Beck, General Ludwig, 1880-1944

A former Chief of Staff, Beck had resigned in 1938 in protest against HITLER’s plans for aggressive war which he believed would bring about disaster for Germany. He then became the focus for the ‘military opposition’ to Hitler, which maintained a timorous existence during the early years of the war. A man of genuine moral courage, however, he gladly joined with STAUFFENBERG in the active conspiracy which culminated in the Bomb Plot of 20 July 1944, was arrested in the War Office by the opportunist FROMM, and committed suicide under his supervision that evening.