Monument to the Victims of 20 July 1944 - Berlin, Germany
Posted by: Groundspeak Regular Member Bernd das Brot Team
N 52° 30.467 E 013° 21.750
33U E 388865 N 5818777
A statue honoring those executed after the failed 20 July 1944 coup
Waymark Code: WM100HN
Location: Berlin, Germany
Date Posted: 02/02/2019
Published By:Groundspeak Premium Member Outspoken1
Views: 3
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On 20 July 1944, a bomb exploded in Hitler's military headquarters, killing four people but leaving Hitler only slightly wounded. This was more than a simple assassination attempt, it was a carefully planned plot to overthrow the Nazi government and to end World War II.

The coup, called Operation Valkyrie failed and the leaders were arrested the same day, betrayed by one of their own.

Five officers, General Ludwig Beck, General Friedrich Olbricht, Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg, Colonel Albrecht Mertz von Quirnheim and First Lieutenant Werner von Haeften were taken to the courtyard of the Bendlerblock building, then part of Germany's ministry of War complex, were they were executed.

In the days following the coup, an estimated 7,000 people were arrested and approximately 4,980 of them were executed.

After the war, in 1952, Benderblock courtyart, location of the execution, was officially declared a national memorial.

On July 20, 1953, the 9th anniversary of the coup, a statue was dedicated to honor all the thousands of people that gave their lives in a brave attempt to end the war.

The bronze statue, created by Berlin sculptor Richard Scheibe depicts a naked man with tied hands. It symbolizes the resistance fighters helplessly in the hands of the Nazi-regime.

In front of the statue is a plaque, reading (translated):

You did not bear the shame. You resisted. You bestowed the eternally vigilant symbol of change by sacrificing your impassioned lives for freedom, justice and honor.

Name or use 'Unknown' if not known: Monument to the Victims of 20 July 1944

Figure Type: Human

Artist Name or use 'Unknown' if not known: Richard Scheibe

Date created or placed or use 'Unknown' if not known: 7/20/1953

Materials used: Bronze

Location: Memorial to the German Resistance, Berlin, Germany
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ninasger visited Monument to the Victims of 20 July 1944 - Berlin, Germany 05/17/2019 ninasger visited it