UC Santa Barbara > History Department > Prof. Marcuse > Courses > Hist 133B Homepage > 133B Book Essays Index page > Student essay
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Hitler's Lucky Escapes From Assassination Book Essay
on: Roger Moorhouse, Killing Hitler: The Plots, the Assassins,
and the Dictator Who Cheated Death
by Sharon Haber for Prof. Marcuse's lecture course |
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& Abstract |
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About Sharon Haber I am a senior political science major, minor in history. I have always had an interest in World War II Europe and the Holocaust. I have traveled to many parts of Europe and intend to continue my travels to Germany and Poland after college to further explore historical sites that have made their marks in history. I chose to write about Moorhouse's book because there didn't seem to be any other books that examined only the assassination attempts that came closest to taking Hitler's life while he was chancellor. I have read books about and seen documentaries on what others did to oppose Hitler, but not only about the would-be assassins. Abstract (back to top) When Hitler was made Chancellor of Germany in 1933, many people within Europe and Germany did not oppose it. However, there were some who strongly rejected what Hitler stood for and made an attempt to take him out of power, by assassination. Moorhouse uses this novel to point out those brave people who took the risk of assassinating Hitler during his time in power along with how close Hitler came each time to losing his life. Those who attempted to kill Hitler were from all over Europe. Each holding a firm belief that Hitler was to be taken out of power by any means. Those who tried ranged from a young Swiss missionary student, the Polish underground, and even high-ranking members of the German military among others. From these stories I concluded that Hitler eluded these attempts not because of high quality security measures, but of sheer luck. With how close Hitler came to being attacked so many times from 1933 until not long before his death (by his own hand) in 1945, it must come down to luck and the combination of events creating this luck that kept him alive. |
Essay (back to top)
Before the Second World War had even officially started, Hitler was not exactly well liked within Germany. In fact, many people wanted Hitler to be kicked out of power and some made this opinion obvious. Hitler was very lax with his security measures while he was Führer, opening himself to numerous assassination attempts. This then begs the question if Hitler was incapable of protecting himself properly, or was just plain lucky. I conclude that luck played a greater role than any other explanation. Yet, with each attempt, Hitler and his circle would find ways to twist the truth in order to gather support for Hitler and feed the paranoia that would follow foreign government assassination attempts on the German Führer. Roger Moorhouse’s book Killing Hitler describes some of the various attempts on Hitler’s life after he became chancellor along with making a clear point to recognize those people brave enough to make the assassination attempts. Moorhouse includes some history behind certain measures taken to protect the Führer, and many that had not been taken before each plot was attempted. Moorhouse begins the book after Hitler becomes chancellor. Hitler’s new status as chancellor of Germany had surprised many around him. “It caused his opponents, passive and active alike, to sit up and take notice of him, and to consider what action might be taken in response.” (Moorhouse, 15). This was taken both positively and negatively for Hitler. He became obsessed with his own mortality and, politically speaking, quickened his pace believing he had very little time. In addition to this, there had already been a tradition of assassination plots on the chancellors of Germany for years. Eighteenth century chancellor Otto von Bismarck had escaped two such attempts (Moorhouse, 15). Security measures for Hitler’s safety as chancellor was set up with differing groups in charge of separate securities. The SS guards were Hitler’s personal bodyguards, the RSD handled police and security measures. Hitler also had a fleet of Mercedes cars he would travel with, including a personal train, and personal plane where only one pilot, Hans Baur, who supervised the creation of a “flying group,” was allowed to fly (Moorhouse, 31). “For all his attention to security details, Hitler was fundamentally unconvinced that his bodyguards would actually serve any practical purpose. His belief in ‘fate’ and ‘destiny’ caused him to ascribe his continued survival ‘not to police, but to pure chance’” (Moorhouse, 22). Hitler inevitably saw his guards as a show and not truly there to protect him. The book goes on to describe that even within Hitler’s inner circle, there was apparent laxity. Few