Saturday, July 29, 2017

pencil sketch of an anti Nazi by Dr K Prabhakar Rao

EWALD HEINRICH  VOB KLEIST SCHMENZIN



He was the son of EWALD VON Kreist schmenzin and was a Wehrmacht officer during 1940 to 1944. Like his father he also was anti nazi to the core and took part in resistance activities. He was personally recruited for the purpose by Claus stauffen berg. He was persuaded to carry out suicidal attack on Hitler during Jan 1944. The plan was to blow up Hitler during demonstration of new uniforms used in the front to Hitler. Explosives were hidden in brief case and the plan was to blow up the suitcase. However the plan could not be carried out . After failure of 20 July plot he was arrested but was released as no evidence was found against him. He managed to cover up all his activities. He was sent to Ravensbruck camp and then to the front which he survived.His father was however executed. in post war, he started his own publishing house in West Germany and soon it became a leading one. in 1962 he founded wehrkundetagung in Munich which was the predessensor to Modern conference on security policy. He was its convened till he retired in 1998.During Cold War period the forum was an important even and today it is a forum for diplomats, politicians, defence personnel to debate on international security issues. for his distinguished service he was awarded US Dept of Defense medal . When he retired he was given a grand send off by members.He led an active retired life, spoke fearlessly on issue like nuclear non proliferation , German army, but never spoke on 20 July 1944 plot.Heb died at the age of 90 years.

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