Biography of Ewald-Heinrich von Kleist

Ewald-Heinrich Hermann Konrad Oskar Ulrich Wolf Alfred von Kleist-Schmenzin (10 July 1922 in Schmenzin, Pomerania; died 8 March 2013 in Munich) was a German officer, publisher, writer and participant in the military resistance against National Socialism. After 1945, he founded the Internationale Wehrkundetagung, which later developed into the Munich Security Conference.

Family and Wehrmacht

Kleist was born on the family estate at Schmenzin. His father, Ewald von Kleist-Schmenzin, was a lawyer, conservative politician and opponent of National Socialism. Ewald-Heinrich von Kleist entered the Wehrmacht in 1940 and served as an infantry officer. His family background connected Prussian military tradition with early rejection of the Nazi regime.

Resistance

In 1944, Kleist was drawn into plans of the military resistance. Claus Schenk Graf von Stauffenberg asked him to carry explosives under his uniform during a presentation to Hitler. The presentation was cancelled. On 20 July 1944, Kleist was assigned tasks in Berlin for the attempted coup. After the assassination attempt failed, he was arrested and interrogated by the Gestapo, but later released.

Father and loss

His father also belonged to the circle around the conspirators. After 20 July, Ewald von Kleist-Schmenzin was arrested, sentenced by the People's Court and executed in Berlin-Plötzensee in 1945. For Ewald-Heinrich von Kleist, this family history remained closely connected with his own memory of the resistance.

Publishing and security policy

After the war, Kleist worked as a publisher and writer. In 1963 he founded the Internationale Wehrkundetagung in Munich. The meeting was intended to bring parliamentarians, military figures, scholars and international guests into discussion on security policy. It later developed into the Munich Security Conference, which Kleist accompanied for decades.

Later years

Kleist wrote, spoke and advised on German history, transatlantic relations and security policy. Since 2009, the Munich Security Conference has presented the Ewald von Kleist Award. Ewald-Heinrich von Kleist died on 8 March 2013 in Munich.