When we think of figures who resisted the Nazi regime, names like Claus von Stauffenberg often come to mind. However, a lesser known hero whose story deserves equal recognition is Georg Elser. This unassuming carpenter originally from Königsbronn, Germany, made a bold attempt by himself to assassinate Adolf Hitler, aiming to alter the course of history.
A Bold Plan
In 1938, Georg Elser, disturbed by Hitler's escalating aggression and the increasing oppression in Germany, decided that drastic action was necessary. He believed that assassinating Hitler could save countless lives and halt the Nazi war machine. This conviction led him to a daring plan: a bombing at the Bürgerbräukeller beer hall in Munich, where Hitler delivered his annual speech commemorating the his failed 1923 Beer Hall Putsch.
Elser stood long against the Nazis having voted for the Communist Party in 1933 and having previously joined their paramilitary in 1929. As to how far his political motivations pushed him we cannot say, but his religious convictions, witnessing of worsening conditions for German workers, and the inevitability of Nazi-led war seem to all pushed him to assassinate Hitler.
His preparation for the assassination was nothing short of extraordinary and was planned over one year after his decision on the location at the Bürgerbräukeller. Here he was certain Hitler would give a speech on November 8th 1939 as he had done on previous years. Over several months, he secretly gathered materials and conducted extensive research on bomb-making. He even took a job at an armament factory to steal explosives. Elser meticulously also studied the layout of the Bürgerbräukeller, noting structural details and planning exactly where to place his bomb.
Elser's bomb was a masterpiece of engineering. It consisted of a clockwork mechanism with multiple timers to ensure a precise detonation that could be armed days in advance. Elser built it in such a way that it could be hidden within a pillar directly behind the speaker's podium that would additionally be packed with more explosives. Night after night, he surreptitiously worked inside the beer hall, hollowing out the pillar and installing his device.
Finally on the morning of November 6th, he set the two clockwork mechanisms for the evening of November 8th. After a brief visit to his sister in Stuttgart, he checked the timing device one more time during the night of November 7th to 8th, 1939 and after that, on November 8th, he traveled to Konstanz to illegally cross the border into Switzerland before the detonation. Unfortunately though at 8:45 PM, Elser, who happened to attract the attention of a customs patrol, was arrested. Elser's bomb was armed and ready though and the guards had little to suspect of Elser besides illegally crossing the border.
Failed Assassination
Initially, Hitler was resolved not to deliver a speech at the anniversary celebrations of the Hitler Putsch for the first time, owing to the start of the War that broken out on September 1st and the impending offensive by German forces in the West. His deputy, Rudolf Hess, was to address the event in his stead. However, at the last moment, Hitler opted to seize this chance to deliver a crucial speech personally. His address was notably briefer than in previous years though, as he needed to return to Berlin right away, and he ended his speech at 9:07 PM. At exactly 9:20 PM the bomb exploded, detonating exactly where Hitler had been standing 13 minutes before.
Hitler unknowingly standing in front of the bomb planted by Georg Elser; Georg-Elser.de
Detectives at the now heavily destroyed Bürgerbräukeller managed to piece together some of the bomb and knew it was a highly skilled device. After many interviews the police piece together that many witnesses mention a worker who was often seen near the sight of where the bomb was planted. But already when the news of the assassination attempt reached Konstanz certain items in Elser's pockets aroused suspicion with the border police.
These included a postcard of the Bürgerbräukeller, a badge of the Red Front Fighters' League, notes on armament production, and some parts of a timing device. The Gestapo took him to the State Police Headquarters in Munich, where he was interrogated and tortured. Here the Gestapo with enough evidence were able to convince Elser to admit he did the assassination and after explaining how he did it, were convinced he has acted alone.
Photo of Georg Elser during his interrogation by the Gestapo; Georg-Elser.de
This though did not play well to Nazi propaganda which quickly blamed the assassination on a conspiracy involving British intelligence and German emigrants, despite Elser's confession. Specifically they accused Otto Strasser and two British agents, who were unrelated to the attack, to support this narrative. To be sure in case evidence were to arise and Elser could be publicly humiliated in a "People's Trial", he was held alive as a "VIP" prisoner in isolation at Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp.
Elser would spend a total of five years in concentration camps, enduring harsh having no contact with any others besides his guards, who were always present. Despite the suffering, he remained steadfast in his belief that he had done the right thing, though assuming he would never come out alive. Tragically his prediction was correct when on April 9th 1945, just weeks before the end of the war, Elser was executed in Dachau concentration camp and his body incinerated.
The Georg Elser Memorial in Berlin
For many years, Elser's story remained relatively obscure, overshadowed by other resistance figures. However, his bravery and determination were not forgotten. In 2011, the Georg Elser Memorial was unveiled in Berlin, ensuring that his legacy lives on. This striking memorial, located near Wilhelmstraße across from where the Nazi Propaganda Ministry used to stand, features a 17-meter-high steel sculpture symbolizing Elser's steadfast resolve and his contribution to the fight against tyranny.
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