Ernst John von Freyend

Ernst John von Freyend (* 1909, † 1980) was a German officer. He was a Major in the High Command of the Wehrmacht and Agent of the Federal Intelligence Service ( BND).

July 20, 1944

Ernst John von Freyend was an eyewitness to the assassination attempt of July 20, 1944, Adolf Hitler.

As a personal adjutant Wilhelm Keitel, he took part in the Wolf's Lair at the morning meeting with Adolf Hitler. After the preliminary discussion in the barracks of Keitel was done, wanted Claus Schenk von Stauffenberg and his adjutant Werner von Haeften activate under the pretext of having to change his shirt, the explosive charge. John Freyend showed him this to a room. The reasoning seemed plausible because Stauffenberg was since his injury totally disabled. In the assigned room, the two men began to make the bomb sharp. Because it took a long time, suddenly Sergeant Werner Vogel stood in the doorway and announced that Keitel admonished to hurry, because Hitler wanted to start his briefings on time. Stauffenberg replied that he was going. Vogel later reported that the two men were busy poring over a briefcase and had located on the bed many papers. Since birds waiting outside the door left open, it is assumed that he so Stauffenberg prevented them to put the second packet in the briefcase. When Stauffenberg finally stepped out of John Freyend urged him to hurry: " Stauffenberg, so please come " Keitel was vorgangen. Together with Walter Buhle he led him into the conference hut. It's not really clear whether he has borne him the bag and whether Stauffenberg was able to instruct his place.

The locking circuit in which Hitler lived at that time and its leader position held was cordoned off by a fence. The Reich Security RSD and the SS escort squad stood guard and ran on the site patrol. Stauffenberg and his companions passed the guard without any problems. Already on the way there, John Freyend Stauffenberg had offered to carry the bag, but he had declined. Since the security area was cordoned off, there was no lifeguard on the site, there were no people or more bag checks instead. Only the cap and the coupling, with or without a weapon, should be taken at the wardrobe. Here Stauffenberg asked John Freyend, he should place him because of his injury-related hearing loss as close to the leader. John von Stauffenberg place Freyend could want, even though the meeting had already begun. Upon detonation of the bomb was only slightly injured by Freyend.

After 1945

John Freyend it to present itself at the Nuremberg trials as an assistant and valet of Keitel, who was not involved in military decision-making process succeeded. In the early 1950s he was an employee at the Gehlen Organization, the forerunner of the Federal Intelligence Service.

Awards

• Wound Badge July 20, 1944