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TREASON: Claus von Stauffenberg and the plot to kill Hitler

Brian Walters
TREASON: Claus von Stauffenberg and the plot to kill Hitler
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  • Vengeance
    Send us a textOnce the coup collapsed, the Nazis outdid themselves in their fury. It remained to be seen who would be caught in their net.Some conspirators committed suicide. Some managed to escape.Thousands were rounded up. The Gestapo tortured their victims, placed them on show trials, and hanged them.At their trials before the Nazi ‘People’s Court’, with nothing left to lose, the July plotters proved remarkably difficult to cow.Relatives of conspirators were also arrested and imprisoned.Nina von Stauffenberg was held separately from her children who were placed in an orphanage. In January 1945, in solitary confinement, she gave birth to her fifth child.As Germany unravelled, the mechanism of revenge took over.Finally, his ambitions in ruins and having caused the deaths of millions, Hitler committed suicide, and the Reich surrendered.The war over, Nina was reunited with her children.The July plotters’ attempts to replace Hitler and end the war failed, but their example of moral courage leaves a legacy for future generations. Written and narrated by Brian WaltersOriginal music, editing and sound design by the amazing Sam LoyArtwork by Mike Vernon.Episode TranscriptA full transcript of the episode is available here.Read the book TREASONYou can read more about Claus von Stauffenberg and the German resistance to Hitler, in the book Treason by Brian Walters.For those with iPads, Treason is available as an interactive Apple Book here.The hard copy can be bought here.If you live out of Australia, the hard copy is best purchased from Blurb.There is also a Kindle version.ResourcesFor a list of the creative commons music and sound effects used in this episode, head here.Finally …If you liked the episode, please share it: the episode link is here.And you can help us by writing a brief review and giving us a (five star!) rating.By all means contact me, Brian Walters, by email on [email protected] TREASON: Claus von Stauffenberg and the plot to kill Hitler
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  • The Dead of Night
    Send us a textOnce the coup collapsed, Fromm hesitated, then returned to his office, where Stauffenberg, Beck, Olbricht, Mertz and Hoepner were held under guard.Beck tried to shoot himself. He only succeeded in badly wounding himself, and was later finished off.Hoepner asked to be sent for a trial, and Fromm agreed.By now the forces suppressing the coup were approaching. Knowing of the coup preparations, Fromm had done nothing to suppress it. These prisoners might implicate him in treason.He ordered them shot by firing squad. After midnight, a squad assembled. The officers were led out to the courtyard. Before he died, Claus von Stauffenberg called out ‘Long live sacred Germany!’. His aide, Werner von Haeften leaped in front of the volley intended for him, and Claus was shot on the second attempt.Several other conspirators were held in the Bendlerblock. The leaders of the SS and Gestapo arrived soon after the executions, outraged that key witnesses had been disposed of.In the small hours, they forced the remaining prisoners to listen to the broadcast Hitler now made.Across the German Reich, surviving conspirators knew that the Gestapo would come. Some fled, some went into hiding, some gave themselves up, some committed suicide.Nina von Stauffenberg broke the news to her children. Then the Nazis arrived and she and the children were separated and hustled away. Written and narrated by Brian WaltersOriginal music, editing and sound design by the amazing Sam LoyArtwork by Mike Vernon.Episode TranscriptA full transcript of the episode is available here.Read the book TREASONYou can read more about Claus von Stauffenberg and the German resistance to Hitler, in the book Treason by Brian Walters.For those with iPads, Treason is available as an interactive Apple Book here.The hard copy can be bought here.If you live out of Australia, the hard copy is best purchased from Blurb.There is also a Kindle version.ResourcesFor a list of the creative commons music and sound effects used in this episode, head here.Finally …If you liked the episode, please share it: the episode link is here.And you can help us by writing a brief review and giving us a (five star!) rating.By all means contact me, Brian Walters, by email on [email protected]: Claus von Stauffenberg and the plot to kill Hitler
