On July 21, 1944, Adolf Hitler took to the airwaves to announce that the attempt on his life, code-named Operation Valkyrie, failed and “…accounts will be settled.”
Hitler addressed the nation to reassure the German public of his safety and consolidate his power by framing the conspirators as a small, treacherous group acting against the nation’s interests.
“German comrades, I do not know how many times there have been assassination attempts on me. If I now speak to you, then it is firstly to let you know of my own fate, and secondly to give you my profound thanks for the many expressions of congratulations and pledges of loyalty, which I was able to receive in these past hours. I want you to hear my voice and know that I am unhurt and well.
A very small clique of ambitious, irresponsible, and at the same time senselessly criminal officers had conspired to eliminate me and at the same time to wipe out practically the entire staff of the High Command of the Armed Forces. The bomb, which was planted by Colonel Count von Stauffenberg, exploded two meters to the right of me. It killed two of my collaborators, a general and a staff officer. I myself suffered only superficial scratches, bruises, and burns. I regard it as a confirmation of the task imposed upon me by Providence that I escaped completely unhurt.
I see in this the confirmation of the mission, which Providence imposed upon me, to continue to pursue my life’s goal as I have done hitherto. And therefore, I will continue to pursue it.
I do not know what kind of thoughts those criminals had in their minds. However, it is not the first time that there has been an attempt to eliminate me. If you want to know who is behind it, then take a look at the leaders of the attack and you will find that they come from the same circles that for so many years have formed a conspiracy against me and the National Socialist movement.
A very small clique of ambitious, unscrupulous, and at the same time, senselessly stupid officers had formed a conspiracy to eliminate me and to eliminate virtually the entire leadership of the German Wehrmacht. The bomb, which was planted by Colonel Count von Stauffenberg, exploded two meters to the right of me. It killed two of my collaborators, a general, and a staff officer. I myself suffered only very minor cuts and bruises. I regard it as a confirmation of the task imposed upon me by Providence that I escaped completely unhurt.
I take this as confirmation of the mission which Providence has imposed upon me, to continue to pursue the goal of my life as I have done hitherto. Therefore, I will continue to pursue this goal as before. And I now call on the German people to support me, as they have done in the past, with all their strength.
From this moment on, I shall be concerned only with the question of how I can best fulfill my duty. My German comrades, it is with great relief that I am able to tell you this hour that I am unhurt and well. Let us all continue in this spirit, and we shall be victorious.
However, if you want to know what kind of men these are, then I can tell you: they come from those circles which we have known for years, which wanted to create a new war, to seize power, and which did not shrink from even the most dastardly acts of violence.
It is a very small clique of ambitious, unscrupulous, and at the same time senselessly stupid officers who have formed a conspiracy to eliminate me and to eliminate virtually the entire leadership of the German Wehrmacht. The bomb, which was planted by Colonel Count von Stauffenberg, exploded two meters to the right of me. It killed two of my collaborators, a general, and a staff officer. I myself suffered only very minor cuts and bruises. I regard it as a confirmation of the task imposed upon me by Providence that I escaped completely unhurt.
I see in this the confirmation of the mission, which Providence imposed upon me, to continue to pursue my life’s goal as I have done hitherto. And therefore, I will continue to pursue it as before.
I do not know what kind of thoughts these criminals had in their minds. However, it is not the first time that there has been an attempt to eliminate me. If you want to know who is behind it, then take a look at the leaders of the attack and you will find that they come from the same circles that for so many years have formed a conspiracy against me and the National Socialist movement.
From this moment on, I shall be concerned only with the question of how I can best fulfill my duty. My German comrades, it is with great relief that I am able to tell you this hour that I am unhurt and well. Let us all continue in this spirit, and we shall be victorious.”
Sources
https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/hitler-to-germany-im-still-alive
https://www.theguardian.com/theguardian/1944/jul/21/fromthearchive
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