Coup

In August 1991, hard-line communists attempted a coup against Gorbachev. It failed, but the failure weakened him further and strengthened Yeltsin and the forces opposing communist control. Ukraine and Belarus declared independence shortly afterwards, while the Baltic republics sought international recognition.

Darius, son of Hystaspes, joined them as the seventh member. This matters when assessing leadership: Herodotus gives Otanes the initial investigation and organisation, rather than presenting Darius as the sole originator of the coup.

Their plan combined an assassination with a coup. Killing Hitler was only the first stage: they then intended to use Operation Valkyrie to mobilise the Reserve Army, remove the SS and Gestapo from power and take control of Germany. The conspiracy included conservative politicians and officers; opposition to Hitler did not mean that every participant shared White Rose’s motives or wanted the same future government.