The July 20 Plot, also known as Operation Valkyrie, represents one of the most significant assassination attempts against Adolf Hitler during World War II. This bold initiative was led by a group of senior German officers who, driven by a mix of moral indignation and practical considerations, aimed to eliminate the Führer and put an end to the Nazi regime. The plot is emblematic of the internal resistance against Hitler, showcasing the complexities and contradictions within the German military and political landscape during the war.
By mid-1944, the tide of World War II had turned decisively against Germany. The Allied forces had landed in Normandy, initiating a push that would eventually liberate Western Europe, while the Soviet Union was making significant advances on the Eastern Front. Within Germany, disillusionment with Hitler’s leadership was growing, particularly among military officers who saw the war as unwinnable and Hitler’s strategies as increasingly reckless.
Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg, a key figure in the July 20 Plot, was symbolic of this disillusionment. He was a decorated officer who suffered severe injuries in North Africa. Stauffenberg’s injuries did not deter his resolve. Influenced by both moral and practical considerations, he and his co-conspirators believed that Hitler’s death was essential not only to save Germany from destruction but also to restore its honor and integrity. The conspirators aimed to seize control of the government, negotiate a peace settlement with the Allies, and initiate a post-Nazi political order.
The plan, codenamed Operation Valkyrie, originally conceived as a contingency operation to maintain order in the event of internal unrest, was repurposed by the conspirators. The plotters intended to use the Reserve Army to seize key government buildings, arrest Nazi leaders, and establish a provisional government once Hitler was assassinated.
On July 20, 1944, Stauffenberg attended a meeting at Hitler’s Wolf’s Lair headquarters in East Prussia. Carrying a briefcase bomb, Stauffenberg managed to place it near Hitler before excusing himself to make a phone call. However, the bomb’s placement was altered by an unwitting officer, reducing its effectiveness. When it detonated, the explosion killed four people but only injured Hitler, who survived the blast relatively unscathed.
The failure of the assassination led to a swift and brutal response from the Nazi regime. Within hours, the conspirators in Berlin, including General Friedrich Olbricht, Colonel Albrecht Mertz von Quirnheim, and others, were arrested and executed. Stauffenberg himself was shot by a firing squad that night.
In the following weeks, the Gestapo conducted an extensive purge, resulting in the arrest of around 7,000 people and the execution of nearly 5,000, including many high-ranking military officers and civilians with even tenuous connections to the plot. This crackdown effectively eliminated the remaining internal opposition to Hitler and consolidated his control over the military and the state apparatus.
The July 20 Plot, despite its failure, remains a powerful symbol of resistance against tyranny. It highlights the moral and ethical dilemmas faced by those living under oppressive regimes and the extraordinary risks they took to challenge such systems. The plot also underscores the complexities within the German military, which was not a monolithic entity of unwavering loyalty to Hitler but included individuals willing to sacrifice their lives to stop him.
Post-war Germany has viewed the conspirators of the July 20 Plot as heroes, honoring their courage and moral conviction. Memorials, films, and scholarly works have kept their legacy alive, emphasizing the importance of resistance and the enduring human spirit in the face of despotism. I disagree with the notion that these men were heroes. Each of them, at one stage or another, had subscribed to the Nazi ideology, knowing quite well what that entailed. Some believe the assassination was an act of atonement; however, this should not overshadow the fact that several of these men had actively participated in war crimes before the attempt.
Sources
https://www.britannica.com/event/July-Plot
https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/the-july-20-1944-plot-to-assassinate-adolf-hitler
https://time.com/5629999/operation-valkyrie-july-plot/
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