Hitler & the Bomb-Plot Part II: In Berlin

Even after the Bomb-plot had failed, John Wheeler-Bennett shows how the Wehrmacht conspirators in Berlin had it in their grasp to overthrow Hitler and stop the war.

As Thursday July 20th 1944 dawned over bomb-scarred Berlin, a sweltering night gave place to a sweltering day. The sun climbed, slow and golden, through a pearly haze into an azure sky, which quickly became a brazen arc reflecting greater heat upon the stifling city.

Few of the leading conspirators had rested peacefully. For one reason or another sleep had stood away from most that night and the nervous tension was as acute among them as in the oppressive atmosphere. For the better part of ten days they had rested upon the razor edge of uncertainty. They had been first alerted on July 11th, and again on the 15th, and now they knew that, come what might, the deed and the thing for which they had planned and prepared so long must happen today, this 20th of July, or not at all, for it was impossible to maintain the secret longer.

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