Axel von dem Bussche
In 1937, Axel von dem Bussche was 18 but after proper schooling entered the German Army as an officer. During those lean times, it was a logical choice. Nazis had resources and jobs when others were still suffering. He joined enthusiastically but secretly was aghast at the activities of the Nazis. In 1942, he watched in horror as a group of SS officers rounded up 3000 Jews in Poland and massacred them all. He turned against the Furher and joined a resistance movement inside Army Group Center under now famous Count Staffenberg. He felt that he had every right to kill Hitler do stop future wrong doings.
His chance came in February of 1944 when he was chosen to model a new winter combat coat for Hitler personally. Inside his infantry trouser pockets he had a couple of bombs prepared. His intention was to hug Hitler and detonate them killing them both.
The evening before, an RAF bombing raid destroyed the train car the clothing and bombs were in and so Hitler dodged a bullet. Or should we say he dodged a button.
Source: George Duncan’s lesser known facts about World War II.
