Claus von Stauffenberg: Resisting the Third Reich The Nazi regime is perhaps the prime example of the cruelty and barbarity that existed in history, with a grand total of over 10 million victims, and a lifetime of scarred generations. Thus, the actions of one failed German leader have, unfortunately, marred the whole of the German race, with said Germans commonly being associated with the Nazi party. However, humanity does indeed lie within the German race, even during their darkest hour, for not everyone agreed with Hitler’s dictatorship, some even daring to try and oppose it. Of these people, one of the most influential was Claus von Stauffenberg, a German officer and activist who had decided to take a stand against Hitler. Although his …show more content…
Despite his noble upbringing, and well-schooled childhood, Stauffenberg decided as a young adult, to work towards a military background, starting at the age of 19. By attending the War Academy in Berlin, Stauffenberg slowly made his way up the ranks, from officer cadet, to eventually becoming Oberst of the Nazi party’s military force, the Wehrmacht. His lengthy, and ultimately successful, law enforcement career was what made him a prime candidate for officer in the German army, and upon his initiation, Stauffenberg had immediately become a loyal member of the Nazi party. Stauffenberg had played a large part in many of the Nazi party’s conquests and battles, serving as combat officer in all of Hitler’s “campaigns,” therefore giving the Nazis no reason whatsoever to doubt his loyalty. However, his trust and devotion to the Wehrmacht began to waver, beginning with end of the German invasion of Poland, a movement that occurred in 1939. The conquest of Poland, also referred to as the September Campaign, had involved the German army, along with the Slovak Republic, and eventually the Soviet Union, collectively invading Poland, and resulting in the German annexation of the western part of the country. During the invasion, Stauffenberg was still an avid supporter of the Nazi party, partly because of the nationalistic aspects of