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  • Insurrection
    Send us a textAt about 4 in the afternoon of 20 July 1944, Claus von Stauffenberg arrived back in Berlin. He expected the insurrection to be in full swing, and was shocked to learn nothing had been done. He swung into action, and the first Valkyrie orders went out.Colonel General Fromm was unwilling to commit himself to the coup while Hitler’s survival remained uncertain. Incensed when he learned Valkyrie orders had been issued without his knowledge, he ordered the arrest of the officer responsible. Instead, the conspirators arrested him.Now the Valkyrie orders went out across the Reich, and troops moved into position to take control.In Paris, all the key Nazis were arrested, and the capital was in the conspirators’ hands. In Vienna, Nazi leaders were confined in separate rooms in a hotel. The conspirators had control there.In Berlin, Major Remer was ordered to secure the administrative district with a guard regiment, and had done this by early evening.The Nazi hierarchy was hours away in East Prussia, and still did not appreciate their danger.Remer entered the Propaganda Ministry, with orders to arrest Goebbels – the most senior Nazi in Berlin. Goebbels picked up the telephone and connected Remer to Hitler. Remer was a committed Nazi, and shocked to learn that the Führer was alive. Hitler now gave him full authority to put down the coup.From this point, the tide began to recede for the conspirators. Written and narrated by Brian WaltersOriginal music, editing and sound design by the amazing Sam LoyArtwork by Mike Vernon.Episode TranscriptA full transcript of the episode is available here.Read the book TREASONYou can read more about Claus von Stauffenberg and the German resistance to Hitler, in the book Treason by Brian Walters.For those with iPads, Treason is available as an interactive Apple Book here.The hard copy can be bought here.If you live out of Australia, the hard copy is best purchased from Blurb.There is also a Kindle version.ResourcesFor a list of the creative commons music and sound effects used in this episode, head here.Finally …If you liked the episode, please share it: the episode link is here.And you can help us by writing a brief review and giving us a (five star!) rating.By all means contact me, Brian Walters, by email on [email protected] TREASON: Claus von Stauffenberg and the plot to kill Hitler
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  • The Bomb
    Send us a textClaus von Stauffenberg took his briefcase bomb to three conferences with Hitler. On 11 July 1944 he attended a conference in the Berghof, in the Bavarian alps, but generals in the conspiracy ordered him not to go ahead if Himmler was not present. On 15 July he took the bomb to the Wolf’s Lair in East Prussia (see episode cover photograph). In a long telephone call the generals were again reluctant to have the bomb detonated with Himmler absent. Claus decided to go ahead anyway – but the telephone call with the generals had taken so long that the conference was over.On 20 July 1944 Stauffenberg flew to the Wolf’s Lair again. Shown to a sitting room to change his shirt, Claus set about arming the bomb – a delicate task. When he had set fuses in the first lump of plastic explosive, he was interrupted by a badly timed telephone call. He was unable to arm the second lump of explosive.He took the briefcase into the conference. He placed the bomb close to Hitler, and quietly asked to make a call outside. He strode from the briefing hut.At 12.41 an explosion sent a sheet of flame into the air. Several people were killed. Claus saw a body carried out covered in Hitler’s personal cloak.He was able to bluff his way out of the Wolf’s Lair and fly back to Berlin.In Berlin, information was confused. Unsure whether Hitler was dead, the officers dithered.Meanwhile, after initial confusion, the Nazis’ suspicion hardened around Stauffenberg. They ordered his plane shot down. Written and narrated by Brian WaltersOriginal music, editing and sound design by the amazing Sam LoyArtwork by Mike Vernon.Episode TranscriptA full transcript of the episode is available here.Read the book TREASONYou can read more about Claus von Stauffenberg and the German resistance to Hitler, in the book Treasonby Brian Walters.For those with iPads, Treason is available as an interactive Apple Book here.The hard copy can be bought here.If you live out of Australia, the hard copy is best purchased from Blurb.There is also a Kindle version.ResourcesFor a list of the creative commons music and sound effects used in this episode, head here.Finally …If you liked the episode, please share it: the episode link is here.And you can help us by writing a brief review and giving us a (five star!) rating.By all means contact me, Brian Walters, by email on [email protected] TREASON: Claus von Stauffenberg and the plot to kill Hitler
