This Date in History: April 9

Wilhelm Canaris, Navy Admiral, born January 1, 1887 in Aplerbeck/Dortmund, director of the Abwehr – the counterintelligence department of the High Command of the Armed Forces, implicated in the July 20, 1944 plot to assassinate Hitler, executed by hanging on April 9, 1945 at the Flossenbürg concentration camp.  His last words were: “My time is up.  Was not a traitor.  Did my duty as a German.  If you survive, remember me to my wife.”  (2000 Quotations from Hitler’s Thousand Year Reich)

**********

Hans Jeschonnek, Luftwaffe Colonel General, born April 9, 1899 in Hohensalza/Posen, winner of the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross, chief of the Luftwaffe General Staff, committed suicide August 19, 1943 at Hitler’s headquarters in East Prussia, last words:

“I can no longer work together with the Reichs Marshal [Göring].  Long live the Führer.  [Colonel Ulrich] Diesing and [Colonel Bernd] von Brauchitsch shall not be at my funeral.”  (2000 Quotations from Hitler’s Thousand Year Reich)