Caesar von Hofacker
Encyclopedia
Caesar von Hofacker (2 March 1896 – 20 December 1944) was a German
Lieutenant Colonel and member of the 20 July plot against Adolf Hitler
.
Hofacker was born in Ludwigsburg
, he was a cousin of Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg. During World War I he served with the Uhlan Regiment No.20 and trained with the FEA 5. His main activity in relation to the events culminating in the attempted assassination of Hitler
at the Wolf's Lair
on 20 July 1944 consisted of acting as a secret liaison between his cousin and another plotter in occupied Paris
, General Carl-Heinrich von Stülpnagel
, France
's military governor, to whom Hofacker was personal adviser.
Hofacker scored quite a coup when he managed to draw Field Marshal Erwin Rommel
into the plot to rid Germany
of Hitler. However, Hofacker was later forced to betray him, under Gestapo
torture
, forcing Rommel to take his own life.
Hofacker was less successful in winning Field Marshal Günther von Kluge
over to the cause on 20 July 1944, the day of the attempted coup d'état
. Even after General von Stülpnagel had had all members of the Gestapo and SS in Paris rounded up, Kluge would not join, despite Hofacker's exhortations. (Kluge later committed suicide
, believing that he had been implicated).
Of course, once it became apparent that Hitler had not been killed in the assassination attempt at his secret headquarters, things did not go well for Hofacker or any other member of the plot. Stülpnagel and Hofacker destroyed as many documents as they could to prevent fellow plotters from being implicated in the attempt on Hitler's life, but on 26 July 1944, Hofacker was arrested in Paris
before he could go into hiding.
He was tortured by the Gestapo
. At first, he steadfastly assumed all responsibility for actions related to the plot in Paris, but later, he was made to yield Rommel's name to his interrogators.
Hofacker's behaviour before the Volksgerichtshof could only be called defiant. He condemned Hitler, and even told Chief Justice Roland Freisler
that his only regret was not having had the opportunity to carry out the assassination attempt himself.
Hofacker was found guilty of treason
and sentenced to death. He was hanged at Plötzensee Prison
in Berlin
.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
Lieutenant Colonel and member of the 20 July plot against Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler was an Austrian-born German politician and the leader of the National Socialist German Workers Party , commonly referred to as the Nazi Party). He was Chancellor of Germany from 1933 to 1945, and head of state from 1934 to 1945...
.
Hofacker was born in Ludwigsburg
Ludwigsburg
Ludwigsburg is a city in Baden-Württemberg, Germany, about north of Stuttgart city centre, near the river Neckar. It is the largest and primary city of the Ludwigsburg urban district with about 87,000 inhabitants...
, he was a cousin of Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg. During World War I he served with the Uhlan Regiment No.20 and trained with the FEA 5. His main activity in relation to the events culminating in the attempted assassination of Hitler
July 20 Plot
On 20 July 1944, an attempt was made to assassinate Adolf Hitler, Führer of the Third Reich, inside his Wolf's Lair field headquarters near Rastenburg, East Prussia. The plot was the culmination of the efforts of several groups in the German Resistance to overthrow the Nazi-led German government...
at the Wolf's Lair
Wolfsschanze
Wolf's Lair is the standard English name for Wolfsschanze, Adolf Hitler's first World War II Eastern Front military headquarters, one of several Führerhauptquartier or FHQs located in various parts of Europe...
on 20 July 1944 consisted of acting as a secret liaison between his cousin and another plotter in occupied Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, General Carl-Heinrich von Stülpnagel
Carl-Heinrich von Stülpnagel
Carl-Heinrich von Stülpnagel, was a German general and a member of the July 20 Plot to assassinate Adolf Hitler.-Early life:...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
's military governor, to whom Hofacker was personal adviser.
Hofacker scored quite a coup when he managed to draw Field Marshal Erwin Rommel
Erwin Rommel
Erwin Johannes Eugen Rommel , popularly known as the Desert Fox , was a German Field Marshal of World War II. He won the respect of both his own troops and the enemies he fought....
into the plot to rid Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
of Hitler. However, Hofacker was later forced to betray him, under Gestapo
Gestapo
The Gestapo was the official secret police of Nazi Germany. Beginning on 20 April 1934, it was under the administration of the SS leader Heinrich Himmler in his position as Chief of German Police...
torture
Torture
Torture is the act of inflicting severe pain as a means of punishment, revenge, forcing information or a confession, or simply as an act of cruelty. Throughout history, torture has often been used as a method of political re-education, interrogation, punishment, and coercion...
, forcing Rommel to take his own life.
Hofacker was less successful in winning Field Marshal Günther von Kluge
Günther von Kluge
Günther Adolf Ferdinand “Hans” von Kluge was a German military leader. He was born in Posen into a Prussian military family. Kluge rose to the rank of Field Marshal in the Wehrmacht. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords...
over to the cause on 20 July 1944, the day of the attempted coup d'état
Coup d'état
A coup d'état state, literally: strike/blow of state)—also known as a coup, putsch, and overthrow—is the sudden, extrajudicial deposition of a government, usually by a small group of the existing state establishment—typically the military—to replace the deposed government with another body; either...
. Even after General von Stülpnagel had had all members of the Gestapo and SS in Paris rounded up, Kluge would not join, despite Hofacker's exhortations. (Kluge later committed suicide
Suicide
Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Suicide is often committed out of despair or attributed to some underlying mental disorder, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism, or drug abuse...
, believing that he had been implicated).
Of course, once it became apparent that Hitler had not been killed in the assassination attempt at his secret headquarters, things did not go well for Hofacker or any other member of the plot. Stülpnagel and Hofacker destroyed as many documents as they could to prevent fellow plotters from being implicated in the attempt on Hitler's life, but on 26 July 1944, Hofacker was arrested in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
before he could go into hiding.
He was tortured by the Gestapo
Gestapo
The Gestapo was the official secret police of Nazi Germany. Beginning on 20 April 1934, it was under the administration of the SS leader Heinrich Himmler in his position as Chief of German Police...
. At first, he steadfastly assumed all responsibility for actions related to the plot in Paris, but later, he was made to yield Rommel's name to his interrogators.
Hofacker's behaviour before the Volksgerichtshof could only be called defiant. He condemned Hitler, and even told Chief Justice Roland Freisler
Roland Freisler
Roland Freisler was a prominent and notorious Nazi lawyer and judge. He was State Secretary of the Reich Ministry of Justice and President of the People's Court , which was set up outside constitutional authority...
that his only regret was not having had the opportunity to carry out the assassination attempt himself.
Hofacker was found guilty of treason
Treason
In law, treason is the crime that covers some of the more extreme acts against one's sovereign or nation. Historically, treason also covered the murder of specific social superiors, such as the murder of a husband by his wife. Treason against the king was known as high treason and treason against a...
and sentenced to death. He was hanged at Plötzensee Prison
Plötzensee Prison
Plötzensee Prison was a Prussian institution built in Berlin between 1869 and 1879 near the lake Plötzensee, but in the neighbouring borough of Charlottenburg, on Hüttigpfad off Saatwinkler Damm. During Adolf Hitler's time in power from 1933 to 1945, more than 2,500 people were executed at...
in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
.