germany in a future war, must be painted in the blackest of colors"[43]. Only in June 1938 did Beck realize that it was Hitler who was behind the drive for war, and in a memo to Brauchitsch urged that all of the senior officers threaten a mass collective resignation to force Hitler to abandon his plans for Fall Grün in 1938[44]. Beck ended his appeal to Brauchitsch: "New at stake are final decisions regarding the fate of the nation. History will burden those leaders with blood guilt if they do not act according to their professional and statesmanely principles and knowledge. Their soldierly loyalty must end at the boundary where their knowledge, conscience, and sense of responsibility forbid the execution of an order. In case their advice and warnings fall on deaf ears in such circumstances, then they have the right and the duty, before the people and history, to resign their offices. If they all act together, then it will be impossible to carry out military action. They will thereby saved the Fatherland from the worst, from total ruin. If a soldier in a position of highest authority in such times see his duties and tasks only within the limits of his military responsibilities, without consciousness of his higher responsibility to the whole people, then he shows a lack of greatness, a lack of comprehension of responsibility. Extraordinary times demand extraordinary actions!"[45]. Beck's campaign for a mass resignation was not aimed at the overthrow of Hitler, but was rather intended to persuade Hitler to abandon his plans for war in 1938, and to purge certain "radical" elements from the Nazi Party, who Beck believed to have a negative influence on Hitler[46]. Together with the Abwehr chief Admiral Wilhelm Canaris and the German Foreign Office's State Secretary Baron Ernst von Weizsäcker, Beck was a leader of the "anti-war" group in the German government, who were determined to avoid a war in 1938 that they felt Germany would lose, but were not necessarily committed to the overthrow of the regime, and were loosely allied to another more radical "anti-Nazi" group centered around Colonel Hans Oster and Hans Bernd Gisevius, who wanted to use the crisis as a excuse for executing a putsch to overthrow the Nazi regime[47]. The Abwehr was a German intelligence organization from 1921 to 1944 Wilhelm Franz Canaris ( January 1, 1887 &ndash April 9, 1945) was a German Admiral and head of the Abwehr Ernst Freiherr von Weizsäcker ( 25 May 1882 &ndash 4 August 1951) was a German Diplomat and convicted War criminal Hans Oster ( August 9, 1887 &ndash April 9, 1945) was deputy head of the Abwehr, under Wilhelm Canaris, and a dedicated Hans Bernd Gisevius ( July 14, 1904 &ndash February 23, 1974) was a German Diplomat and intelligence officer during The divergent aims between the two fractions produced considerable tensions[48].

In a June 1938 Generalstabsreise (General Staff study), Beck concluded Germany could defeat Czechoslovakia, but to do so would leave western Germany empty of troops, thus potentially allowing the French to seize the Rhineland with little difficulty[49]. The Rhineland ( Rheinland in German) is the general name for the land on both sides of the river Rhine in the west of Germany. Beck maintained that Czechoslovak defences were very formidable, that Prague could mobilize at least 38 divisions, and that at least 30 German divisions would needed to break through, requiring at a minmum a three week-long campaign[50]. Beck concluded that Hitler's assumptions about a limited war in 1938 were mistaken, and that he felt "as fateful the military action against Czechoslovakia planned on the basis of these military premises and must explicitly disavow any responsibility of the general staff of the Army for such action"[51]. In July 1938, upon being shown Beck's May 5, 1938 memo opposing Fall Grün by von Brauchitsch, Hitler called Beck's arguments "kindische Kräfteberechnugen" ("childish calculations")[52]. Events 553 - The Second Council of Constantinople begins 1215 - Rebel Barons renounce their allegiance to King John Year 1938 ( MCMXXXVIII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. In another memo of July 1938, Beck contended a war with Czechoslovakia, France and Britain could only end in Germany's defeat, and urged Hitler to postpond his plans for aggression until such a time as Germany was strong enough for such a war[53]. In late July 1938, Erich von Manstein a leading protégé of Beck's wrote to his mentor urging him to stay at his post, and place his faith in Hitler[54]. Erich von Manstein ( November 24, 1887 &ndash June 9 1973) served the German military as a lifelong professional soldier At the beginning of August 1938, Beck wrote a speech for Brauchitsch to read before Hitler stating the Army's opposition to the "premature war" likely to be triggered by Fall Grün, which however Brauchitsch chose not to deliver[55]. In August 1938, Beck suggested to GeneralWalther von Brauchitsch that a "house-cleaning" of the Nazi regime was necessary, under which the influence of the SS be reduced, but Hitler would continue as dictator[56]. Heinrich Alfred Hermann Walther von Brauchitsch ( 4 October 1881 &ndash 18 October 1948) was an aristocratic German field The ( German for "Protective Squadron" abbreviated SS - or ( Runic)- was a major Nazi organization under Adolf Hitler and the At a summit on August 10, 1938 between Hitler and the leading generals of the Reich, Hitler spent much of time attacking Beck's arguments against Fall Grün, and won the majority of the generals over[57]. Events 612 BC - Killing of Sinsharishkun, King of Assyrian Empire Year 1938 ( MCMXXXVIII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Colonel General Beck resigned alone on August 18, 1938 and left office on August 27th to be replaced as the head of the General Staff by General Franz Halder[58]. Events 293 BC - The oldest known Roman temple to Venus is founded starting the institution of Vinalia Rustica. Year 1938 ( MCMXXXVIII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Franz Ritter Halder ( June 30 1884 &ndash April 2 1972) was a German General and the head of the Army General At Hitler's request, Beck kept his resignation secret, and thus nullified the protest value of his resignation[59]. Hitler promised Beck that if he kept his resignation secret, he would be rewarded with a major field command, and Beck was much disillusioned when he was instead put on the retired list[60]. Beck ceased to have any meaningful influence in German military affairs. Since Beck had no more influence, he increasingly came to relay upon contacts with the British out of the hope that London excise the influence that he failed to excise on Hitler through threats and warnings[61].

