Claus Schenk Graf von Stauffenberg, a German army officer, died on July 21st, 1944, at 36 years of age. Born on November 15th, 1907, he was the son of Alfred Klemens Philipp Fürst von und zu Stauffenberg and Caroline, Gräfin Schenk von Stauffenberg. He was a cousin of the writer Berthold Schenk Graf von Stauffenberg. Claus studied law and political science in Berlin and Göttingen, and shortly thereafter left law to pursue a career as an army officer. He rose in the ranks to the status of lieutenant colonel, and served in Poland in 1939 and in France in 1940. In 1943 Claus was promoted to Colonel after he was injured in North Africa. He was sent back to Germany due to his injury, and was soon approached by members of the German resistance to pose as part of a plot to assassinate Adolf Hitler. This assassination attempt took place on July 20th, 1944. Claus Schenk Graf von Stauffenberg was executed the next day along with his accomplices at the Bendlerblock in Berlin. He is remembered to this day as a hero.