Editing Georg Elser (section)

===Motive===
During four days of interrogation in Berlin (19–22 November 1939), Elser articulated his motive to his interrogators:

{{Blockquote|I considered how to improve the conditions of the workers and avoid a war. For this I was not encouraged by anyone&nbsp;... Even from Radio Moscow I never heard that the German government and the regime must be overthrown. I reasoned the situation in Germany could only be modified by a removal of the current leadership, I mean Hitler, Goering and Goebbels&nbsp;... I did not want to eliminate Nazism&nbsp;... I was merely of the opinion that a moderation in the policy objectives will occur through the elimination of these three men&nbsp;... The idea of eliminating the leadership came to me in the fall of 1938&nbsp;... I thought to myself that this is only possible if the leadership is together at a rally. From the daily press I gathered that the next meeting of leaders was happening on 8 and 9 November 1938 in Munich in the Bürgerbräukeller.<ref name="Gestapo Interrogation Report 1939"/>}}

Five years later in Dachau concentration camp, SS officer Lechner claimed Elser revealed his motive to him:

{{Blockquote|I had to do it because, for his whole life, Hitler has meant the downfall of Germany&nbsp;... don't think that I'm some kind of dyed-in-the-wool Communist&nbsp;— I'm not. I have some sympathy for [[Ernst Thälmann]], but getting rid of Hitler just became an obsession of mine&nbsp;... But, as you can see&nbsp;— I got caught, and now I have to pay for it. I would have preferred it if they'd executed me right away.<ref name="Hellmut G 2013"/>}}