Ludwig Beck was never a pacifist, but he understood perfectly well what terrible consequences the war would entail for both the losers and the victors. One of the organizers of the Wehrmacht, Beck openly criticized the concentration of all power in the hands of Hitler. The opposition to Hitler viewed Beck as a possible head of state if the Fuhrer was removed from the political arena. Beck took part in the July Plot; after the failure of the assassination attempt on Hitler, he was arrested and committed suicide.