81 years after the Hitler attack: commemoration in Reinickendorf

81 years after the Hitler attack: commemoration in Reinickendorf

This day, July 20, 2025, numerous citizens and representatives of the political landscape of Germany commemorate the 81st anniversary of the failed attack on Adolf Hitler, which took place on July 20, 1944. This event is considered one of the most important acts of resistance to National Socialist tyranny. In front of the memorial in the street at the town hall park, members of the district office and the district council resigned wreaths. District Mayor Emine Demirbüken-Wegner (CDU) gave an urgent speech and spoke about the courage of the assassins and the responsibility of the individual in difficult times, such as reports .

The central player of this failed assassination was Colonel Claus Schenk Graf von Stauffenberg, who placed a bomb near Hitler on July 20, 1944 at 12.40 p.m., while he was in his leadership headquarters "Wolfschanze" in Rastenburg, Poland. Stauffenberg had left the room when the explosion took place a few minutes later. Only some of those present lost their lives, while Hitler survived only slightly injured, such as The Federal Center for Political Education reported.

The context of the assassination attempt

The attack was the result of months of planning by a group of civil and military opposition. In addition to Stauffenberg, generals, officers and administrative officers were involved, a total of over 200 people. Stauffenberg itself was initially not a vehement opponent of the Nazi regime, but over time developed a decisive rejection, not least because of Hitler's devastating warfare and the terrible mass murder of Jews.

The despair of the conspirators led to the strategic plan called "Operation Valkyrie". This provided for an immediate takeover of government responsibility to end the National Socialist regime. After the failed assassination attempt, the main responsible, including Stauffenberg and others, were shot at night. The violent resistance led the Gestapo to determine thousands of regime gegers, which resulted in massive persecution of resistant.

The consequences of the failed assassination attempt

The consequences after the assassination were devastating. Hundreds of people were convicted and executed, including prominent people such as Ludwig Beck, who was forced to suicide. The historical evaluation of July 20 is controversial in German history: in the GDR it was often seen as a reactionary junker uprising, while it was regarded as a treason in the Federal Republic. It was not until the 1960s that the perception of the resistance fighter changed significantly, and the memory of the attempt to overthrow became an integral part of political culture in Germany

In today's world, the discussion about the motives of the resistance fighter and their historical classification remains of great importance. The findings and research of the past decades have contributed to a more positive assessment of July 20, 1944. A survey from 2004 shows that many citizens plunge, recognize and appreciate the brave attempts by the assassins to end, recognize and appreciate the suffering of people.