Beck, Ludwig


Beck, Ludwig

(lo͞ot`vĭkh bĕk), 1880–1944, German general, leader of resistance to Hitler. A highly cultivated career soldier, he served on the general staff during World War I and by 1933 had become in effect head of the army general staff. He opposed Hitler's plans for aggression and his attempts to destroy the independence of the army. In 1938 he resigned in protest against the planned attack on Czechoslovakia. With Carl F. GoerdelerGoerdeler, Carl Friedrich
, 1884–1945, German civil servant, leader of resistance to Hitler. Lord mayor of Leipzig (1930–37) and price commissioner (1931–32, 1934–35), he resigned after continuously protesting measures taken by the Nazi regime.
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 he thereafter conspired to overthrow the regime. Their efforts were repeatedly frustrated until July 20, 1944, when a bomb was placed in Hitler's conference room. Hitler escaped. Beck was arrested and shot.

Beck, Ludwig

 

Born June 29, 1880, in Biebrich; died July 20, 1944, in Berlin. Colonel general of the fascist German army. From a family of big industrialists.

Beck took part in World War I as General Staff officer, was chief of staff of the army, and subsequently served in the Reichswehr. From 1933 he was chief of the military department and, from 1935, chief of the General Staff of ground forces. He actively participated in the creation of the fascist German Wehrmacht but found himself in opposition to Hitler. In August 1938, he was discharged from his post. One of the leaders of the unsuccessful conspiracy against Hitler in 1944, he was arrested and committed suicide.