Erich Fromm was born in Berlin on 8th October, 1888. He joined the German Army and by the end of the First World War had reached the rank of lieutenant.
Fromm remained in the army and worked under General Ludwig Beck the chief of general staff. In 1937 he was made commander of the Replacement Army and during the Second World War was chief of armaments (1939-44).
An early supporter of Adolf Hitler, Fromm became disillusioned with his management of the war and by 1942 Fromm favoured a negotiated peace with the Soviet Union.
Fromm was suspected of being involved in the July Plot. He attempted to cover his tracks by executing Claus von Stauffenberg, Friedrich Olbricht and Werner von Haeften. He also arranged the suicide of Ludwig Beck. When Joseph Goebbels arrived on the scene he told Fromm: "You've been in a damned hurry to get your witnesses below ground."
Arrested by Heinrich Himmler on 21st July, 1944, he was brought before the People's Court and charged with not reporting the conspiracy. Erich Fromm was found guilty and executed on 12th March, 1945.
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