WWII - Operation Valkyrie: Why Did Hitler's Officers Plot to Kill Him?
Hitler and Mussolini examine the damage caused by the bomb planted on July 20, 1944 by Colonel von Stauffenberg at Rastenburg HQ. (Image source: Public Domain).
Amidst the chaos and brutality of WWII, a small group of German officers and civilians secretly conspired to rid their country of Adolf Hitler. This daring plot, codenamed Operation Valkyrie, remains one of the most audacious assassination attempts in modern history.
"We took this challenge before our Lord and our conscience, and it must be done - because this man, Hitler, he is the ultimate evil".
Part 1: Prelude to the Conspiracy
The Roots of Dissent By the mid-1940s, Adolf Hitler's rule over Germany had plunged the country into a seemingly unending nightmare. His aggressive expansionist policies had engulfed Europe in war, millions of lives had been lost, and the horrors of the Holocaust were unfolding behind closed curtains. Within Germany itself, dissent against the Nazi regime festered, and not all Germans were equally fervent supporters of Hitler's war. A network of individuals, driven by a sense of duty and a deep concern for the future of their nation, secretly began to conspire to overthrow the tyrant.
Key Figures in the Conspiracy
Operation Valkyrie was a collaborative effort involving a diverse group of individuals, each playing a crucial role in the conspiracy. Some of the key figures included:
1. Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg: A decorated army officer, yet with seriously conflicted views upon National Socialism, Stauffenberg emerged as the central figure in Operation Valkyrie. His military credentials and unwavering commitment to the plot made him the ideal candidate for carrying out the assassination attempt.
Claus Schenk Graf von Stauffenberg (1907-1944). (Image source: Public Domain).
2. General Ludwig Beck: A retired army general, Beck was a leading figure in the resistance movement. He provided critical leadership and strategic insight to the conspirators, drawing on his military expertise.
General Ludwig Beck. (Image source: Wikimedia Commons). Creative Commons license: CC BY-SA 3.0 DE.
3. General Friedrich Olbricht: Olbricht was instrumental in drafting the plans for Operation Valkyrie. As Chief of the General Army Office, he possessed the authority to execute the coup once Hitler was eliminated. His office functioned as a center for the resistance plot.
General lieutenant Friedrich Olbricht. (Image source: Wikimedia Commons). Creative Commons license: CC BY-SA 3.0 DE.
4. Henning von Tresckow: Tresckow, a high-ranking officer on the Eastern Front, was one of the earliest conspirators. His experience in combat and his dedication to the cause made him an indispensable asset. Gestapo later identified him as the "prime mover" behind the plot.
Hermann Henning Karl Robert von Tresckow. (Image source: Wikimedia Commons). Creative Commons license: CC BY-SA 3.0 DE.
Planning the Coup Operation Valkyrie was conceived as a two-fold plan:
The assassination of Adolf Hitler.
The simultaneous takeover of key government institutions.
This coup would rely on an already existing emergency plan, also named Valkyrie, designed to maintain law and order in the event of an uprising.
The Assassination Plot
The conspirators recognized that Hitler's death was the linchpin of their plan. Stauffenberg, a trusted officer with access to Hitler's inner circle, was chosen for the mission. On July 20, 1944, during a meeting at the Wolf's Lair (Wolfsschanze), Hitler's Eastern Front headquarters in East Prussia, Stauffenberg would plant a briefcase bomb beneath the conference table. The bomb would be timed to explode during the meeting.
Hitler shaking hands with Bodenschatz, accompanied by Stauffenberg (left) and Keitel (right). Bodenschatz was seriously wounded five days later by Stauffenberg's bomb. Rastenburg, 15 July 1944. (Image source: Wikimedia Commons). Creative Commons license: CC BY-SA 3.0 DE.
Seizing Control
Simultaneously, General Olbricht and his fellow plotters planned to initiate Operation Valkyrie once news of Hitler's death spread. They intended to use the emergency orders to mobilize the Reserve Army under the pretense of quelling an internal revolt. This would provide them with the means to occupy key government buildings, arrest Nazi officials, and ultimately assume control of the state.
Operation Valkyrie Telex declaring Hitler's death. 20th July 1944. (Image source: Wikimedia Commons). Creative Commons license: CC BY-SA 4.0. For a full translation of the document click the link.
Execution of the Assassination Attempt July 20, 1944, marked the fateful day when Operation Valkyrie was set into motion. Stauffenberg, carrying the bomb in his briefcase, entered the conference room at the Wolf's Lair. As he placed the briefcase near Hitler, he discreetly activated the timer, then made an excuse to leave the meeting. Moments later, a deafening explosion rocked the room, and chaos ensued.
However, despite the powerful blast, Adolf Hitler miraculously survived. The conspirators had underestimated the durability of the wooden table leg, which shielded Hitler from the full force of the explosion. In the confusion that followed, Stauffenberg and his accomplice Werner von Haeften managed to escape the Wolf's Lair.
Assassination attempt on July 20, 1944. Bomb damage to the conference room. Führer headquarters "Wolf's Lair" near Rastenburg, East Prussia. (Image source: Wikimedia Commons). Creative Commons license: CC BY-SA 3.0 DE.
Assassination attempt on July 20, 1944, Führer headquarters "Wolf's Lair" near Rastenburg, East Prussia, Hitler's pants after the assassination attempt. (Image source: Wikimedia Commons). Creative Commons license: CC BY-SA 3.0 DE.