RSD members were initial Nazi Party supporters. Hitler’s cook, Marlene von Exner, was hired only because of the personal recommendation from Romanian dictator Marshall Antonescu and did not undergo any vetting procedure (Moorhouse, 33). Von Exner, who as Hitler’s cook, Moorhouse points out, would have been easily able to poison Hitler’s food, was only dismissed after it was discovered that she had a Jewish grandmother. In addition to this, those close to Hitler noted the lack of security checks when having meetings with him, and Moorhouse notes that the Leibstandarte (Hitler’s personal security detail) were “given no special training in their task” (Moorhouse, 33). It seems that from the beginning, Hitler had low standards towards security and relied more heavily on fate and trust in the German people. Hitler knew that there were people within Germany who opposed the Nazi party, but could not gather enough that were original supporters to personally protect him. Thus, he may have had to accept the next best option, which would to be hiring bodyguards and having them, along with the rest of the German military, swear an oath of allegiance to Hitler personally instead of to the country and its people. The first assassination attempt described is that of Maurice Bavaud. Bavaud was a Catholic missionary from Switzerland, who after meeting a man named Mercel Gerbohay in the missionary school, would be persuaded to travel to Germany to kill Hitler in 1938. The young man would end up in Munich where he tried to gain entry into Hitler’s Brown House. Bavaud’s intention was to shoot Hitler with a pistol at close range. But, with the failed attempted to get into the House, and his travels around Germany to find other opportunities to assassinate Hitler, Bavaud ran out of money and soon was caught stealing onto a Paris-bound train with his gun, and a map of Munich; later a map of Berchtesgaden was found as well. Bavaud was interrogated by the Gestapo and eventually told the authorities that Gerbohay was also involved in the plot. Both men were guillotined. It is not exactly clear whether the security changes to Hitler’s safety were made as a direct result of Bavaud, but there were revamped security arrangements in 1939, “with double sentries and an alarm system. Arrangements for Hitler’s tours were also tightened, with a sentry of Leibstandarte men to be posted outside the Führer’s chosen residence, and an anti-aircraft battery added to his train.” (Moorhouse, 46). A known direct result of Bavaud, Moorhouse writes that from 1939, the rules regarding foreign nationals wishing to participate at party events were tightened. (Moorhouse, 46). Second was “the annual commemorative parade in Munich was scrapped after 1938. The ‘Swiss sniper’ had evidently convinced Hitler that it was too risky to concentrate the Reich leadership in one narrow street for such a widely publicized event” (Moorhouse, 47). A German man named George Elser in 1939 made the next assassination attempt. Elser is described as not interested in politics, but had a strong opposition to the Nazi Party. “He also believed that the Communist Party could deliver improved wages and conditions for workers and craftsmen such as himself” (Moorhouse, 59). This attempt would be a big indicator to Hitler that he had escaped the attempt on his life by sheer luck. After careful consideration, Elser decided that he would kill Hitler by using a timed bomb. In order for this to work, Hitler would have to be at a specific place and time. Elser thought that the perfect place would be Bürgerbräukeller, where Hitler commemorated the Beer Hall Putsch of 1923 every year. Elser also decided that he would locate the bomb behind the dais and lecturn where there was a thick stone pillar supporting an upper gallery that ran the length of the hall (Moorhouse, 61). He would go to the pillar every night to build a place to hide the bomb. After several months of planning and building the bomb, Elser set the bomb to explode at 9:20 p.m. on 8 November – shortly after Hitler’s speech was set to begin (Moorhouse, 62). However, the ceremony began at 8:00 p.m., earlier than usual. This led to Hitler making his speech of commemoration early, ending at 9:07 p.m., before rushing off to the train station to leave the city. Elser missed Hitler by only 12 minutes. Yet, because Elser had also made an early escape to the border, he did not know that the Führer would not be present for the explosion. The explosion that would occur, on schedule, resulting in the deaths of eight people out of over 100 who were still at the commemoration site after Hitler left and the ceremony ended. Elser almost made it out of the country, but was challenged by two German border guards when he tried to cross into Switzerland, where he was interrogated after his tools were found on his person. After the explosion and capture of Elser, Himmler was convinced that it was a plot from the British Secret Service