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THE NARRATIVE ARC
The One Lesson from Nazi Resistance America Desperately Needs to Learn Now
I found a vital warning in Berlin’s memorials: democracy erodes before it collapses
Standing in the Berlin courtyard where Nazi resistance fighters were executed offers powerful lessons about democracy’s fragility and the courage of ordinary people who stood against tyranny. As America faces democratic challenges in 2025, Germany’s approach to historical memory provides essential guidance on recognizing authoritarianism’s early warning signs.
Last week in Berlin, I stood in a nondescript courtyard where Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg was executed by firing squad on July 21, 1944. Nothing about the space feels extraordinary at first glance — just a quiet enclosure with administrative buildings surrounding it. And yet, this courtyard represents one of history’s most consequential moments of resistance against tyranny.
I was in Berlin as the keynote speaker at the JMP Discovery Summit, discussing statistical analysis for environmental solutions at the Marriott Hotel. By chance or fate, the hotel sits directly across from the Bendlerblock — the former Wehrmacht headquarters where Stauffenberg and his co-conspirators were shot after their failed attempt to assassinate Hitler.
When I entered the courtyard, now part of the German Resistance Memorial Center, I noticed an information panel displaying a black-and-white photograph. It showed Wehrmacht soldiers and Waffen SS officers walking through this same space after the executions. Looking up, I realized I stood at the exact spot where the photo was taken — the windows, doors, and architectural details unchanged after eight decades. Time collapsed in that moment and history became tangible.
