Berthold Schenk von Stauffenberg

Graf Berthold Schenk von Stauffenberg (March 15, 1905 - August 10, 1944) was a German lawyer and conspirator in the July 20 Plot.

He was the oldest of three brothers, the others were Alexander and Claus. They were born into a old and noble Catholic family.

Studied law at ???. Became instructor in international law at the Kaiser Wilhelm Institute of Foreign and International Law in 1927. He worked at the Hague from 1930-32. Married Maria Classen. In 1939 he joined the navy, working in the High Command as a staff judge.

Claus planted the bomb at Rastenberg, East Prussia and then flew to Berlin, he met up with Berthold at Ransgdorf airfield and they went to Bendlerstrasse, which the coup leaders intended to use as the centre of their operations in Berlin.

Berthold and his brother were arrested at Bendlerstrasse. Claus was executed by firing squad that night. Berthold was tried in the People's Court by Roland Freisler. He was one of eight conspirators executed by strangulation, hung slowly in Plötzensee Prison, Berlin.