The Execution Of The German General Shot On Hitler’s Direct Orders

Throughout the Second World War, there were a number of German generals who were responsible for war crimes against civilians. One of those was Gustav Heistermann von Ziehlberg, a very experienced commander who had served Germany in the army for around 30 years. He saw action on the Eastern Front and also in Italy, and whilst here he was known to have ordered the executions of prisoners of war. But von Ziehlberg would be linked to a failed plot to assassinate Hitler, and with this the Dictator furiously ordered action to be taken against him. Von Ziehlberg had been ordered to arrest his staff officer but he refused to do this, and because of this he was placed under suspicion and was linked to the July 20th Plot, or the failed bombing of Hitler’s Wolf’s Lair, that left Hitler injured. Because of this, von Ziehlberg was court-martialled and Hitler personally ordered his execution and the courtroom even regarded the death sentence as unfair. Close to the Olympic Stadium in Berlin the experienced