and not a lone German man. Moorhouse also mentions that Himmler conducted his own investigation and “even took it upon himself to torture Elser personally” (Moorhouse, 69). Of course, Elser stuck to his story that he acted alone. Yet, “The regime naturally also exploited the attack as an excuse to deal with dissidents and perceived opponents of all shades” (Moorhouse, 73). Moorhouse then concludes the event with the mention of the ease that Elser was allowed to work. He routinely stole explosives and detonators and purchased ammunition without hindrance (Moorhouse, 74). Until his arrest, [Elser] was never challenged by security guards, SS sentries, or policemen (Moorhouse, 74). This supports Moorhouse’s conviction of the laxity of the Hitler’s security, even after Bavaud’s attempt. This also supports the argument that Hitler ran his daily business on luck since many of his events were scheduled and many, for a long time, were annual. Attempts on Hitler’s power would include men who were very close to the Führer and the Nazi party. The chief of the counter espionage service Abwehr (meaning “defense”), Wilhelm Canaris, Hans Oster, a career German soldier, Friedrich Heinz, an Abwehr colleague of Oster’s, and Erich Kordt, a Foreign Office contact of Oster’s, would be involved in what is now called The Abwehr Conspiracy. These men, along with a few others, including disgruntled German generals, were part of the German resistance movement and were the leading conspirators attempting to take over the Reich from within the Nazi party first in 1938 and again in 1939. They had planned to take over if war had been declared for the return of the Sudetenland in Czechoslovakia, keeping very thorough records of Nazi misdeeds and of their plans. When this did not happen and Hitler was able to negotiate a peaceful return of the land, the conspirators lost their trigger. They would then lose their chance again in 1939, after the British declaration of war against Germany. Even though Kordt would suggest killing Hitler, Oster would not have it, given the war. Moorhouse seems to hold this conspiracy as a story of chance from inside the Nazi party that had fallen through. Those involved had missed their chance to be rid of Hitler despite the plan’s attention to detail. This may have just been a case of bad luck. Those involved in the plot, despite being thwarted by Hitler’s luck, had “continued in their efforts to undermine the Nazi regime” (Moorhouse, 111). But, by 1944, both Canaris and Oster had been caught and later incriminated with the paperwork found that they had compiled from their plot years before. By 1945, both were hanged by the neck by German authorities. The Polish underground would also have its chance at Hitler after the invasion of Poland. They would also attempt a plot against Hitler’s life in 1942 on his train, codenamed “Amerika” by the Polish conspirators. The plan involved two groups of Polish conspirators, dressed in Waffen-SS uniforms and speaking only German to cut off Hitler’s train and attack the survivors (Moorhouse, 145). Unfortunately, Hitler had decided to end his journey in another town earlier and thus escaped the attack. The dummy train, which the Polish underground had known about, had gotten through and the Polish underground thought they had the correct train that came after it, information which had been given to them by an inside source. Perhaps Hitler had foreseen an attack on his train despite having a dummy train and many bodyguards. However, Moorhouse then adds that this attack may not have been what it seemed. The Polish underground had evidently been a part of a few attempts on Hitler’s life. Despite having failed in ridding the world of Hitler, the Polish underground, to Moorhouse, represents a group of underappreciated individuals who had heroically tried to liberate their country of the Nazi power. The most famous attempts to overthrow and assassinate Hitler were by Hitler’s own German army personnel. One such attempt was in March of 1943 by Colonel Henning von Tresckow. Tresckow had planned on leaving a timed bomb on Hitler’s plane after it would leave to Germany from a meeting. Tresckow had hidden a small bomb, which had been earlier acquired from captured British intelligence, into what would look like two bottles of Cointreau. This operation would be called Operation Flash. Another officer, Fabian von Schlabrendorff, had brought the bomb and set the time before giving it to another officer, Colonel Brandt, who followed Hitler onto the plane. This attempt failed because the bomb would not explode. Again Hitler escaped through luck. Another conspiracy would take place after this. The second conspiracy of assassination to be played out was called Operation Valkyrie. Operation Valkyrie was named after the operation created in case of actual assassination of the Führer. Clause von Stauffenberg had volunteered to act as the assassin. By 1944, the plan had been