14 Facts About Erich Fellgiebel

Erich Fellgiebel was a signals specialist and was instrumental in introducing a common enciphering machine, the Enigma machine.

Erich Fellgiebel was born in Popelwitz in the Prussian Province of Silesia.

Erich Fellgiebel's service had been exemplary, and in 1928 he was promoted to the rank of major.

Erich Fellgiebel was promoted lieutenant colonel in 1933 and became a full colonel the following year.

Erich Fellgiebel became General der Nachrichtentruppe on 1 August 1940.

In 1942, Erich Fellgiebel was promoted to Chief Signal Officer of Army High Command and of Supreme Command of Armed Forces, a position he held until 1944 when he was arrested and executed for his key role in the 20 July plot to assassinate Hitler.

Adolf Hitler did not fully trust Erich Fellgiebel; Hitler considered him too independent-minded, but Hitler needed Erich Fellgiebel's expertise.

Erich Fellgiebel was one of the first to understand that the German military should adopt and use the Enigma encryption machine.

Erich Fellgiebel was a key source for the Red Orchestra.

Erich Fellgiebel released classified German military information to Rudolf Roessler about Operation Citadel which allowed Soviet forces to deploy effectively.

Erich Fellgiebel was involved in the preparations for Operation Valkyrie and during the attempt on the Fuhrers life on 20 July 1944 tried to cut Hitler's headquarters at the Wolf's Lair in East Prussia off from all telecommunication connections.

When it became clear that the attempt had failed, Erich Fellgiebel had to override the communications black-out he had set up.

Erich Fellgiebel was arrested immediately at the Wolf's Lair and tortured for three weeks but did not reveal any names of his co-conspirators.

Erich Fellgiebel was executed on 4 September 1944 at Plotzensee Prison in Berlin.