FRITZ ERICH FELLGIEBEL

FRITZ ERICH FELLGIEBEL
(1886 - 1944) Anti-Nazi German army general and a conspirator in the 20 July plot to assassinate Adolf Hitler. In 1929, Fellgiebel became head of the cipher bureau of the Reichswehrministerium. He was a signals specialist and was instrumental in introducing the Enigma machine. On 20 July 1944 he tried to cut Hitler's headquarters at Wolf's Lair off from all telecommunication connections. He only partly succeeded, as he could not prevent the informing of Joseph Goebbels in Berlin via separate SS links. When it became clear that the attempt had failed, Fellgiebel had to override the communications black-out he had set up. Fellgiebel's most famous act that day was his telephone report to his co-conspirator General Fritz Thiele, after he was informed that Hitler was still alive: "Etwas Furchtbares ist passiert! Der Führer lebt!" ("Something awful has happened! The Führer lives!"). Fellgiebel was arrested immediately and tortured for three weeks, but did not reveal any of his co-conspirators. On 10 August 1944, he was found guilty by Roland Freisler and sentenced to death. Very rare A.E.S. at the conclusion of a document which has also been endorsed and signed by Gen. HANS JUPPE (1889-1973), Army Inspector and later general for the Croatian armed forces, 2pp. 4to., Berlin, Feb. 15, 1941. OKW/Stb.WNV / KFA. Assesment of Oberstleutnant Friedrich-Karl von Knobeldorff-Brenkenhoff, 'The transfer of this excellent officer to the officer's korps is endorsed 19.2.41. Fellgiebel'.