His opposition to Hitler brought him in contact with a small number of senior officers intent on deposing the dictator. Some of them, including Carl Goerdeler and Ulrich von Hassell, would take part in the July 20 Plot in 1944. Carl Friedrich Goerdeler ( July 31, 1884 &ndash February 2, 1945) was a conservative German Politician Ulrich von Hassell ( 12 November 1881 &ndash 8 September 1944) was a German Diplomat during World War II.

Beck and his conspirators knew that Germany faced certain and rapid defeat if the French and British alliance came to the Czechs' aid in 1938. Legal residents and citizens To be French according to the first article of the Constitution is to be a citizen of France regardless of one's origin race or religion ( The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located Czechoslovakia may also refer to what is now the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Accordingly, they contacted the British Foreign Office, informed Britain of their plot, and asked for a firm British warning to deter Hitler from attacking Czechoslovakia. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office, commonly called the Foreign Office or the FCO, is the British government department responsible for promoting In September 1938, British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain, French President Edouard Daladier and Italian dictator Benito Mussolini signed the Munich Agreement, compelling Czechoslovakia to give up the Sudetenland, which put a end to the crisis, and hence Beck's efforts at a putsch. Arthur Neville Chamberlain (18 March 1869 &ndash 9 November 1940 was a British Conservative Politician and Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Édouard Daladier (18 June 1884 - 10 October 1970 was a French Radical politician and Prime Minister of France at the start of the Second World The Munich Agreement (Mnichovská dohoda Mníchovská dohoda Münchner Abkommen Accords de Munich was an agreement regarding the Sudetenland, which were areas along borders Sudetenland ( Czech and Polish: Sudety) is the German name used in English in the first half of the 20th century for the western regions of

In the fall of 1939, Beck was in contact with certain Germany Army officers such General Halder, Dr. Hjalmar Schacht, Carl Goerdeler, Admiral Wilhelm Canaris, and Colonel Hans Oster about the possilities of staging a putsch to overthrow the Nazi regime[62]. Dr Hjalmar Horace Greeley Schacht (22 January 1877 – 3 June 1970 was the Currency Commissioner and President of the Reichsbank under the Weimar Republic, and President Carl Friedrich Goerdeler ( July 31, 1884 &ndash February 2, 1945) was a conservative German Politician Wilhelm Franz Canaris ( January 1, 1887 &ndash April 9, 1945) was a German Admiral and head of the Abwehr Hans Oster ( August 9, 1887 &ndash April 9, 1945) was deputy head of the Abwehr, under Wilhelm Canaris, and a dedicated In the event of the putsch being successful, Germany was to be governed by a triumvirate of Beck, Goerdeler and Schacht who would negotiate a peace with Britain and France that would allow Germany to keep most of the Nazi conquests such as Austria, all of western Poland and the Reich Protectorate of Bohemia-Moravia made up until that time[63]. Austria (Österreich ( officially the Republic of Austria (Republik Österreich Poland (Polska officially the Republic of Poland The Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia (Reichsprotektorat Böhmen und Mähren Protektorát Čechy a Morava was the majority ethnic-Czech Protectorate which

