This is an outstanding volume that chronicles the opposition to Hitler's regime starting as early as 1935. The research performed to create this volume is immense. Much of the book is centered on Admiral Wilhelm Canaris who command the Abwehr, the German Intelligence organization. Much of his effort was to appear to work for Hitler but at the same time undermine the regime.

However, there were many German citizens both civilian and in the military who opposed Hitler and many coup attempts were organized and many assassinations planned but foiled mostly by timing and Hitler's amazing luck.

I am fascinated by what it would have been like to live in Hitler's Germany and search out books written by people who were there. This effort explains how deeply the the dislike of Hitler and his regime was felt in Germany and to what risks its citizens went to slow him down and defeat him. ( )

This was a surprising book. I expected an account of the numerous small-scale attempts by individuals and tiny groups of decent Germans to oppose the Nazi regime, such as the famous White Rose group. Instead, this book is more like a detailed account, almost day by day, of a conspiracy that began in the mid 1930s and culminated in the 20 July 1944 attempted assassination of Hitler. Central to the conspiracy was Admiral Canaris, head of the Abwehr, and secret opponent of the Nazis. Why it took nearly a decade for the assassination attempt to finally happen is explained in some detail, but the lengthy period is also an answer to those who claim that the German generals and politicians involved in the 1944 conspiracy were doing so only because Germany had already lost the war. As Ashdown points out, many of the conspirators were involved even while Hitler was triumphant. I found some of Ashdown’s conclusions a bit harsh, such as a his condemnation of Roosevelt for insisting on unconditional surrender rather than a negotiated peace with Germany. But on the whole an interesting book telling a largely unknown story. What a pity that it was Paddy Ashdown’s last, as he passed away earlier this year. ( )