Disobeying Hitler: German Resistance After Valkyrie

481 Pages·2014·6.04 MB·English

by  Randall Hansen

DISOBEYING HITLER
also by randall hansen
Fire and Fury: The Allied Bombing of Germany, 1942–1945
G E R M A N R E S I S TA N C E
A F T E R V A L K Y R I E
1
1
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© Randall Hansen 2014
First published in Canada by Random House of Canada Limited as
Disobeying Hitler: German Resistance After O peration Valkyrie
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Hansen, Randall.
Disobeying Hitler : German resistance after Valkyrie / Randall Hansen.
pages cm
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978-0-19-992792-0
1. Anti-Nazi movement--Germany--History. 2. Government, Resistance to--Germany--
History--20th century. 3. Dissenters--Germany--History--20th century. 4. Opposition
(Political science)--Germany. 5. Strategy--History--20th century. 6. Germany--Military
policy. 7. Hitler, Adolf, 1889-1945--Military leadership. 8. Germany--History--1933-1945. I. Title.
DD256.3.H347 2014 943.086--dc23 2013036310
1 3 5 7 9 8 6 4 2
Printed in the United States of America
on acid-free paper
For Kieran

Hitler’s Germany has neither a past nor a future.
Its only purpose is destruction, and destroyed it shall be.
thomas mann

CONTENTS
Introduction | 1
1. War, Atrocities, Resistance | 3
2. The Coup against Hitler | 25
3. From Failing Hands: The Coup in Paris | 30
4. Paris, July 20, 1944: The SS Locked Down | 38
5. The Resistance’s Last Hope: Rommel against Hitler | 45
6. Hitler’s Revenge | 59
7. Did a Prussian Save Paris? | 73
8. To Destroy the City of Light | 84
9. Paris in Revolt | 99
10. Paris Liberated, Paris Spared | 108
11. Normandy South: The Invasion of Southern France | 121
12. Forts and Fortresses: Toulon | 134
13. Europe’s Lifeline: Marseille | 142
14. Violence Comes Home: Preparing the Defence of the Reich | 153
15. To Destroy Germany: Hitler and Scorched Earth | 161
16. Fighting to the Last Man: The Allies at the Rhine | 172
17. Hitler Rages | 188
18. The Siege of Düsseldorf | 205
19. Dying So That They May Live: Central Germany | 232