February 28, 2009

Taos Ski Valley Features Runs Named After Heroes

WWII heroes behind the Adolph Hitler assassination attempts memorialized at Taos ski resort

Ernie Blake, the founder of Taos Ski Valley, was a brave man whose family fled Nazi Germany in 1938. Blake returned to help British Intelligence efforts and Patton's Third Army during World War II. When he founded the Taos ski resort, he later named the most challenging runs after four WWII heroes who tried to bring Hitler down.

If you've seen the movie Valkyrie, starring Tom Cruise, you probably recognize the names of these Taos ski resort runs: Oster, Treskow, Fabian and Stauffenberf. Ski Taos offers some background information on these four brave men:

Von Stauffenberg was a Bavarian who served Hitler as a colonel during WWII. Although it seems that Stauffenberg supported Hitler in the early days of the war, it’s clear that he gradually became disgusted by Nazi Germany’s policies and behavior. In 1943, Stauffenberg was injured in a battle in North Africa where he lost his left eye, his right hand and several fingers on his other hand. During his recovery in Germany, he became intrinsically involved in planning to stage a coup against Hitler. On July 20th 1944, Stauffenberg left a briefcase laden with explosives in a briefing room and then excused himself from the meeting. Although the explosion killed four people it only injured Hitler. Stauffenebrg was shot at one AM on the 21st, saying before he died “Long live our Holy Germany.”

Although he wasn’t actively involved in the July 20 plot, Oster was one of the earliest members of the German Nazi Resistance. He served as an officer in WWI and used his position during WWII to try to prevent Nazi invasions. In 1943, Oster lost his post amid accusations of aiding the Jews. He was arrested with the other men involved in the July 20th plot and hanged at a concentration camp nearly a year later.

Prior to July 1944, Henning von Treskow was involved in several failed assassination attempts. A well-respected soldier, Treskow had been awarded the iron cross for his service during WWI. Although he originally supported Hitler, Treskow became quickly disillusioned by Hitler’s cruel treatment of captured soldiers, women, Jews and his fellow Nazis. After the July 20th Plot failed to kill Hitler in 1944, Treskow committed suicide near the front.

Fabian von Schlabrendorff played a key role in a 1943 assassination attempt. He smuggled a bomb laden bottle of cognac onto a plane meant to carry Hitler. The bomb failed to detonate. Fabian was able to retrieve the botched devise and escape detection. Later, he served as a liaison to Treskow. He was captured and tortured for his involvement in the July 20th Plot.

Next time you go to Taos Ski Valley, take a minute to remember these brave men -- and ski the runs that are name for them.