Werner von Haeften was born in Germany in 1908. He joined the German Army and by the outbreak of the Second World War had reached the rank of first lieutenant.

Haeften took part in Operation Barbarossa and after recovering from serious wounds became adjutant to Claus von Stauffenberg in November 1943. Soon afterwards he joined the July Plot conspiracy and accompanied Stauffenberg when he planting the bomb on 20th July, 1944.

Haeften, along with Claus von Stauffenberg and Friedrich Olbricht was executed by Erich Fromm on 21st July, 1944.