Ernst John von Freyend (25 March 1909– 24 March 1980) was an Oberkommando der Wehrmacht officer and Wilhelm Keitel's adjutant.
Freyend unwittingly played a big part in the 20 July plot, where he offered to carry Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg's briefcase for him. He placed the briefcase on the table in the conference room near Hitler during his conference. Stauffenberg attempted, to reposition the briefcase next to Hitler, but Heinz Brandt repositioned it away to get a better view at the map, accidentally saving Hitler's life. When the bomb detonated, Brandt was killed, but Freyend, just like Hitler, survived with injuries.
Freyend surrender along with Keitel, and was not found guilty of war crimes as he was mainly Keitel's valet. He later worked for Gehlen Organization.
Freyend died in 24 March, 1980.
In Downfall Universe[]
Freyend is usually just seen in the war room during Hitler's meetings, having no lines. In a later scene where Traudl walks past officers discussing how to commit suicide, he demonstrates how to slit his wrist.
He appears in all the parodies that use the scenes he's in, though he never gets any role due to being in the background.
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- Karl Richter, Freyend's actor, might be the only actor to be a Nazi in real life, being a former member of the NPD, a totalitarian, ultranationalist, and neo-Nazi political party in Germany.