Germany paid tribute Saturday to Claus von Stauffenberg and others who sought to assassinate Adolf Hitler 75 years ago, as German Chancellor Angela Merkel underlined the importance of remembering this anniversary at a time when far-right forces are once again gaining ground with their nationalist line.

At a ceremony in Berlin where new German Bundeswehr soldiers were sworn in, Merkel said it was important to "keep the conspirators' memories alive", as well as those of all Germans who resisted the Nazis, because their acts could be seen as a "warning" for today's society.

"They remind us that we have to be vigilant. They remind us that we must resolutely fight far-right extremism, anti-Semitism and racism in all their different forms."

"There are moments when disobedience can be a duty," Merkel added.

In the attempt on July 20, 1944, Stauffenberg and other high-ranking conspirators within the Nazi regime sought to kill Hitler at his Wolf's Lair headquarters.

The plot was to seize control of the regime and make peace with Western allies to end World War II. But Hitler survived the bombing and Stauffenberg and other key figures in Operation Valkyrie were executed the same night.

The right to resist is explicitly enshrined in Germany's post-war constitution, which would not exist in its current form without people such as Stauffenberg, the chancellor said.

"Even today, there is still a lot of incomprehension and ill-ease" about the assassination attempt, Merkel said, not least because Stauffenberg was himself an army officer.

The anti-immigrant Alternative for Germany, which is now the biggest opposition party in parliament, has repeatedly used the word "resistance" to characterize its battle against mainstream parties today.

"The calculation of the new right, the AfD and the (far-right movement) Identitarians is clear: to portray themselves as victims of the 'chancellor-dictator', to see a 'dictatorship' in a free country, and to gain legitimacy for their own political activities by making the reference to political activities," said Johannes Tuchel, who heads the German Resistance Memorial, in a commentary for TAZ daily.

That is "historically wrong and inappropriate. Resistance against Nazism stands for freedom, rule of law and tolerance," he added.

The granddaughter of Stauffenberg himself, Sophie von Bechtolsheim, has also said it was "indecent" for a party to claim to be the rightful heirs of his legacy.

She said: "The youth of today must not be led astray by political demagogues, and must show civil courage. That's why remembrance of the conspirators is important."

"Stauffenberg was seen then as a traitor, but today I know that he sacrificed his life for Germany and a better world." 

(Cover: German Chancellor Angela Merkel attends a ceremony to remember the 1944 Hitler plot in Berlin, July 20, 2019. /AFP Photo)