Friedrich-Werner von der Schulenburg was Germany's ambassador to the USSR before the war. He was accused of high treason and hanged. The attempt to end World War II, which claimed the life of a German diplomat, was not forgotten. Adyrna portal will tell its readers about the failed assassination attempt against Hitler.
On August 3, 1939, Germany and the Soviet Union signed a non-aggression pact. This surprised the whole world, as the two countries were in fact at odds over the ideas and plans they had put forward in recent years. The agreement on non-aggression in Moscow was signed by German Foreign Minister Joachim von Ribbentrop and USSR Foreign Minister Vyacheslav Molotov.
The agreement was reached through the efforts of the German Ambassador to Moscow Friedrich-Werner Graf von Schulenburg. This diplomat helped to reduce tensions between the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany. He tried to end the differences between the two sides and make peace.
German Ambassador to Moscow
Friedrich-Werner Graf von der Schulenburg was born on November 20, 1875 in Kimberg. He studied public law at the universities of Lausanne, Munich and Berlin. In 1901 he served as a consul in the German Foreign Ministry.
In the following years, Friedrich-Werner Graf von Schulenburg became the ambassador of Germany to many countries. He has worked in Barcelona, Prague, Warsaw and Tbilisi. At the beginning of the First World War, he returned to his homeland and joined the German army. For his military service, Friedrich-Werner Earl von der Schulenburg was awarded the Iron Cross.
After the end of the First World War, Friedrich-Werner Earl von der Schulenburg returned to diplomacy. He represented Germany as consul in Beirut, Iran and Romania. In 1934 he was appointed German ambassador to Moscow and served until Operation Barbarossa, which began in 1941.
State treason and punishment
During his time in the Soviet Union, Friedrich-Werner Count von der Schulenburg played an important role in easing tensions between Hitler and Stalin. On August 23, 1939, he signed a non-aggression pact, which included a clause dividing Poland between the USSR and Germany.
Shortly before the start of the German offensive against the Soviet Union on June 22, 1941, Friedrich-Werner Graf von Schulenburg opposed the plans of Adolf Hitler and the German military leadership. He repeatedly tried to find out a few secrets about the matter with the German Foreign Ministry, but could not get any information. In addition, he talked to the Soviet authorities about the suspicious actions of the Germans on the Eastern Front, and hinted at the possibility of a sudden invasion.
With the start of Operation Barbarossa, Friedrich-Werner Graf von der Schulenburg received a telegram with the text of a note declaring war on the Soviet Union. He was to hand it over to the People's Commissar for Foreign Affairs of the USSR. After the outbreak of the war, Friedrich-Werner Graf von der Schulenburg underwent an internship and then passed under German influence through Turkey.
On July 20, 1944, Schulenburg took part in the coup attempt. Adolf Hitler survived the assassination. Friedrich-Werner Earl von der Schulenburg was arrested and convicted of treason. German investigators then discovered that Friedrich-Werner was preparing to use his good relations with the Soviet Union to end the war.
He was also seen by anti-Hitler opposition members as a possible candidate for foreign minister.
Friedrich-Werner Earl von der Schulenburg was sentenced to death by firing squad after a failed coup attempt. The verdict was issued on November 10, 1944.
National portal "Adyrna"
