From the archives: Wehrmacht plotters hanged; 9 August 1944

Published on 09/08/2012 00:00

Field-marshal Erwin von Witzle, a former German commander in France, and Italy, four generals, and three other officers were sentenced to death by the Nazi “People’s Court” yesterday for their share in the Hitler conspiracy.

They were hanged two hours after the conclusion of the trial – the first to be held since Hitler’s institution of the “Court of Honour” was ordered to carry out a ruthless purge of the entire higher leadership of the German Army. The condemned men, who had previously been expelled from the Army, did not wear uniform, the German radio account of the trial said. “The accused were breakers of their oaths who had forsworn their honour. Their estates will be confiscated by the Reich.” The evidence disclosed an earlier plan to kidnap Hitler and for his assassination by high explosives in the summer of 1943.

• archive.scotsman.com