1. Early Life and Background
Erwin Lahousen's early life was rooted in an aristocratic Austrian family, leading him to a military career that predated his involvement with German intelligence.
1.1. Birth and Family Background
Born on October 25, 1897, Erwin Lahousen came from a distinguished aristocratic family in Austria. His full name, Erwin Heinrich René Lahousen, Edlernoble titleGerman von Vivremont, included the noble title Edler, signifying a rank of nobility.
1.2. Early Military Career
Lahousen began his military service in the Austro-Hungarian Army during World War I. Following the war, he transitioned into Austrian counterintelligence. However, with the Anschluss (AnschlussannexationGerman) in 1938, when Austria was annexed by Nazi Germany, Austria's intelligence services were absorbed into Germany's. This led Lahousen to join the Abwehr, which was then headed by Admiral Wilhelm Canaris.
2. Activities During World War II
During World War II, Erwin Lahousen held significant positions within the Abwehr, where he not only conducted intelligence operations but also actively participated in the German resistance movement against Nazism.
2.1. Anti-Nazi Stance and Intelligence Operations
Lahousen quickly formed a strong alliance with Admiral Wilhelm Canaris, as both men shared deep anti-Nazi sentiments. Canaris, recognizing Lahousen's capabilities and anti-Hitler stance, brought him into a select circle of officers within the intelligence agency who were actively opposed to the Nazi regime, forming part of what became known as the Black Orchestra resistance network. Lahousen was appointed chief of Abwehr Section II, a critical department primarily responsible for Brandenburgers and sabotage operations.
2.2. Sabotage Missions
Under Lahousen's leadership, Abwehr Section II was involved in various sabotage operations. Notably, he oversaw the successful sabotage aspects during the invasion of Poland in September 1939. However, Canaris placed a higher priority on espionage over sabotage. This strategic decision had unforeseen consequences; for instance, saboteurs dispatched to the United Kingdom were primarily trained for spying, leading to disastrous outcomes for sabotage efforts there. A significant failure was Operation Pastorius in June 1942, where saboteurs who landed in the United States were betrayed by one of their own to the FBI, subsequently arrested, tried by a military tribunal, and executed.
2.3. Involvement in Hitler Assassination Plots
Lahousen played a direct role in attempts to assassinate Adolf Hitler. In 1943, he supplied the bomb used in the Smolensk plot on March 13, 1943, also known as Operation Spark. This assassination attempt, carried out by Fabian von Schlabrendorff, ultimately failed. Lahousen was also connected to the more widely known 20 July Plot in 1944.
2.4. Later War Service and Injury
In a turn of events that inadvertently protected him from the collapse of the Abwehr and the subsequent crackdown on its leadership, Lahousen was deployed to the Eastern Front in 1943. This deployment shielded him from the direct consequences that befell many of his anti-Nazi colleagues, including Admiral Canaris, who had fallen out of favor and was later executed following the failure of the 20 July Plot. On July 19, 1944, Lahousen sustained a severe injury from an artillery hit while serving on the Eastern Front.
3. Post-war Activities and Nuremberg Trials
After the cessation of hostilities, Erwin Lahousen played a crucial role in bringing accountability for the atrocities committed by the Nazi regime through his voluntary testimony at the Nuremberg Trials.
3.1. Testimony at the Nuremberg Trials
In 1945-1946, Erwin Lahousen voluntarily appeared as a witness for the prosecution at the Nuremberg War Crimes Trials. His testimony was of immense importance, as he was the first witness called by the prosecution and notably, the sole survivor of the "Abwehr resistance" circle. Before the International Military Tribunal, Lahousen provided damning evidence against Hermann Göring and 21 other high-ranking Nazi defendants. He testified about horrific acts, including the systematic murder of hundreds of thousands of Soviet prisoners of war and the atrocities committed by the Einsatzgruppen death squads, which were responsible for the murder of more than a million Jews in the conquered territories of the Soviet Union, Poland, and Ukraine. His testimony, alongside that of figures like Hans Gisevius, was instrumental in exposing the extent of Nazi war crimes and detailing the anti-Hitler activities of resistance members within the Abwehr.
4. Legacy and Evaluation
Erwin Lahousen is historically recognized as a significant figure in the German resistance against Nazism. His deep-seated opposition to Hitler's regime led him to actively participate in dangerous plots to overthrow the dictatorship and assassinate its leader. Beyond his direct involvement in the resistance, his voluntary and crucial testimony at the Nuremberg Trials stands as a testament to his commitment to justice. By exposing the atrocities committed by the Nazi leadership and providing firsthand accounts of their crimes, Lahousen contributed significantly to the post-war efforts to hold perpetrators accountable and ensure that the horrific scale of the Holocaust and other war crimes was documented for history. His actions demonstrate a profound dedication to human rights and the rule of law in the face of tyranny.