WW2 Leaders

Wilhelm Canaris

Head of the Abwehr · German Military Intelligence

Wilhelm Canaris was a German admiral who served as head of the Abwehr (German military intelligence) from 1935 to 1944. While outwardly loyal to the Nazi regime, Canaris secretly worked to undermine Hitler and aided the resistance movement. He was arrested after the July 20, 1944 assassination attempt on Hitler and executed at Flossenbuerg concentration camp in April 1945.