| Prime Minister of the Italian Social Republic of Salo and Dictator Il Duce Benito Mussolini (July 29, 1883 – April 28, 1945) with Führer und Reichskanzler (“Leader and Reichchancellor”) Adolf Hitler (April 20, 1889 – April 30, 1945) and his Entourage at the Führerhauptquartier Wolfsschanze (“Führer Headquarters Wolf’s Lair”) just after the July 20 Plot bomb explosion. From left to right: Mussolini; Chef des Parteikanzlei (“Chief of the Nazi Party Chancellery”) Martin L. Bormann (June 17, 1900 – May 2, 1945); Nazi German intelligence agent in Italy and Schutzstaffel (SS) member Eugen Dollmann (August 8, 1900 – May 17, 1985); Großadmiral Karl Dönitz (September 16, 1891 – December 24, 1980), Oberbefehlshaber der Kriegsmarine (“Supreme Commander of the Nazi German Navy”); Hitler; Oberbefehlshaber der Luftwaffe (“Supreme Commander of the Air Force”) Reichsmarschall Hermann Goering (January 12, 1893 – October 15, 1946); Reichsminister des Auswärtigen (“Reich Minister of Foreign Affairs”) Joachim von Ribbentrop (April 30, 1893 – October 16, 1946); SS-Gruppenführer Hermann Fegelein October 30, 1906 – April 28, 1945), who had recently married Eva Braun’s (February 6, 1912 – April 30, 1945) sister Gretl (August 31, 1915 – October 10, 1987); Persönliche Angelegenheiten des Führers (“Personal Affairs of the Leader”) Albert Bormann (September 2, 1902 – April 8, 1989); Generaloberst Bruno Loerzer (January 22, 1891 – August 23, 1960), Chef des Luftwaffenpersonalamts (“Chief of the Luftwaffe Personnel Department”). Generaloberst Kurt Zeitzler (June 9, 1895 – September 25, 1963), Chef des Generalstabes des Heeres (“Chief of the Army General Staff”). Still in blissful ignorance of the attempted coup dÉtat underway in Berlin and Paris, Hitler’s staff at Rastenburg, recovering from the initial shock of the bomb, hastily made preparations for the visit from Il Duce – Benito Mussolini. As they awaited his belated arrival at the Rastenburg railway siding, Germany’s leaders congratulated their Führer on his “miraculous’” escape from Oberst Claus von Stauffenberg’s (November 15, 1907 – July 21, 1944) bomb blast. With the exception of Reichsminister für Volksaufklärung und Propaganda (“Reich Minister for Public Enlightenment and Propaganda) Joseph Goebbels (October 29, 1897 – May 1, 1945), who was at his office in the capital, and Reichsführer-SS Heinrich Himmler (October 7, 1900 – May 23, 1945), who, promoted to Commander in Chief of the Reserve Army in place of Generaloberst Friedrich W. Fromm (October 1888 – March 12, 1945) – who was believed to be in league with the plotters – was flying towards Berlin in pursuit of Stauffenberg, most of the top Nazis had gathered at the Wolf’s Lair. Goering was there – gaudy as ever in his outsize Luftwaffe uniform and jackboots. Foreign Minister Ribbentrop had hastened over from his schloss (“chateau”) at Steinort to offer his unctuous congratulations to his master. There too was Admiral Dönitz, architect of the U-boat campaign against Allied shipping. At 1600 Hours, some 3 hours behind schedule, Mussolini’s train rolled into the siding. The former dictator, inappropriately swathed in black coat and hat against the humid heat, looked all of his 60 years. Hitler, however, looked even worse. White-faced and shaken, his singed hair – “sticking up like a hedgehog” as 1 of his secretaries later recalled – was concealed by his military cap. His arm was in a sling under his military cloak, and with cotton wool sprouting from both of his injured ears, he presented a sorry sight to his comrade in arms. Ushering Mussolini into his car for the short drive back to the Wolf’s Lair, Hitler explained in a few words what had happened just 3 hours before. Aghast that Hitler’s security had been so easily penetrated, Mussolini allowed himself to be given a conducted tour of the shattered remains of the conference room with Hitler as his guide. “I was standing right here, next to the table,” recounted the Führer hoarsely. “The bomb went off just at my feet! Look at my uniform!” he urged as his tattered and scorched garments were held up for the Duce’s inspection. “Look at my burns!” he exclaimed. Hitler then fixed his fellow dictator with 1 of his famous hypnotic gazes. “When I reflect on all this, Duce, it is obvious that nothing is going to happen to me. It is certainly my task to continue on my path and bring my work to completion.” Recalling his previous escape from Elser’s bomb, Hitler commented that it was not the 1st time that Providence had held its protective hand over him. “Having escaped death in this extraordinary way, I am more than ever sure that the great cause that 1 serve will survive its present perils and everything will be brought to a good end.” He gazed at Mussolini, as if beseeching confirmation. Obediently, the Duce answered the Führer’s cue: “You are right, Führer, he affirmed. Heaven has helped protect and defend you. After this miracle, it is inconceivable that our cause could come to any harm?” The 2 dictators and their respective entourages – which included on the Italian side Marshal Rodolfo Graziani (August 11, 1882 – January 11, 1955), 1 of the few Italian military leaders to stay loyal to the Duce, and the dictator’s son Vittorio Mussolini (September 27, 1916 – June 12, 1997); and on the German side Goering, Dönitz, Ribbentrop and the omnipresent Bormann – then adjourned for tea at 1700 Hours before settling down for their formal talks. The discussions had been due to cover such subjects as the defense of Italy’s Gothic Line against the steady Allied advance up the peninsula, and the fate of thousands of Italian soldiers who were reluctant to fight further for Mussolini and were being held in deplorable conditions in German camps. The meeting was, however, entirely overshadowed by the repercussions of Stauffenberg’s bomb. | |
| Image Filename | wwii0676.jpg |
| Image Size | 1.27 MB |
| Image Dimensions | 3500 x 2422 |
| Photographer | Heinrich Hoffmann |
| Photographer Title | Heinrich Hoffmann Presse |
| Caption Author | Written or Adapted by Jason McDonald |
| Date Photographed | July 20, 1944 |
| Location | |
| City | Rastenburg |
| State or Province | East Prussia |
| Country | Germany |
| Archive | Archiwa Państwowe |
| Record Number | 12190 |
| Status | Caption ©2026 MFA Productions LLC Please Do Not Duplicate or Distribute Without Permission; Image in the Public Domain |
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