DOC IS INTERROGATION REPORT NO 30 - MILITARY PARTICIPATION IN THE CONSPIRACY OF 20 JUL 44 - GEN ADOLF HEUSINGER.

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 00034013
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 6
• Document Creation Date: July 13, 2023
• Document Release Date: November 15, 2022
• Case Number: F-2022-01257
• Publication Date: April 1, 1946

k
;
Source:
Approved for Release: 2022/09/29 C00034013,
� MAYITARTrERS� �
UNITED STATES FORCES EUROPEAN'TREATER
KILITARY INTELLIGENCE .s-4-7:;pF, gpm/
..06757
CI FINAL INTERROGATION:REPORT (0,I7FIR).W30
EILITARY PARTICIPATION IN TEE CONSPIRACY 0P20 JUL
s
General USINGER was chief of Section 1 (Plans'and,!Trainlmg) in the On::
from 1940-1944. After 20 Jul 44 he was nrrested on suspicion of comnlicity ,
in the illot and. held for ten weeks in Gestapo custody, after which time:ne was.
released for lack-of evidence. 7e was Present'when the attempt Was made,on
EITLERts life and was injured by the explosion. The information in this.report-
is based on prisoner's own knowledge and.apenrs,c) be reliable.
Table of Contents
1. PE'llERT.INCES
2. REASON FOR REPORT
3 REPORT
a.... Ristory
2!
.2
b. Aims and. Justification of the Plot 4
c. Personalities
COYCLUS IcNs
5 comIENTS AND IS C01:17NDATIOYS
�
pproved for Release: 2022/09/29 C00034013
,
�'�;.
Approved for Release: 2022/09/29 C00034013
a. 0I-PIR/6, Military Intelligence Service Center, dated 13 SeP 45.
b. Historical Interrogntion Commission, liar Department General Staff,
G-2, Historical Branch, MID, dated 10-11'Sep 45, 12 Sep 45, 15 .Sep 45 �
and 2 Nov 45. . .
2. REASON FOR REPORT
,
. This report is being published in answer to Brief, .British Army of:the:
Rhine, P1IIS/RepAg3(3), dated. Oct 45; referring to SAIC letter tTending �
Interrogation Reports No 2ff, dated 12 Sep 45. �
3. REPORT
a. History
. . .
The germ of the plot�originated in thedays before the war when Col -�
Gen BECK was still Chief of the General Staff. ,His critical attitude towards
HITLER's domestic and foreign policy and the ensuing military consequences is
well know'. He foresaw. that HITIERIs plans would necessarily lead to.a'mili-
-tary collision with the Western Powers, and warned against such,military
developments and complications since they would produce a Second:uorld War,.
for which Germany in the long run was not sufficiently strong'. Because'of
this attitude 320K was removed from his Post in 193g, 'Yet BECK still :retained
the admiration of many of his fornensubordinates; especially melike,HEPSINGF.R..:
who worked directly under him, realized his value and were attracted by his
,personality. This small circle remained faithful to him even when he buried-
. himself in military studies in retirement at BERLIN,-.,This circle was'composed �
of:
ZELLGIEBEL, Gen
sovosTm, Gen von
STUELPNAGEL,'Gen Heinrich von
HEUSINGER, Lt Col
SCHULZE_RTETTGER, Lt Col .
TRESOKOW, Lt Col von
These non were all opposed to AITLERts political actions, especially the
opposition to the Church, the persecution of the Jews and the suppression of
expression of opinion.
Their criticism reached its first. high peak in the autumn of 1939 and
the winter of, 1939_19)40 when EITLER invaded Poland and thus brought 3ritain
into the war. It was heightened by the fact that no attempt was made to reach-
a peaceful solution after the Polish car,paign was concluded. Anxiety was
voiced in numerous discussions of the natter in small circles under the moral '
leadership of Gen von STUELPNAGEL, then lb, Oberquarticrmeister in OKH. No' ,
decisions were made, however, since it was honed that the C-in-C of the Army
and the senior generals might still influence E7TLER's Policies. The contro-
versy in November between RITTER and the C-in-C strengthened this oninion.,-
The result of the military, successes in the 'rest in 1940 was to-drive
this criticism into the background, but it reached its next peak at the tine
of the invasion of Russia in 1941 and EITLERts personal asSumption of command
of the Armed Forces. The doubts creatad Vy this foolish move against Russia
were confirmed by the retirement of the C-in-C. The declaration of war against
the United States was the final confirmation of the fears of the German generals.
