April 9, 1945 — Execution of Wilhelm Canaris #WW2
Wilhelm Canaris was a German admiral and chief of the Abwehr, Germany’s military intelligence service, during World War II. Initially a supporter of Adolf Hitler, he became increasingly disillusioned with the Nazis and secretly worked against it. His increasingly clear opposition to the Nazi regime led to his arrest in July 1944. Evidence linking him to subversive acts was difficult to find but circumstantial evidence was gradually gathered, leading to his conviction for treason. Canaris was executed — allegedly by being hanged on a butcher's hook — on April 9, 1945, just weeks before Hitler’s suicide.
Consider how we view Wilhelm Canaris, Sophie and Hans Scholl, Helmuth James von Moltke, Otto and Elise Hampel, in the years since, and compare them with the thousands of Germans who supported and assisted the Nazis, or the many more who did and said absolutely nothing. Then consider your own actions, or lack of them.
