National Socialism - 80th anniversary of the July 20 assassination - State Parliament commemorates the victims
With regard to the upcoming 80th anniversary of the July 20, 1944, attack against the Nazi dictatorship, the Hessian Landtag held a memorial hour in remembrance of the victims. Parliament President Astrid Wallmann emphasized at the beginning of the new plenary week: "Even though the coup attempt of July 20 failed, the mere fact that those involved attempted to rise up in the darkest times of German history and do something against arbitrary rule deserves our highest recognition and respect."
The remembrance of this event hereby "very forcefully reaffirms the value of democracy and freedom, the rule of law, and respect for human dignity, and how difficult it is to regain – or at what great cost – when it has been lost." Therefore, the commemoration of July 20, 1944, is always connected with the reminder "to defend what the protagonists of that time fought for. This is our ongoing responsibility."
In the summer of 1944, Wehrmacht officers around Claus Schenk Graf von Stauffenberg attempted in vain to kill Adolf Hitler with a bomb and end World War II. Stauffenberg and three accomplices were shot in the courtyard of the Bendlerblock in Berlin on the evening of the attack. In the following weeks and months, the Nazis executed approximately 90 other conspirators and supporters.
- The city of Wiesbaden, where Claus Schenk Count von Stauffenberg originally hailed from, also paid tribute to the July 20, 1944, attack, highlighting the significance of individuals standing against National Socialism.
- The Hesse Parliament's recognition of those involved in the assassination attempt, including Adolf Hitler's would-be assassin Stauffenberg, underscores the importance of resisting tyranny in German history.
- During the aftermath of the failed coup, female anti-Nazi figure Astrid Wallmann continued her role as a parliamentarian, advocating for the preservation of democracy and freedom, values that were critically threatened by Adolf Hitler and his regime.
- The history of July 20, 1944, serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of unchecked power and the courage it takes to challenge such forces, which is still relevant today in the context of democratic societies.
- The legacy of these anti-Nazi conspirators, such as those around Stauffenberg, continues to inspire modern-day politicians and citizens in Germany, illustrating the enduring relevance of the struggle against tyranny and totalitarianism.
