Wolf-Heinrich Helldorf was born in Germany in 1896. He fought in the German Army during the First World War and in 1919 became a member of the Freikorps.

Helldorf joined the Nazi Party in 1925 and later became a member of Prussian state assembly. In 1931 he became a Sturm Abteilung (SA) leader in Brandenburg.

In 1935 Helldorf was appointed the Berlin prefect of police. During the Second World War he had growing doubts about Adolf Hitler and became involved in the July Plot.

Wolf-Heinrich Helldorf was arrested by the Gestapo on 20th July, 1944. After being convicted of treason he was executed in Plotzensee prison on 15th August, 1944.