Wilhelm Canaris

Canaris was appointed head of the Abwehr, the German military intelligence service, on January 1, 1935. He built the organization into a major intelligence agency, but secretly used his position to protect resistance activities and undermine the Nazi regime.

Canaris supported the planned coup against Hitler during the Sudeten crisis. He provided intelligence to the conspirators and helped coordinate opposition. The plot collapsed after the Munich Agreement.

Canaris was dismissed as head of the Abwehr on February 11, 1944, after the organization was absorbed into the SS intelligence service (SD). He was placed under house arrest, effectively ending his intelligence career.

Canaris was arrested on July 23, 1944, following the July 20 plot. After a show trial, he was executed by hanging at Flossenb