The Kreisau Circle (German: Kreisauer Kreis) was the name the Gestapo gave to a group of Germans centered at the Kreisau estate of Helmuth James Graf von Moltke in order to envision an alternative to Nazism. It is one of the few instances of German Widerstand, resistance to the regime. The most celebrated members of the Kreisau Circle include Peter Yorck Count of Wartenburg and Adam von Trott zu Solz. The Deaths Head emblem similar to Skull and crossbones, often used as the insignia of the Gestapo The (contraction of Geheime Staatspolizei; secret state police) was the official secret police of Nazi Germany. ... The historical von Moltkes palace in Krzyżowa Krzyżowa is a village in Silesia, Poland, formerly known as Kreisau, when it was part of Germany. ... Helmuth James Graf von Moltke Helmuth James Graf von Moltke (born 11 March 1907 in Kreisau bei Gräditz, Lower Silesia [now Krzyżowa in Poland]; died 23 January 1945 in Berlin) was a German jurist, a member of the opposition against Hitler in Nazi Germany, and a founding member... National Socialism redirects here. ... Widerstand (German: resistance) is the name given to the resistance movements in Nazi Germany. ... Peter Graf Yorck von Wartenburg (born 13 November 1904 in Klein-Öls near Ohlau, Lower Silesia, now Oława, Poland; died 8 August 1944 in Berlin) was a German jurist and resistance fighter against the Nazi régime. ... Adam von Trott zu Solz (born August 9, 1909 in Potsdam, Germany - died August 26, 1944 in Berlin, Germany) was a lawyer and diplomat who opposed the Nazi regime. ...

The group was mainly made up of conservatives from the traditional aristocracy and gentry. It was united by its abhorrence of Nazism and its desire to conceive of a new Germany after the fall of Hitler. The long meetings and discussions at Kreisau developed an image of a society to be, based on Christian values and on small communities, so as to avoid a manipulation of the whole of society like the one Hitler had achieved. National Socialism redirects here. ... Adolf Hitler Adolf Hitler (April 20, 1889 – April 30, 1945, standard German pronunciation in the IPA) was the Führer (leader) of the National Socialist German Workers Party (Nazi Party) and of Nazi Germany from 1933 to 1945. ... A Christian is a follower of Jesus, whom they regard as a/the Christ. ... Adolf Hitler Adolf Hitler (April 20, 1889 – April 30, 1945, standard German pronunciation in the IPA) was the Führer (leader) of the National Socialist German Workers Party (Nazi Party) and of Nazi Germany from 1933 to 1945. ...

The Kreisau Circle maintained contact with other groups of resistance. The circle worked to enlighten the Allied forces, especially the United Kingdom, to conditions within the Third Reich and the threats and weaknesses of Nazism. But the circle's main focus was to plan and propose a peacetime government for Germany. A resistance movement is a non-military group or collection of individual groups, dedicated to fighting an invader in an occupied country through either the use of physical force, or nonviolence. ... In general, allies are people or groups that have joined an alliance and are working together to achieve some common purpose. ... Nazi Germany, or the Third Reich, commonly refers to Germany in the years 1933–1945, when it was under the firm control of the totalitarian and fascist ideology of the Nazi Party, with the Führer Adolf Hitler as dictator. ... National Socialism redirects here. ...

On 19 January 1944 Moltke was arrested and the Kreisau Circle fell in disarray. The focus of some circle members had been turning towards an active political coup, and some participated in the famous failed assassination attempt on the 20th of July 1944. After its failure many members of the Circle were arrested and executed, including Trott, the non-participating Moltke, and Yorck. 1944 (MCMXLIV) was a leap year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1944 calendar). ... Claus von Stauffenberg The July 20 Plot was a failed coup détat and attempt to assassinate Adolf Hitler. ... Adam von Trott zu Solz (born August 9, 1909 in Potsdam, Germany - died August 26, 1944 in Berlin, Germany) was a lawyer and diplomat who opposed the Nazi regime. ... Helmuth James Graf von Moltke Helmuth James Graf von Moltke (born 11 March 1907 in Kreisau bei Gräditz, Lower Silesia [now Krzyżowa in Poland]; died 23 January 1945 in Berlin) was a German jurist, a member of the opposition against Hitler in Nazi Germany, and a founding member... Peter Graf Yorck von Wartenburg (born 13 November 1904 in Klein-Öls near Ohlau, Lower Silesia, now Oława, Poland; died 8 August 1944 in Berlin) was a German jurist and resistance fighter against the Nazi régime. ...

Multimedia

The Kreisau Circle resistance group is featured in Return to Castle Wolfenstein, 2002 Game Of The Year for PC games. Return to Castle Wolfenstein is a first person shooter computer game published by Activision and released in 2001. ...