Initiate Operation Valkyrie!

Above is an excerpt from the opening paragraph of the document, "Operation Valkyrie" (Operation Walküre), an operational plan developed for the Reserve Army of the German Army (Wehrmacht Heer). The plan was approved by German dictator Adolf Hitler, who intended it to be used in the event that a disruption caused by the Allied bombing of German cities resulted in a breakdown in law and order, or a rising by the millions of forced laborers from occupied countries working in German factories.

I saw the movie, "Valkyrie" the other day - starring Tom Cruise in the lead role of Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg. Staffenberg is the officer who placed the suitcase under Hitler's conference room table. Four Nazis died. Hitler lived. Staffenburg was executed, along with all his co-conspirators and another 5,000 people.

Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg (far left) and Hitler, a few days before the failed July 20, 1944 plot to kill Hitler.

Good flick. Tom Cruise is...well, he's Tom Cruise. About 10% of his acting is real. The other 90% is "I'm-Tom-Cruise-the-Movie-Star-in-the-role-of-Staffenburg". I could think of 50 other actors who would've been more believable - Judd Law, Ralph Fiennes, Clive Owen. I don't blame Tom. That's who he is...a movie star. He's the star vehicle and the "name" behind getting the film made. That's not to say I don't appreciate some of his roles - Rainman, Born on the 4th of July, Legend, Mission Impossible, The Firm, Taps, Top Gun.

Back to the movie. One of the questions everyone asks regarding the failed July 20, 1944 assasination attempt of Hitler is "why didn't someone just walk up to him and shoot him?" Provided they could get past Hitler's security, plans to shoot Hitler point-blank were attempted. There were 20 attempts or so to rub out the Fuhrer. One guy had him within 20 yards or so but lost his nerve when he saw the SS surrounding Hitler at a luncheon.

Why didn't the conspirators enlist the aid of the U.S.? I don't understand how in all those tries, no one could get to Hitler and kill him. Doesn't make sense. Inadequate planning? Or loss of nerves? Interesting story though.