Changes

'''Claus Philip Schenk Graf von Stauffenberg''' (November 15, 1907 Jettingen - July 20, 1944, [[Berlin]]) was the [[Wehrmacht]] [[Colonel]] who masterminded the [[Hitler#Assassination_attempt|20 July plot]] against the life of [[Adolf Hitler]]. He is now regarded as one of the great heroes in [[German History]].

'''Claus Philip Schenk Graf von Stauffenberg''' (November 15, 1907 Jettingen - July 20, 1944, [[Berlin]]) was the [[Wehrmacht]] [[Colonel]] who masterminded the [[Hitler#Assassination attempt|20 July plot]] against the life of [[Adolf Hitler]]. He is now regarded as one of the great heroes in [[German History]].

==Early Life==

==Early life==

Count Claus von Stauffenberg was born in 1907 to Count Alfred von Stauffenberg, Lord Chamberlain of the [[Kingdom of Württemberg]], and Countess Caroline von Üxküll-Gyllenband. His bearing and that of his brothers was influenced by their father's responsibilities at the Royal Court in [[Stuttgart]]. Germany's defeat in [[World War I]] and the collapse of the monarchy devastated the Stauffenberg family. In 1918, Claus was heard to say, "My Germany cannot perish: if she goes down now, she will rise again strong and great: after all, there is still a God."<ref>Peter Hoffmann, "Stauffenberg: A Family History 1905-1944," page 13.</ref>

Count Claus von Stauffenberg was born in 1907 to Count Alfred von Stauffenberg, Lord Chamberlain of the [[Kingdom of Württemberg]], and Countess Caroline von Üxküll-Gyllenband. His bearing and that of his brothers was influenced by their father's responsibilities at the Royal Court in [[Stuttgart]]. Germany's defeat in [[World War I]] and the collapse of the monarchy devastated the Stauffenberg family. In 1918, Claus was heard to say, "My Germany cannot perish: if she goes down now, she will rise again strong and great: after all, there is still a God."<ref>Peter Hoffmann, "Stauffenberg: A Family History 1905-1944," page 13.</ref>

Beginning in their teens, the Stauffenberg brothers were received into the Circle of conservative poet [[Stefan George]]. George's ideals, which remained a mystery to those outside the Circle, had a massive influence over the Stauffenberg brothers, especially with regard to the special destiny of an idealistic elite. In the lead-up to the attempt on Hitler's life, Claus would frequently quote Stefan George's poetry, especially the poem ''Der Widerchrist'' ("The Anti-Christ").<ref> Joachim Fest, "Plotting Hitler's Death: the Story of the German Resistance," page 216.</ref>

Beginning in their teens, the Stauffenberg brothers were received into the Circle of conservative poet [[Stefan George]]. George's ideals, which remained a mystery to those outside the Circle, had a massive influence over the Stauffenberg brothers, especially with regard to the special destiny of an idealistic elite. In the lead-up to the attempt on Hitler's life, Claus would frequently quote Stefan George's poetry, especially the poem ''Der Widerchrist'' ("The Anti-Christ").<ref>Joachim Fest, "Plotting Hitler's Death: the Story of the German Resistance," page 216.</ref>

==Further Reading==

==Further reading==

* Joachim Fest, ''Plotting Hitler's Death: The Story of the German Resistance'', 1996.

* Joachim Fest, ''Plotting Hitler's Death: The Story of the German Resistance'', 1996.

* Peter Hoffmann, ''Stauffenberg: A Family History 1905-1945'' Third Edition, 2003.

* Peter Hoffmann, ''Stauffenberg: A Family History 1905-1945'' Third Edition, 2003.