The circle of critics became wider, and serious consideration was givpn to the
way in which the threatening catastronhe night be rverted. The three primary
aims of this circle were as follows:
_Approved for Release: 2022/09/26 000034013
- .6r . J. 41.
Approved for Release: 2022/09/29 C00034013::
(1) The two-front Isar must be stomed on one front since Germany
could not in the long run win such a or ethicel,.culturalan
historical reasons, only agreement with the Tiestern Powers was con-
ceivable.
(2) In order to obtain agreement with the �estern Powers, Germany must
renounce nll her military accuisitions in the /Test, forth and South-
east, and tne rational Socialist regime in Germeny must be removed from
power.
(3) The Eastern Front must be hel'i at all costs.
The course to be followed was first clearly steted.by Lt Col von
TRESCKOff in the early summer of 1042, namely, the removal of HITLER with, if
Possible, HIMER and GOERING. Only in this way could the foundation be laid
for the execution of the progrnm which was ei/rocated. TIRESOKOV went into the
question of the possibility of assasainatinp HITLER and the other measures .
which must follow successful action. At the save time efforts were being made
to alter the chain .of command by legal means. Until v'av 10411:legal methods
were pursued under the leadership of Gen ZEITZLER, Chief of the Army General
Staff, but without sucpess.
The STALINGRAD catastrophe of 1042-43 brought on the third crisis in
the development of the plot. During. 1943 any doubt as to the necessity of
removing HITLER vanished because of the series of defeats Produced by HITLER's
mismanagement of operations. Preparations now followed two lines,'first'the
actual assassination, then the assumption of authority over the State.
The main conspirators in the assassination group were:
FELLGIEBEL
PRZYTAG, von
LINDEMANN
STAUFFENBERG, Graf
STUFF
STIELPNAGEL, von
TRESCKOV, von
VAGNER
The main members of the political group were:
BECK
GCE:KALER
HASSELT
PCPITZ
VITZLEBEN, von
HEUSINGER does not know how much contact WAS established with foreign
powers, but von TRESCKOV told him that he had an assurance from Britain that ,
discussions could take place.
On several occasions attempts to assassinate HITLER had, to be abandoned
'because chances of success did not arrear to be good.. - Plans had been made for
the followinp dates:
� 14 Mar 43
Autumn 1943
1 Jul 1P-L
15 Jul 4.4
' Graf STAUFFENIZRG, Chief of Staff of the Commanding General of the Replacement
Army, became more and more the driving force of the.
- .�
. . .
Approved for Release: 2022/09/29 C00034013
�.
Approved for Release: 2022/09/29 C00034013 �
In the meantime the pressure of events grew, and finally, on 20 Jul 44,
the attemot was mado. It hamened suddenly, without adeauate warning by '�
STAMM:ERG to all the interested parties.
b.. Aims and Justification of the Plot
After HITLER had been Put out of the way, the following aims were to
be Pursued for the Preservation of Germany and in justifying the plot:
(1) Yilitary and Foreign Policy
The multiple-front war, which was beyond Germany's strength, was
to be terminated and. all German-occupied non-Gertan territory evacuated
(France, Belgium, Holland, Denmark, Norway, Poland, Bohemia, Jugoslavia
and Greece). The submarine campaign And the air war against the'llestern
Powers was also to be cancelled. Peace with the 'restern Powers was to
be sought, while the Eastern Front was to be held at all costs in order
to prevent further Russian penetration into Europe. All Germany's gains
were to be abandoned, except for German-inhabited territories, YiZ. "
Austria, Sudetenland, Memel. '
(2) Domestic Policy
'
National Socialism was to be overthrown. The old Parliamentary
system was to be restored, with parties and trade unions. By such
measures confidence in Germany was to be restored abroad and a' foun-
dation created for Germany's future. Leading Nazis like Gam*,
EIMMLER, GOEBBELS, LEY and RIBBENTROP were to be removed and all
im-
portant Party and SS men were to be taken out of positions of authority.
