WW2-Poland-2015
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The participants of the meeting described the explosion as a powerful blow of air, accompanied by loud noise and<br />
flames. Almost everyone was thrown on the floor by the impact, but no one was thrown through the window as some<br />
studies indicate. Suddenly someone cried: "Where is the Führer?" -- it was Keitel. After several seconds he found Hitler<br />
and helped him leave the premises.<br />
Prof. von Hasselbach put on the first bandages and then prof. Morell took over Hitler. The Führer’s right elbow was<br />
bleeding, but the arm functioned normally. His skin was slightly scratched on the left hand. No serious damage of the<br />
hearing organ was detected apart from the breaking of the eardrum. Führer was clearly excited. He said that he had<br />
been aware for a long time that there were traitors surrounding him. Three hours after the attack Hitler was already<br />
able to welcome Mussolini at the local railway station (the visit of the Italian leader in Wolf's Lair lasted only 2.5 hours).<br />
As a result of the explosion the stenografer and three generals were mortally wounded. The majority of participants<br />
had to be treated in hospital due to injuries such as broken eardrums or brain shock. Professor von Hasselbach looked<br />
after the patients.<br />
"The experts researching the effects of bomb explosions agreed with the fact that the quantity of the explosive brought<br />
by Stauffenberg to the meeting would have killed all participants if it had been held in the concrete bunker. Because<br />
the meeting was held in a barrack, injuries were relatively small " (14, p. 476).<br />
On July 21 at about 1.00 A.M. a night radio broadcast Hitler's speech : "... German companions, I don't know how many<br />
times already someone planned and made an attempt to kill me. If today I speak to you, I do it for two reasons: First,<br />
I want you to hear my voice to let you know that I'm alive and healthy. Secondly, I want you to learn more about the<br />
crime, which has nothing equal in the history of Germany. A small group of selfish, devoid of conscience and at same<br />
time murderous, foolish officers planned a plot to remove me together with my military command. The bomb planted<br />
by Colonel Count von Stauffenberg exploded 2 meters from my right hand... I survived entirely without damage except<br />
for minor scratches, bruises and burns. I accept this as a confirmation of my tasks commissioned by Providence to<br />
continue to pursue my goal in life as I did until now. The group of people represented by those traitors has nothing in<br />
common with Wermacht or the German Army. This time we are going to make even in the National Socialists’ style! "<br />
(7, p. 324).<br />
The rest of the speech was a mixture of vulgar insults ended with the announcement that traitors will be mercilessly<br />
removed.<br />
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