Bendlerblock

The Bendlerblock is a historic building complex in Berlin with deep ties to the German military. It once served as the headquarters of the Imperial German Navy. Today, it houses the Berlin offices of the Federal Ministry of Defense, continuing its long association with national defense and state affairs.

The July 20 Plot and Its Legacy

On 20 July 1944, the Bendlerblock became the center of a daring attempt to overthrow Adolf Hitler and the Nazi regime. Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg and a group of fellow officers led a coup that aimed to change the course of the war and Germany’s future. The operation failed, and several of the conspirators were executed that same night in the building’s courtyard.

The courtyard now holds a memorial honoring those involved in the plot. Many in Germany regard these men as heroes for their resistance and for the risks they took in a time of brutal repression.

The German Resistance Memorial Center

Inside the complex, the German Resistance Memorial Center presents a permanent exhibition. It explores the July 20 plot in detail and highlights other acts of resistance carried out by individuals and networks across Germany. Displays, documents, and photographs trace the stories of people who opposed the Nazi dictatorship, offering context to the events linked to the Bendlerblock and the broader history of resistance.