Rudolf-Christoph von Gersdorff

Rudolf Christoph Freiherr von Gersdorff
Born27 March 1905
Lüben, Silesia, German Empire
Died27 January 1980(1980-01-27) (aged 74)
Munich, West Germany
Buried
Allegiance
BranchReichswehr
Wehrmacht
Years of service1923–1945
RankGeneralmajor
UnitAbwehr
Army Group Center
Battles / wars
AwardsKnight's Cross of the Iron Cross
Großes Verdienstkreuz (Great Cross of Merit)
Other workOrder of St. John, Johanniter-Unfall-Hilfe (1952–63 chairman)

Rudolf Christoph Freiherr von Gersdorff (27 March 1905 – 27 January 1980) was an officer in the German Army. As a Wehrmacht intelligence officer, he attempted to assassinate Adolf Hitler by suicide bombing on 21 March 1943; the plan failed when Hitler left early, but Gersdorff was undetected. That same month, soldiers from his unit discovered the mass graves of the Soviet-perpetrated Katyn massacre.