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Stauffenberg's legacy: Focus on democracy as a precious privilege!
Berthold Schenk Graf von Stauffenberg speaks in Backnang about democracy and civil courage as part of the “Head Type Stories” series.
Stauffenberg's legacy: Focus on democracy as a precious privilege!
On December 13, 2024, an impressive event in the “Head Types Stories” series took place in Backnang, at which Berthold Schenk Graf von Stauffenberg was a guest. In front of around 150 listeners, he spoke about his childhood during the Nazi era and the importance of democracy, which he described as an essential privilege. His father, Claus Schenk Graf von Stauffenberg, was known as a resistance fighter who made a failed assassination attempt on Adolf Hitler on July 20, 1944. In his opening speech, Uwe Burkert, CEO of Kreissparkasse Waiblingen, highlighted the relevance of this period and the lessons that can be learned from the failed assassination attempt; especially in view of the current dangers posed by emerging right-wing governments, they reported Stuttgart News.
A life of resistance
Berthold Schenk Graf von Stauffenberg, who is considered the eldest son of the famous resistance fighter, described his formative experiences. At just ten years old, he witnessed the horrors of the Third Reich, which motivated him to actively support democracy. In his conversation with moderator Petra Klein, he described how important civil courage is for maintaining democratic structures. “Democracy is not a gift, but requires constant effort,” he emphasized. His warning about the threat to democratic values posed by authoritarian tendencies was followed closely by those present.
The resistance of his father, Claus Schenk Graf von Stauffenberg, is today seen as a symbol of the courage to stand up against dictatorship and oppression. Claus Schenk, who served as a colonel in World War II, tried to overthrow the National Socialist regime, but failed and was shot that same evening. Berthold himself, who was involved in the assassination attempt, was later arrested and also executed. This moving family story shows the importance of commitment to freedom and the preservation of democracy, which is still very relevant today Wikipedia determines.