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Ludwig Beck

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Military Personnel

The Resume

    (June 29, 1880-July 20, 1944)
    Born in Biebrich, Germany
    German general
    Chief of the Army General Staff (1935-38)
    Was to have been named provisional Head of State if the July 20 assassination plot against Adolf Hitler had succeeded (1944)

Why he might be annoying:

    He testified on behalf of three officers caught distributing Nazi literature at a time when joining political parties was forbidden for members of the army (1930).
    When Hitler became chancellor, he declared, 'It is the first ray of hope since 1918.'
    He opposed Hitler not because he objected to conquering Europe but because he felt Germany needed more time before it was militarily ready.
    He resigned from the General Staff to protest Hitler's policies, then agreed to keep the resignation secret, rather undermining its value as a protest.
    After the failure of the assassination attempt against Hitler, he tried to commit suicide, but had to have a sergeant administer the coup de grace.

Why he might not be annoying:

    He wrote an operations manual that, with modifications, is still used by the German army.
    He kept his resignation from the General Staff secret in return for Hitler agreeing to appoint him to a field command, and considered it a betrayal when he was put on the retired list instead.
    He tried to convince Germany's general to resign en masse to protest plans for war with Czechoslovakia (1938), declaring, 'If they all act together, then it will be impossible to carry out military action. They will thereby save the Fatherland from the worst, from total ruin.'

Credit: C. Fishel


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 2 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 4 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 8 Votes: 75.00% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 7 Votes: 57.14% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 9 Votes: 44.44% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 16 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 2 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 13 Votes: 53.85% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 6 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 7 Votes: 57.14% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 22 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 10 Votes: 60.0% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 46 Votes: 78.26% Annoying
    In 2010, Out of 22 Votes: 36.36% Annoying