Editing 20 July plot (section)

=== Preparations ===
By the summer of 1944, the Gestapo was closing in on the conspirators. When Stauffenberg sent Tresckow a message through Lieutenant [[Heinrich Graf von Lehndorff-Steinort]] asking whether there was any reason for trying to assassinate Hitler given that no political purpose would be served, Tresckow's response was: "The assassination must be attempted, ''coûte que coûte'' [whatever the cost]. Even if it fails, we must take action in Berlin ⁠,⁠ ⁠for the practical purpose no longer matters; what matters now is that the German resistance movement must take the plunge before the eyes of the world and of history. Compared to that, nothing else matters."{{sfn|Fest|1997|p=236}}

Himmler had at least one conversation with a known oppositionist when, in August 1943, the [[Prussia]]n Finance Minister [[Johannes Popitz]], who was involved in Goerdeler's network, came to see him and offered him the support of the opposition if he would make a move to displace Hitler and secure a negotiated end to the war.{{sfn|Fest|1997|p=228}} Nothing came of this meeting, but Popitz was not immediately arrested (although he was later executed towards the end of the war), and Himmler apparently did nothing to track down the resistance network which he knew was operating within the state bureaucracy.{{citation needed|date=November 2022}} It is possible{{speculation inline|date=April 2024}} that Himmler, who by late 1943 knew that the war was unwinnable, allowed the plot to go ahead in the belief that if it succeeded he would be Hitler's successor, and could then bring about a peace settlement.{{citation needed|date=November 2022}} Himmler himself would later in April of 1945 try to attempt to form a separate peace with the allies in order to remain in some sort of power, it was rejected as the allies continued to demand unconditional surrender, which would have been a block on any negotiated settlement. 

Popitz was not alone in seeing Himmler as a potential ally. General von Bock advised Tresckow to seek his support, but there is no evidence that he did so. Goerdeler was apparently also in indirect contact with Himmler via a mutual acquaintance, [[Carl Langbehn]]. [[Wilhelm Canaris]] biographer [[Heinz Höhne]] suggests that Canaris and Himmler were working together to bring about a change of regime, but this remains speculation.<ref>Himmler's contacts with the opposition and his possible motives are discussed by Padfield, ''Himmler'', pp. 419–424.</ref>

<gallery mode="packed" heights="180px" caption="Stauffenberg's co-conspirators in the plot">
File:Bundesarchiv Bild 146-1980-033-04, Ludwig Beck.jpg|{{lang|de|[[Generaloberst]]}} [[Ludwig Beck]]
File:Erich_Fellgiebel.jpg|[[General der Nachrichtentruppe]] [[Erich Fellgiebel]]
File:Carl Goerdeler.jpg|[[Carl Friedrich Goerdeler]]
File:Bundesarchiv Bild 146III-347, Werner Karl v. Haeften.jpg|[[Oberleutnant]] [[Werner von Haeften]]
File:Bundesarchiv Bild 146-1981-072-61, Friedrich Olbricht.jpg|[[General der Infanterie]] [[Friedrich Olbricht]]
File:Bundesarchiv Bild 146-2004-0007, Hans Oster.jpg|[[Generalmajor]] [[Hans Oster]]
File:Albert_Mertz_von_Quirnheim.jpg|[[Oberst]] [[Albrecht Mertz von Quirnheim]]
File:Bundesarchiv Bild 146-1976-130-53, Henning v. Tresckow.jpg|[[Generalmajor]] [[Henning von Tresckow]]
File:Bundesarchiv_Bild_146-1981-041-16A,_Eduard_Wagner.jpg|[[General der Artillerie]] [[Eduard Wagner]]
File:Bundesarchiv Bild 146-1978-043-13, Erwin v. Witzleben.jpg|[[Generalfeldmarschall]] [[Erwin von Witzleben]]
</gallery>