Max Williams wrote:Potsdamerplatz wrote:Max Williams wrote:One that never gets identified is number 39. It is Ernst John von Freyend, the adjutant of GFM Keitel.
Max.
Max,
Is this the officer who was slightly suspicious of Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg on the day of the July 20th bomb plot?
Best regards,
von Freyend was present in the conference room when the bomb exploded. In fact he was standing almost opposite Hitler across the map table. Surprisingly, his injuries were minor (I think just perforated eardrums). As to his suspicions, are you referring to before the detonation or immediately after?
Max.
Just came across this old thread again and am updating some information.
Yes, indeed von Freyend was suspicious of Stauffenberg both before and after the explosion.
When Stauffenberg arrived at Rastenburg he reported to Keitel's quarters where he learned that the daily conference had been brought forward because of Mussolini's impending visit later that afternoon. All 3 men were present in Keitel's quarters during this short discussion.
Keitel realised they would miss the start of the conference and urged Stauffenberg to hurry along in sorting out his report. They all left Keitel's hut to head towards the conference barracks.
Stauffenberg excused himself. He had left his hat back in Keitel's office. He returned alone and this gave him the opportunity to set the detonator. After a minute or so Keitel sent his adjutant back in after Stauffenberg to find out what was taking him so long. von Freyend entered the office just as Stauffenberg was closing his briefcase. He later said that "something just didn't seem right" with the one-eyed Colonel who was sweating and nervous but he didn't raise his suspicions to Keitel.
After the detonation it was von Freyend who first cast suspicion on Stauffenberg. He had seen him make his excuse to leave the conference room and found this all very strange, especially coupled with his earlier behaviour back at Keitel's hut.
All the above is included in greater detail in several books including
"The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich" by William Shirer.
To clear up a little mystery - I recently discovered from Bloch's biography of Ribbentrop that ASHCAN stood for
Allied
Supreme
Headquaters for
Captured
Axis
Nationals.
It was also unofficially known as "Trashcan" and "Dustbin" by those soldiers who served there as all the rotten eggs were put in one basket.
Kind regards.