I wanted to prevent the war.
Georg Elser and the Assassination Attempt of November 8, 1939

Georg Elser was extremely critical of Nazi policies from the outset. He wanted to “improve workers’ conditions and avoid a war.” However, Elser also objected to the National Socialists restricting individual rights and freedoms after 1933. He consciously resisted the claim to absolute leadership by Nazi education and propaganda institu­tions. His beliefs rooted in Christianity, Elser was also appalled at the tangible suppres­sion of religious freedom.

Although the Western powers gave in to Germany’s territorial demands at the Munich Conference at the end of September 1938, this only postponed the National Socialists’ aggressive military plans. Elser realized that “a war is unavoidable.” In the fall of 1938 he therefore decided to remove the leading National Socialists: Hitler, Goebbels, and Göring. When the Second World War began with the Wehrmacht’s invasion of Poland on September 1, 1939, Elser felt confirmed in his intentions. Through his actions in Novem­ber 1939, Elser wanted to prevent “even greater bloodshed” through the expansion of the war to the West.