How to Pronounce Erwin von Witzleben

Meaning and Context

Erwin von Witzleben, born in 1881, was a career German military officer who attained the rank of Generalfeldmarschall (Field Marshal) in 1940 during the early campaigns of World War II. His legacy, however, is firmly rooted not in his service to the Nazi regime but in his principled opposition to it, making him a central figure in the German Resistance. As a key conspirator in the July 20 Plot of 1944—the most famous attempt to assassinate Adolf Hitler—von Witzleben was designated to assume command of the entire Wehrmacht following the coup. His profound moral conviction against the atrocities and strategic folly of the Nazi leadership led him to risk his life and reputation. Following the plot's failure, he was brutally tried in the infamous Volksgerichtshof (People's Court), sentenced to death, and executed by hanging in August 1944, cementing his status as a symbol of conscience and courage within the German armed forces during a dark historical period.

Common Mistakes and Alternative Spellings

The name "Erwin von Witzleben" follows standard German orthography, but several common errors and variations occur, particularly in non-German sources. The most frequent typographical error involves the "von" particle, which is sometimes incorrectly capitalized as "Von" when starting a sentence or in full capitalization, though it should remain lowercase. The surname "Witzleben" can be misspelled as "Witzleben" (adding an extra 't') or "Witzlebe" (dropping the 'n'). Some may erroneously combine the elements, writing "vonwitzleben" as one word. Anglicized writing occasionally omits the umlaut, though less common for this name, resulting in "Witzleben." It is also important to note the correct full title: "Generalfeldmarschall Erwin von Witzleben," where "Generalfeldmarschall" is a single compound word and the rank is often abbreviated as "Field Marshal" in English contexts.

Example Sentences

Historical accounts of the July 20 Plot detail that Field Marshal Erwin von Witzleben was to play a crucial role by taking immediate control of the German military upon Hitler's assassination.

During his show trial, a defiant Erwin von Witzleben openly declared his opposition to the criminal nature of the Nazi regime, an act of bravery that was broadcast in propaganda newsreels.

Scholars of the German Resistance often cite the correspondence between Erwin von Witzleben and other conspirators like Ludwig Beck as evidence of the widespread disillusionment within the Wehrmacht's high command.

The execution of Erwin von Witzleben, carried out with grotesque cruelty on the personal orders of Hitler, served as a stark warning to other potential dissidents.

Today, the Bundeswehr barracks in Hannover bear the name "Feldmarschall-von-Witzleben-Kaserne" in honor of his moral stand.

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