I have spent much my life reading about World War 2 but nothing is as shocking as the things Hitler did after he survived the bomb in the briefcase that exploded on him in July 1944. It was not about getting him justice, it was about sick revenge. He wanted to make an example to show that nobody should try to stop him again.
Stauffenberg was fortunate in that the same night he was shot down by a firing squad. But for the others Hitler made them suffer. He ordered them to be hanged using thin piano wire. A regular rope does the act of breaking the neck instantly but a wire makes a person struggle for a long time. It was horrible and he even had it filmed so he can watch it later.
In the trials the Nazis attempted to humiliate the men. Even though they were high ranking officers, the Nazis removed their belts and suspenders. They had to stand holding up their trousers as the judge shouted at them. It was to make them appear weak rather than brave.
Hitler did not stop with the soldiers. He targeted their families. By law he arrested their wives and their children away. He renegade the names of the kids so the children would forget who their fathers were. In the end about 5000 people were killed. This is a dark chapter which manages to depict how far a dictator will go exactly when he’s scared.