The Aftermath
The failure of the assassination attempt would have dire consequences for the conspirators and those associated with them. Hitler, convinced that providence had spared him for a higher purpose, unleashed a brutal and vicious crackdown on anyone suspected of involvement in the plot. Over 7,000 arrests were made, and hundreds of individuals, including some who were only tangentially connected to the conspiracy, were executed.
Part 2: The Fallout and Retribution
Hitler's Survival and the Ensuing Chaos As the dust settled after the failed assassination attempt, Adolf Hitler, although injured, miraculously survived the blast. His survival only served to intensify his belief that he was destined to lead Germany to victory. He saw the failed coup as a sign of "divine intervention" and resolved to crush all opposition with renewed vigor. (Hitler subsequently had 100 badges made known as the "Wound Badge of 20th July 1944", to be presented to anyone who had been injured during the assassination attempt. 47 medals are believed to have been awarded, making it one of the rarest ever given during WWII).
Hitler's Personal Vendetta Adolf Hitler, known for his vindictive nature, unleashed a wave of terror and retribution. Determined to make an example of those involved in Operation Valkyrie, he ordered the arrest and execution of anyone suspected of complicity in the plot. Hitler sought to root out opposition not only within the military but also within civilian institutions and government offices.
The Hunt for Conspirators In the days following the failed assassination, the Gestapo and the SS launched a massive manhunt to track down the conspirators. Using intelligence from interrogations and informants, they swiftly closed in on the plotters. The net quickly tightened around Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg and his closest associates.
Stauffenberg's Capture and Execution On July 21, 1944, just a day after the assassination attempt, Claus von Stauffenberg and Werner von Haeften were captured in Berlin. They were arrested while attempting to coordinate the coup from the Bendlerblock, the Army High Command headquarters. Within hours, Stauffenberg and Haeften were executed by firing squad in the courtyard of the Bendlerblock, along with General Olbricht and Albrecht Mertz von Quirnheim.
Waffen-SS officer Otto Skorzeny enters the Bendlerblock, July 1944. (Image source: Wikimedia Commons). Creative Commons license: CC BY-SA 3.0 DE.
Bendler Block Memorial: Here Died For Germany On 20th July 1944, Colonel General Ludwig Beck, General of Infantry Friedrich Olbricht, Colonel Claus Graf Schenk von Stauffenberg, Colonel Albrecht Ritter Mertz von Quirnheim,
Senior Lieutenant Werner von Haeften. (Image source: Wikimedia Commons). Creative Commons license: CC BY-SA 3.0.
On the day after the failed attempt, Henning Von Tresckow committed suicide with a grenade. Reportedly he stated the following words before his death:
"The whole world will vilify us now, but I am still totally convinced that we did the right thing. Hitler is the archenemy not only of Germany but of the world. When, in few hours time, I go before God to account for what I have done and left undone, I know I will be able to justify what I did in the struggle against Hitler. None of us can bewail his own death; those who consented to join our circle put on the robe of Nessus. A human being's moral integrity begins when he is prepared to sacrifice his life for his convictions".
Henning von Tresckow
Civilian Participants and Families The brutality of Hitler's vengeance extended beyond the military ranks. Numerous civilians who were connected, even indirectly, to the conspiracy faced persecution and death. This included family members of the conspirators who were arrested and punished for their association with the plotters.
The Wider Purge The scope of Hitler's purge was not limited to those directly implicated in Operation Valkyrie. He used the opportunity to eliminate anyone he saw as a potential threat or disloyal to the Nazi regime. This included high-ranking officers, government officials, and even members of the Hitler Youth who were suspected of harboring dissenting views.
The Legacy of Retribution The brutality of the retribution following the failed assassination attempt sent shockwaves throughout Nazi Germany. It instilled a deep sense of fear and paralyzed any remaining pockets of resistance. Hitler's grip on power appeared unshakable, and the dreams of a coup to end the war and save Germany from further devastation were all but shattered. Part 3: The Legacy of Operation Valkyrie
Operation Valkyrie's Place in History
Operation Valkyrie, though ultimately unsuccessful in its mission to assassinate Hitler and overthrow the Nazi regime, holds a significant place in the annals of World War II history. It offers a unique window into the inner workings of resistance movements within Nazi Germany.
The Broader Impact
While Operation Valkyrie did not succeed in its immediate objectives, it had a broader impact on the course of World War II and the post-war world.
Delaying the War Effort: The chaos and confusion caused by the failed coup attempt temporarily disrupted the Nazi war machine. Hitler's paranoia and the subsequent arrests diverted his attention away from the conduct of the war. This delay may have contributed, albeit minimally, to the eventual downfall of Nazi Germany.
Demonstrating Internal Dissent: The existence of a resistance movement within Nazi Germany exposed the regime's vulnerabilities and internal divisions. It highlighted that not all Germans were loyal to Hitler and that there was internal dissent, albeit a largely suppressed one.
Allied Perception: The knowledge of the resistance efforts within Germany influenced the perceptions of Allied leaders. They recognized that not all Germans were complicit in the Nazi regime's actions, and it may have contributed to post-war policies, such as denazification efforts and the Nuremberg Trials.
Conclusion Operation Valkyrie remains a poignant chapter in the history of World War II and the broader struggle against tyranny. The men and women who plotted to assassinate Adolf Hitler and overthrow the Nazi regime demonstrated remarkable courage and moral conviction. While their efforts ultimately failed, the symbolism of their resistance is a reminder of the continued struggle for justice, freedom, and human rights.
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