Program Information

By the fall of 1938 the Nazis had eliminated most opposition to Hitler, but not all.

A Moment in Time is a brief, exciting and compelling journey into the past. Created to excite and enlighten the public about the past, its relevance to the present and its impact on the future, A Moment In Time is a captivating historical narrative that is currently broadcast worldwide.

Transcript

Lead: By the fall of 1938 the Nazis had eliminated most opposition to Hitler, but not all.

Intro: A Moment In Time with Dan Roberts.

Content: The press, universities, political parties, the church, and the courts were either fully under the control of the regime or fear had neutralized them. This does not mean there was no opposition; in fact, some of the highest-ranking officers of the German military were actively plotting against the Fuhrer. Unlike other Germans who loathed the Nazis, these men could do something about it.

The generals were happy with the war machine Hitler had created for them but few admired or respected him. Most disdained him and the lowlife Nazi scum he had installed in power. With each move he made into the Rhineland, into Austria, threatening Czechoslovakia, the possibility that his maneuvering would bring France and England down on an unprepared Germany frightened the generals.

The leading figure in the plot was retired General Ludwig Beck, former chief of the general staff. His successor General Franz Halder, Admiral Canaris, and several others joined him.

On September 9th Hitler went over the final plans for the invasion of Czechoslovakia. He assured his generals that the French would back down. Halder felt that Hitler had finally snapped and was bringing them to the edge of the abyss. On September 15th the conspirators met at his apartment. Their plan was simple but naive: when the final orders for invasion were issued, Canaris would meet with Hitler and throw him into an insane asylum. Others would arrest Himmler and Hess and then the government would be offered to Goering.

Even as they were speaking they were interrupted by an astonishing radio broadcast. Chamberlain, the British prime minister, had requested a meeting with Hitler at Berchtesgaden. The allies had caved in. In the words of General von Kleist, "Hitler is a swine, but he is a lucky one." The French and the English had fed Czechoslovakia to the rapacious dictator, and by their own timidity had killed whatever nerve was left among the plotters. The chance to stop Hitler before war was gone.

The producer of A Moment In Time is Steve Clark. At the University of Richmond, this is Dan Roberts.

Virginia Standards