Ludwig Beck (Beck)

Beck, Ludwig (Beck), (1880-1944), Colonel-General (1938) Germanic army. Born June 29, 1880 in Bibrihe. Of the large family of industrialists. At the military service since 1898, member 1-st World War - an officer of the General Staff, Chief of Staff of the Army, then served in the Reichswehr. In 1933-35 chief of troop control, in 1935-38 the Army Chief of Staff, is responsible for developing and carrying out ground operations. One of the organizers of the Wehrmacht. Supporter of preserving the supreme leadership of the Wehrmacht generals. In this connection, opposed to concentrating in the hands of Hitler full power. May 30, 1938 spoke out against Hitler's planned attack on Czechoslovakia, motivated by the fact that the Germany army was not yet ready to conduct large-scale hostilities. August 18, 1938 dismissed. Opposition to Hitler regarded the military as a possible candidate Beck head of state in the case of removing Hitler from the political arena. Beck took part in the July 1944 conspiracy. After the failed assassination attempt on Hitler, he was arrested and committed suicide in the building of the Military Ministry at Bendlerstrasse.