It was believed that as soon as HITLER iraz killed the system would
collapse like a pack of cards. Only HIM= was considered dangerous,
and it was hoped that he could be destroyed along with HITLER.
It was realized, however, that the succesg.of the plot would usher
in a difficult time for Germany. No matter what government took
office, it would be faced with tremendous and unenviable problems. The
severe measures which would have to .be taken would make the men in
office unpopular and stir un Personal animosities. The charges, when
these men were later tried before the Volksgerichtathatthey had acted
out of personal ambition and for personal advantage; or the accusation
made by some, that the General Staff wanted nower for itself were, in
HEUSINGER's opinion, a malicious distortion of the facts. Actually,
the conspirators could have exnected only P troublesome, thankless
task, They acted from P feeling of responsibility to the German people,
and from a feeling of moral necessity and duty.
C. Personalities (Believed deakby source unless annotated.)
(1) Principal Conspirators
ITITZLEBEN, Field Marshal von
BECK, Col Gen
� HOEPPNER, Col Gen .
FELLGrilvilL, Gen d rachr Tr (Signal Corns)
LINDEMANN, Gen d Art
OLBRICHT, Gen d Inf
STUELPNAGEL, Gen d Inf
THIELE, Gen Lt
STIEFF, Gen Maj
TRESOKO", Gen Maj von
-4-
�
Approved for Release: 2022/09/29 C00034013 �..�H::
"
(2)
Approved for Release.: 2022/04/29 C00034013
FREYTAG_LORINGEOVEN, Col Von'
STAW7tNEERG, Col Grpf. ,
WIRNHEIM,,Lt Col Herz van.:
SCHULENBURG, 1st Lt -von der, .
WARM/dB-MG, 1st Lt :York von'
SCHLABERNDORIT, 2nd Lt-von (living)
GOMEL:SR, Mayor
POPITZ, Minister'of, State
Accomnlices
KLUGE, Field rarshal von
CANARIS, Admiral
WAGNER, Gen d Art
HAA5E, Gen Lt von
HEMMER, Gen Lt (living)
GEPSDORFF, Gen Maj (living)
CAUDRE, Col
ERDMANY; Col
FINK, Col
HAHN, Col
HANSEN p)1
a LINSTOW-, Col von
MEIXNER, Col
ROENES, Freiherr von
SCHULZE,BUETTGER, Col
KLAMROTH, Lt Col
"RATHGENS, Lt Col
Lt Col
KLEIST, Mej von (living)
KUHN Maj (living)
SCERADER, Maj
ARNTZ, Lt (living)
HASSEL, Ambassador von
SCHULENHURG, Ambassador von der
HELLDORFF, Police President GrafLDORFF, Graf
.DCHNA-TOLKSDORF, Graf
(3) Possible Participants
ROMMEL, Field Marshal
FR.01111, Ool *Gen
SPEIEEL, Gen Lt
MRANDT, Col
HASSEL, Col
PLATE, Col von (living)
SCHUCHARDT, Col
Gen'REUSINGER saw nuite P. number of the above men in the Gestano
''prison in PERLIN after 23 Jul h4 during his 10-week.confinement there.
He�has snoken with Gen Tej STIEFF and Lt,Col slam.
4. CONCLUSICKS,
Gen HOUSIYGER's versio tnnears tn general agreement with other-versions
which have appeared, Details as to the participation of individuals could not .
be given with certainty, .The extent of Participation of some of the junior
officers may not have been as great as implied here.
pproved for Release: 2022/09/29
U J. 1) J.1 I J. L
Approved for Release: 2022/09/29 C00034013...
5. COMMITS An RtC011117.SDATIOITS
. .As one of the fev-surviving participants in thepiot,�Gen'EXOSIF1071.
probably provide additional information on the basie.of. detailed briefs'on�
this subject.
He has now been sent to NUMBEHG. Further interrogation ifremuired can
be arranged through this Center.
'AKK (E3.: � PIP)
For the Commanding Officer:
akt-,-6(44; 1k:eh.
11A14001.11 S. HILTY,
Cent, AO,
Chief, Ca Section
10 Jan 4G
DISTRIBUTION: "DI, n.lus (FrIS) GS-2(b) BAUR
pproved for Release: 2022/09/29 C00034013
3 copies
2 conies