apparently drawn out as long as it could. Stauffenberg had finally been promoted to colonel and appointed chief of staff to the commander of the Home Army, General Fromm. This involved Stauffenberg reporting to Hitler personally. Two attempts were made to prepare and plant the bomb for Hitler by Stauffenberg. First was on 15 July of 1944. It is not known why the plan had failed initially, but it was tried again. On the morning of 20 July 1944, Stauffenberg flew to Rastenburg for the last time (Moorhouse, 261). There he learned that the conference he was to attend with Hitler had been moved forward to an earlier time in the inner perimeter of Wolfschanze, which was described as a wooden hut, with a heavy oak conference table inside. Stauffenberg had requested to change his shirt to freshen up (Moorhouse, 262). There, he and his Lieutenant von Haeften constructed the bomb. Unfortunately, while hastily putting the bomb together, Stauffenberg did not fuse the second slab of explosive, and he was unable to place the unfused explosive in his briefcase (Moorhouse, 262). Stauffenberg placed the briefcase on the floor almost a meter from the target in the conference room, then left, saying he had a phone call. The room soon exploded. Unfortunately, Hitler was not killed in the blast and only suffered from many splinters from the large oak table. The table it seems, and the bomb only being half of what it should have been, had saved Hitler’s life. Despite the efforts of the other conspirators, believing the plot had succeeded, initiated Operation Valkyrie. The conspirators were eventually caught and fatally punished. This further supports the observation that Hitler had once again evaded death by sheer chance. Even though a deadly device had been place so close to him, Hitler survived the blast. Other controversial leaders have not had as much luck during their careers as Hitler may have. Many within Hitler’s own inner circle met with their own undesirable ends. Some may believe that Hitler knew what he was doing with his security and his escapes through unpredictability was nothing short of smart planning to keep his life intact. This may be especially true when considering Hitler died at the end of the war by his own hand. In conclusion, the connections that Moorhouse makes of each attempt relating to luck, chance, or proper security measures, is well drawn. His main point is to draw attention to those who have not been given the proper attention for their efforts against Nazi Germany. This book has looked in depth at how previous events from Hitler’s reign as chancellor could lead up to the planned attempts on Hitler’s life with considerable accuracy as to the pure coincidences involved with Hitler’s survival until the end of the World War. One can conclude from the evidence shown that luck had certainly a lot to do with the survival of history’s most influential and deadly man. |
Bibliography and Links (back to top)(links last checked 3/x/09) Book Reviews Staff. Publishers Weekly, Vol. 253 Issue 9 (2/27/2006), p.52-53
2p. Krome, Frederic. Library Journal, Vol. 131 Issue 4 (3/1/2006),
p.103-103, 1/6p. Bethune, Brian. “Killing Hitler (Book Review)” http://thecanadianencyclopedia.com/PrinerFriendly.cfm?Params=M1ARTM0012794
(April 24, 2006) Lloyd, John. “Killing Hitler by Roger Moorhouse” http://www.thebookbag.co.uk/reviews/index.php/Killing_Hitler_by_Roger_Moorhouse
Web Sites Joni Nuutinen, “Killing Hitler: Assassination Attempts” (2005-2009)
http://hitlernews.cloudworth.com/killing-hitler-assassination-attempts.php
Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd., “Killing Hitler – Military Photos” (2000-2009)
http://www.militaryphotos.net/forums/showthread.php?t=152026
Wikipedia, “20 July Plot” (accessed March 3, 2009) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hitler_Assassination_Plot
George Duncan, “Assassination Attempts on Hitler’s Life” http://members.iinet.net.au/~gduncan/assassination_attempts.html
Books and Articles Lindner, Evelin G., “Disasters as a Chance to Implement Novel Solutions
that Highlight Attention to Human Dignity” November 18, 2008. (humiliation
studies pdf) Parssinen, Terry M., The Oster Conspiracy of 1938: The Unknown Story
of the Military Plot to Kill Hitler and Avert World War II (New York:
HarperCollins, 2003), 232 p. UCSB: DD247.O85 P37 2003. Thomsett, Michael C., The German Opposition to Hitler: The Resistance,
the Underground, and Assassination Plots, 1938-1945 (Jefferson, N.C.;
London: McFarland, 1997), 278 p. UCSB: DD247.H5 T52 1997. Fest, Joachim C., Plotting Hitler’s Death: The Story of the German
Resistance (New York: Henry Holt, 1996), 419 p. UCSB: DD256.3 .F3813
1996. |
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Any student tempted to use this paper for an assignment in another course or school should be aware of the serious consequences for plagiarism. Here is what I write in my syllabi:
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