July 20 Plot

In 1943, Beck planned two abortive attempts to kill Hitler by means of a bomb. In 1944 he was one of the driving forces of the July 20 Plot with Carl Goerdeler and Colonel Claus Schenk Graf von Stauffenberg. Carl Friedrich Goerdeler ( July 31, 1884 &ndash February 2, 1945) was a conservative German Politician Claus Philipp Maria Schenk Graf von Stauffenberg ( 15 November 1907 &ndash 21 July 1944) was a German army officer It was proposed that Beck would become the head of the provisional government that would assume power in Germany after Hitler had been eliminated. The plot failed, however, and by the next morning Beck was under the custody of General Friedrich Fromm, and ordered to commit suicide. Friedrich Fromm ( October 8 1888 &ndash March 12 1945) was a German army officer remembered for his betrayal of conspirators In severe distress, Beck succeeded only in wounding himself, and a sergeant was brought in to execute him.

Endnotes

  1. ^ Wheeler-Bennett, John The Nemesis of Power The German Army In Politics, Macmillan, London, 1964, 1967, page 217
  2. ^ May, Ernst Strange Victory, Hill & Wang, New York, 2000 page 33.
  3. ^ May, Ernst Strange Victory, Hill & Wang, New York, 2000 page 35.
  4. ^ May, Ernst Strange Victory, Hill & Wang, New York, 2000 page 34.
  5. ^ Murray, Wiliamson The Change in the European Balance of Power, Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1984 pages 33-34.
  6. ^ Müller, Klaus-Jürgen "The Structure and Nature of the National Conservative Opposition in Germany up to 1940" pages 133-178 from Aspects of the Third Reich edited by H. W. Koch, Macmillan: London, United Kingdom page 158.
  7. ^ Müller, Klaus-Jürgen "The Structure and Nature of the National Conservative Opposition in Germany up to 1940" pages 133-178 from Aspects of the Third Reich edited by H. W. Koch, Macmillan: London, United Kingdom pages 158-159.
  8. ^ Müller, Klaus-Jürgen "The Structure and Nature of the National Conservative Opposition in Germany up to 1940" pages 133-178 from Aspects of the Third Reich edited by H. W. Koch, Macmillan: London, United Kingdom page 158.
  9. ^ Müller, Klaus-Jürgen "The Structure and Nature of the National Conservative Opposition in Germany up to 1940" pages 133-178 from Aspects of the Third Reich edited by H. W. Koch, Macmillan: London, United Kingdom page 159.
  10. ^ Müller, Klaus-Jürgen "The Structure and Nature of the National Conservative Opposition in Germany up to 1940" pages 133-178 from Aspects of the Third Reich edited by H. W. Koch, Macmillan: London, United Kingdom page 159.
  11. ^ May, Ernst Strange Victory, Hill & Wang, New York, 2000 page 34.
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  13. ^ Murray, Wiliamson The Change in the European Balance of Power, Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1984 pages 35.
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  15. ^ May, Ernst Strange Victory, Hill & Wang, New York, 2000 page 37.
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  25. ^ Müller, Klaus-Jürgen "The Structure and Nature of the National Conservative Opposition in Germany up to 1940" pages 133-178 from Aspects of the Third Reich edited by H. W. Koch, Macmillan: London, United Kingdom page 164.
  26. ^ Murray, Wiliamson The Change in the European Balance of Power, Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1984 pages 182-183
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  29. ^ May, Ernst Strange Victory, Hill & Wang, New York, 2000 page 68.
  30. ^ May, Ernst Strange Victory, Hill & Wang, New York, 2000 page 68.
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  34. ^ Murray, Wiliamson The Change in the European Balance of Power, Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1984 page 182
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  49. ^ Murray, Wiliamson The Change in the European Balance of Power, Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1984 page 178
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  51. ^ May, Ernst Strange Victory, Hill & Wang, New York, 2000 pages 71-72.
  52. ^ Murray, Wiliamson The Change in the European Balance of Power, Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1984 page 183.
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References

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