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  • Operation Valkyrie
    Send us a textWith over a million slave workers in Germany, the Nazis feared an uprising. They prepared a plan for the Army to handle any such revolt. Echoing Wagner’s Ring, they called it ‘Operation Valkyrie’. The orders provided an ideal framework for a coup.In 1943, Claus von Stauffenberg was initiated into this plan. He modified the orders to facilitate a takeover.He was married, with four children. He felt he could not be a father while turning his back on the moral destruction of his country.He made contact with all the different groups – police, politicians of all stripes, diplomats, intellectuals, officers, clergymen and more – welding them into a formidable force.When Hitler agreed to inspect new army uniforms, Stauffenberg searched for an officer prepared to blow himself up with the Führer during the inspection. Major Axel von dem Bussche agreed to do it. But when Allied bombs destroyed the uniforms to be modelled, Bussche was transferred back to the front. The inspection was rescheduled, and Lieutenant Ewald-Heinrich von Kleist-Schmenzin agreed to make the attempt. Hitler repeatedly postponed the inspection. In March 1944, Captain Eberhard von Breitenbuch accompanied Field Marshal Busch to the Berghof for a conference with Hitler. Breitenbuch secreted a pistol in his uniform, intending to shoot Hitler. Inexplicably, he was denied entry.In June 1944, Stauffenberg was appointed chief of staff of the Home Army – comprising all the troops in Germany. His commander, Colonel General Friedrich Fromm, had responsibility for issuing the Valkyrie orders, but as chief of staff, Stauffenberg could issue the orders in his name.On 7 June 1944, the day after D Day, Stauffenberg went to the Berghof to meet Hitler for the first time.On 9 July, Hitler inspected the new uniforms. General Stieff agreed to blow up Hitler – but nothing happened.Stauffenberg realised he was best placed to  kill Hitler himself. Written and narrated by Brian WaltersOriginal music, editing and sound design by the amazing Sam LoyEpisode TranscriptA full transcript of the episode is available here.Read the book TREASONYou can read more about Claus von Stauffenberg and the German resistance to Hitler, in the book Treason by Brian Walters.For those with iPads, Treason is available as an interactive Apple Book here.The hard copy can be bought here.If you live out of Australia, the hard copy is best purchased from Blurb.There is also a Kindle version.ResourcesFor a list of the creative commons music and sound effects in this episode, head here.Finally …If you liked the episode, please share it: the link is here.You can help us by writing a brief review and giving us a (five star!) rating.By all means contact me, Brian Walters, by email on [email protected]: Claus von Stauffenberg and the plot to kill Hitler
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About TREASON: Claus von Stauffenberg and the plot to kill Hitler

In ten episodes, Treason tells the remarkable and true story of Claus von Stauffenberg and the plot to assassinate Hitler. In July 1944, Claus von Stauffenberg was 36 years old. He was a brilliant staff officer, regarded by many, including Hitler, as the most brilliant in the German Army. He was a decorated war hero. He had been badly wounded in North Africa, losing his right hand, two fingers of his left hand, and his left eye: he could have sat out the war on a pension. He was married with four children, and his wife was pregnant with their fifth. He had everything to live for – and yet he was prepared to risk all that to try and rid the world of Adolf Hitler and the Nazis.The gripping narrative follows Claus von Stauffenberg as the Nazis rise to unleash the Second World War across Europe, Claus's increasing disillusionment with the regime, and the process of building an insurrection against Hitler.We will hear about the many attempts on Hitler's life, and the courage and character of those in the German resistance who were prepared to act.
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