Germany: anti-Hitler plotters a model for today's military

 Faced with growing concern over right-wing extremism in Germany's military, country's defense minister on Monday marked anniversary of a failed plot to kill Adolf Hitler by urging today's soldiers to take ir inspiration from those who tried to assassinate Nazi dictator.

Speaking at a ceremony in Berlin swearing in new recruits on 76th anniversary of July 20, 1944, plot, Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer said right-wing soldiers who admire Nazi-era Wehrmacht military have place in today's military.

“ simple Wehrmacht soldier may have fought bravely, but if his bravery served an ideology of conquest, occupation and annihilation, n it was for thing,” she said, dpa news ncy reported. “I very well recognize individual trdy that lies in this truth.”

Earlier this month, Kramp-Karrenbauer disbanded a company of special forces, saying a culture of right-wing extremism had been allowed to develop through “toxic leadership.” move came at a time of broader concerns that Germany has t done eugh to tackle right-wing extremism within its Bundeswehr military in general.

Germany on Monday paid tribute to July 20 plot leader Col. Claus von Stauffenberg and ors who were captured and executed in failed attempt to kill Hitler.

“ only role models Bundeswehr can take from this time are those who tried to turn things around, like resistance fighters of July 20,” she told recruits.

Von Stauffenberg tried to kill Hitler with a briefcase bomb during a meeting at his headquarters in what was n East Prussia. Hitler escaped full force of blast when someone moved briefcase next to a table leg, deflecting much of explosive force. plot crumbled when news spread that Hitler had survived. Von Stauffenberg and his fellow plotters were executed within hours.

In a separate ceremony at a memorial established at capital's former Ploetzensee prison, where Nazis executed thousands of people, primarily opposition members, Kramp-Karrenbauer said legacy of July 20 plotters had “enabled us to return to community of or states” and was w woven into German foreign and security policy.

“We will never forget, we will always have cour to live democracy, we will protect law,” she said. "We will give strength to peace, freedom and humanity, also internationally. Today, here and w, we renew and reaffirm this promise in memory of men and women of July 20.”