Philipp Frieherr von Boeselager was born in the Rhineland in 1917. After leaving school he joined the German cavalry, and after war broke out in 1939 he enthusiastically took part in the invasion of France. As the war went on he became increasingly disgusted with the Nazis, and in 1943-4 he took part in various plots to kill Hitler, including the famous Stauffenberg plot, 'Operation Valkyrie'. After the war he became a forestry expert. He has since been honored by both France and Germany for his part in the plot.
Provides many insights ... Detail abounds... astonishing * DAILY TELEGRAPH * Explains the motivations and frustrations of the conspirators .... a memorable short book, written in crisp prose * DAILY EXPRESS * The last of its kind ... celebrates a long-since vanished generation ... as idealistic as they were brave * DAILY MAIL * A fascinating description of some of the peripheral details of the plot as well as a unique account of the life of a cavalry officer * THE TABLET * First-hand account of the 1944 military coup that failed to depose the Nazis * BBC HISTORY MAGAZINE * A remarkable and honest testament to the courage of the small band of resisters who dared to try and stop Hitler and his lunacy * NEWS LETTER * An invaluable testimony ... von Boeselager has produced an account infused with great honesty, a thousand miles from the standard accounts that sometimes appear in the newspapers * LE MONDE * a remarkable and honest testament to the courage of the small band of resisters who dared to try and stop Hitler and his lunacy * NEWS LETTER *