Zachary+Bradley

__Operation Valkyrie __ __What is [|Operation Valkyrie]? __ Operation Valkyrie was originally a “continuity of government” operations if, for whatever reason, civil order was to break down. Once World War II was coming to an end, German officers began to realize that Hitler needed to be killed. Some officers decided to turn Operation Valkyrie into a plot to assassinate Hitler. Once they killed Hitler, they would be able to open negotiations to the Allied forces.  

Who was the person that lead Operation Valkyrie? The person that was decided most likely to kill Hitler was Colonel Count Klaus Schenck von Stauffenberg. Because of his injuries and position as Chief of Staff, he was well trusted. Stauffenberg had lost two fingers on his left hand, his right forearm and hand, and his right eye when attacked by an Allied plan in North Africa a year before. Operation Valkyrie was to be executed at Wolf’s Lair, which was one of Hitler military bases. The plan was to use a briefcase bomb. Two charges were set in the briefcase and would be detonated. Colonel von Stauffenberg was to arrive at Wolf’s Lair for a meeting for 12:30 on July 20, 1944 and, because he also had impaired hearing, would be seated close to Hitler. After seated he would leave the room on excuse for a phone call. Instead, he would exit the building and climb into his car. Only minutes after he left, at 12:42, an explosion ripped through the building. As soon as the explosion occurred, Stauffenberg bluffed his way past guards and make his way to an airport to fly to Berlin. Hitler was not killed in the explosion. 

Why did the plot fail? The plot failed because they had only placed one charge instead of the planned two into the briefcase. Also, once Stauffenberg left the room, someone found the briefcase and moved it to the end of the table. Hitler only sustained minor injuries.