Note 24
From General von X by Joachim C. Fest — See further Notes

24 Memorandum to General von Pritsch of January 1937; quoted by Wolfgang Foerster in Generaloberst Ludwig Beck. Sein Kampf gegen den Krieg. Aus den nachgelassenen Papieren des Generalstabchefs (Munich, 1953). The books however, simplifies too much Beck's position for and, even more so, against. Beck had at first welcomed the seizure of power, then changed his mind because of the regime's illegal practices. He was held back time and again by traditional considerations of duty and obedience, and it was a long time before he broke away to pursue a determined and active resistance. See Hossbach, Zwischen Wehrmacht und Hitler; H. Krausnick, 'Vorgeschichte und Beginn des militarischen Widerstandes gegen Hitler', in Die Vollmacht des Gewissens (Munich, 1956).