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| − | After two failed [[Generals' Plot|coup]] [[October 1939 Plot|attempts]], the unpurged [[Wehrmacht (The War That Came Early)|Wehrmacht]] high command remained loyal to [[Adolf Hitler (The War That Came Early)|Adolf Hitler]] despite military setbacks. However, unrest grew among the general [[Germany (The War That Came Early)|German]] population especially in [[Münster (The War That Came Early)|Münster]] after the arrest of |
+ | After two failed [[Generals' Plot|coup]] [[October 1939 Plot|attempts]] during the early years of [[World War II (The War That Came Early)|World War II]], the unpurged [[Wehrmacht (The War That Came Early)|''Wehrmacht'']] high command remained loyal to [[Adolf Hitler (The War That Came Early)|Adolf Hitler]] despite military setbacks. However, unrest grew among the general [[Germany (The War That Came Early)|German]] population especially in [[Münster (The War That Came Early)|Münster]] after the arrest of [[Clemens August von Galen (The War That Came Early)|Bishop von Galen]]. A group of senior military and political leaders colluded forming the '''Committee for the Salvation of the German Nation'''. |
| − | After Hitler declared war on the [[United States (The War That Came Early)|United States]] in March 1944, the Committee decided the |
+ | After Hitler declared war on the [[United States (The War That Came Early)|United States]] in March 1944, the Committee decided the war was unwinnable and took action.<ref>''[[Last Orders]]'', pgs. 300, 311, HC.</ref> When Hitler gave a broadcast speech in Münster about the insurrection taking place there, a bomb was planted which exploded, killing him. Immediately the Committee took over the radio broadcast and their leader [[Heinz Guderian (The War That Came Early)|Heinz Guderian]] announced Hitler's death and the Committee's takeover. He also announced the imminent arrest of [[Heinrich Himmler (The War That Came Early)|Heinrich Himmler]], [[Rudolf Hess (The War That Came Early)|Rudolf Hess]], [[Hermann Göring (The War That Came Early)|Hermann Göring]] and [[Josef Goebbels (The War That Came Early)|Josef Goebbels]].<ref>Ibid, pgs. 299-300.</ref> It was later announced that Himmler had been killed and Göring had disappeared with no one knowing if he were alive or dead<ref>Ibid, pg. 326.</ref> while Goebbels took refuge in the [[Italy (The War That Came Early)|Italian]] embassy in [[Berlin (The War That Came Early)|Berlin]].<ref>Ibid, pg. 382.</ref> |
| − | This left the [[Nazi Party (The War That Came Early)|Nazi Party]] hierarchy in disarray. The [[SS (The War That Came Early)|SS]] and [[Waffen-SS (The War That Came Early)|Waffen-SS]] remained loyal to the Party<ref>Ibid, pg. 309.</ref> along with some junior officers and troops of the Wehrmacht and other military branches.<ref>Ibid, pgs. 301, 303.</ref> However, the lack of senior leadership and the previous emphasis of loyalty to Hitler personally, left the Party at a disadvantage.<ref>Ibid, pg. 325.</ref> While a civil war was fought, especially in the Ruhr valley and around [[Berlin (The War That Came Early)|Berlin]],<ref>Ibid, pg. 318.</ref> the Committee retained the advantage and quickly suppressed the Party and its supporters. |
+ | This left the [[Nazi Party (The War That Came Early)|Nazi Party]] hierarchy in disarray. The [[SS (The War That Came Early)|SS]] and [[Waffen-SS (The War That Came Early)|Waffen-SS]] remained loyal to the Party<ref>Ibid, pg. 309.</ref> along with some junior officers and troops of the Wehrmacht and other military branches.<ref>Ibid, pgs. 301, 303.</ref> However, the lack of senior leadership and the previous emphasis of loyalty to Hitler personally, left the Party at a disadvantage.<ref>Ibid, pg. 325.</ref> While a civil war was fought, especially in the Ruhr valley and around [[Berlin (The War That Came Early)|Berlin]],<ref>Ibid, pg. 318.</ref> the Committee retained the advantage and quickly suppressed the Party and its supporters. Holdouts continued to fight in the [[Bavaria]]n mountains and places in [[Austria (The War That Came Early)|Austria]] but were little more than a nuisance.<ref>Ibid, pg. 382.</ref> |
| − | Guderian and the Committee sued for peace and negotiated a peace treaty with [[ |
+ | Guderian and the Committee sued for peace and negotiated a peace treaty with [[United Kingdom (The War That Came Early)|Britain]], [[France (The War That Came Early)|France]] and the [[Soviet Union (The War That Came Early)|Soviet Union]]. Germany agreed to withdraw from the [[Low Countries (The War That Came Early)|Low Countries]], [[Denmark (The War That Came Early)|Denmark]] and [[Norway (The War That Came Early)|Norway]] along with the areas of the USSR it still occupied (mostly [[Belarus (The War That Came Early)|Belarus]] and [[Ukraine (The War That Came Early)|Ukraine]]).<ref>Ibid, pg. 318.</ref> In return, the pre-war annexation of Austria was confirmed and the [[Sudetenland (The War That Came Early)|Sudetenland]] annexation which was the ''casus belli'' was allowed. [[Czechoslovakia (The War That Came Early)|Czechoslovakia]] was broken up into the puppet state of [[Slovakia (The War That Came Early)|Slovakia]] and the [[Bohemia (The War That Came Early)|Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia]].<ref>Ibid, pgs. 341-343.</ref> The Soviet Union gained the three Baltic states of [[Estonia (The War That Came Early)|Estonia]], [[Latvia (The War That Came Early)|Latvia]] and [[Lithuania (The War That Came Early)|Lithuania]] which became new Soviet Socialist Republics. In addition, the Soviet Union gained [[Wilno]] and the surrounding territory from [[Poland (The War That Came Early)|Poland]] and added it to the Lithuanian SSR.<ref>Ibid, pg. 344.</ref> |
