Germany remembers conspirators who wanted to kill Hitler

Col. Claus von Stauffenberg along with other conspirators conspired to assassinate Hitler. Their attempt failed and within hours all were executed.

Berlin: German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Saturday attended the 75th resistance anniversary to honour the conspirators who plotted to kill Adolf Hitler were executed.

Merkel attended the annual swearing-in ceremony for some 400 troops before addressing a memorial event being held in the courtyard of the building where plot leader Col. Claus von Stauffenberg was executed.

Speaking at the ceremony, Merkel said, "We must preserve the memory and carry it on. We must ensure that the lessons of history do not fade."

Von Stauffenberg is also among the following who tried to kill Hitler with a briefcase bomb on July 20, 1944 but failed due to a table that blocked the full force of the blast and Hitler survived.

Von Stauffenberg and his companions were arrested and executed within hours. Later, they were portrayed as traitors by the Nazis.