In the Wehrmacht, he became an instructor in tactics at the military academy in Dresden with the rank of major in 1935 and was appointed an adjutant on the staff of the IX corps in 1937.

[2] Following the 20 July plot to murder Hitler, which included notable members from within Germany's aristocracy and military command staff, a court was assembled to judge and condemn the conspirators.

[3] Burgdorf was one of the many members of Roland Freisler's so-called Court of Honor brought together to pass judgment, along with generals von Rundstedt, Keitel, Guderian, Schroth, Kriebel, Maisel, Kircheim, and Specht.

Burgdorf informed Rommel of the charges and, following the instructions of Field Marshal Wilhelm Keitel, offered him three choices: report to Hitler and plead not guilty; admit guilt, take poison, receive a state funeral and obtain immunity for his family and staff; or face a trial for treason.

[8] Shortly before the Battle of Berlin, Philipp Freiherr von Boeselager overheard Burgdorf say: "When the war is over, we will have to purge, after the Jews, the Catholic officers in the army.

On 28 April, Hitler discovered that Heinrich Himmler tried to negotiate a surrender to the western Allies via Count Folke Bernadotte.

Burgdorf took part in Hitler's court-martial of Hermann Fegelein, Himmler's SS liaison officer and Eva Braun's brother-in-law.

[12] On 1 May, Goebbels dictated a letter to Soviet Army Marshall Vasily Chuikov, requesting a temporary ceasefire, and ordered General Krebs to deliver it.

Burgdorf then pulled his PPK to shoot Fritzsche, but a radio technician "knocked the gun" and the bullet fired, hit the ceiling.