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| + | Domestically, the Committee loosened the more restrictive policies of the Nazis. News broadcasts included uncomplimentary reports about Germany and emphasized the crimes and cruelty of the SS and SD. It also quietly revoked the [[Nuremberg Race Laws (The War That Came Early)|''Reich'' Citizenship Law of 1935]], thus effectively restoring citizenship to [[Jews (The War That Came Early)|Jews]], rather than treating them as residents without rights. It also removed the requirement that Jews have the yellow star of David on their clothing in public.<ref>Ibid, pgs. 382-383.</ref> |
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Altogether, with relatively minor adjustments, the Committee succeeded in restoring the ''status quo ante bellum''. |
Altogether, with relatively minor adjustments, the Committee succeeded in restoring the ''status quo ante bellum''. |
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| + | ==References== |
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{{reflist|20em}} |
{{reflist|20em}} |
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{{The War That Came Early}} |
{{The War That Came Early}} |
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[[Category:The War That Came Early]] |
[[Category:The War That Came Early]] |
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| − | [[Category: |
+ | [[Category:Coups]] |
[[Category:Germany]] |
[[Category:Germany]] |
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| + | [[Category:Political Organizations]] |
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Latest revision as of 10:22, 4 May 2023
After two failed coup attempts during the early years of World War II, the unpurged Wehrmacht high command remained loyal to Adolf Hitler despite military setbacks. However, unrest grew among the general German population especially in Münster after the arrest of Bishop von Galen. A group of senior military and political leaders colluded forming the Committee for the Salvation of the German Nation.
After Hitler declared war on the United States in March 1944, the Committee decided the war was unwinnable and took action.[1] When Hitler gave a broadcast speech in Münster about the insurrection taking place there, a bomb was planted which exploded, killing him. Immediately the Committee took over the radio broadcast and their leader Heinz Guderian announced Hitler's death and the Committee's takeover. He also announced the imminent arrest of Heinrich Himmler, Rudolf Hess, Hermann Göring and Josef Goebbels.[2] It was later announced that Himmler had been killed and Göring had disappeared with no one knowing if he were alive or dead[3] while Goebbels took refuge in the Italian embassy in Berlin.[4]
This left the Nazi Party hierarchy in disarray. The SS and Waffen-SS remained loyal to the Party[5] along with some junior officers and troops of the Wehrmacht and other military branches.[6] However, the lack of senior leadership and the previous emphasis of loyalty to Hitler personally, left the Party at a disadvantage.[7] While a civil war was fought, especially in the Ruhr valley and around Berlin,[8] the Committee retained the advantage and quickly suppressed the Party and its supporters. Holdouts continued to fight in the Bavarian mountains and places in Austria but were little more than a nuisance.[9]
Guderian and the Committee sued for peace and negotiated a peace treaty with Britain, France and the Soviet Union. Germany agreed to withdraw from the Low Countries, Denmark and Norway along with the areas of the USSR it still occupied (mostly Belarus and Ukraine).[10] In return, the pre-war annexation of Austria was confirmed and the Sudetenland annexation which was the casus belli was allowed. Czechoslovakia was broken up into the puppet state of Slovakia and the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia.[11] The Soviet Union gained the three Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania which became new Soviet Socialist Republics. In addition, the Soviet Union gained Wilno and the surrounding territory from Poland and added it to the Lithuanian SSR.[12]
Domestically, the Committee loosened the more restrictive policies of the Nazis. News broadcasts included uncomplimentary reports about Germany and emphasized the crimes and cruelty of the SS and SD. It also quietly revoked the Reich Citizenship Law of 1935, thus effectively restoring citizenship to Jews, rather than treating them as residents without rights. It also removed the requirement that Jews have the yellow star of David on their clothing in public.[13]
Altogether, with relatively minor adjustments, the Committee succeeded in restoring the status quo ante bellum.
References[]
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