Valkyrie
U.S. History
11/21/2011
WWII Movie Project
I watched “Valkyrie,” starring Tom Cruise, a movie that depicts the plot to assassinate Adolf Hitler during the height of World War II. It brings to light the events leading up to the assassination, as well as its aftermath. The failed July 20th attempt led to the execution of around 5,000 Germans, ordered by Hitler. Although World War II was not impacted very heavily by it, the war certainly would have been had the attempt been successful. Because of the armistice that would have been signed, nine months of war could have been avoided and hundreds of thousands of lives could have been salvaged. The attempt shows the world that not all Nazis were evil; some followed their conscience rather than Hitler’s orders. People should either watch the movie or research about the attempt; they need to know how brave the conspirators were and how much they were willing to sacrifice for the greater good. Of the fifteen assassination attempts made on the Fuhrer, this one came the closest to succeeding.
The film opens with Colonel Claus Von Stauffenberg (played by Tom Cruise) being severely injured in Tunisia due to an air raid. He loses his right hand, the last two fingers on his left hand, and his left eye, and spends some time recovering in a hospital. Meanwhile, General Tresckow attempts to assassinate Hitler by smuggling a bomb onto his airplane. It does not succeed, however, because the bomb fails to detonate. After Stauffenberg heals, he is recruited into a secret committee by General Olbricht, who is looking for new members. After being introduced to the committee, Stauffenberg comes up with an idea: to use the Reserve Army to take control during a national crisis, known formally as Operation Valkyrie. The committee decides to go through with it. Stauffenberg also reveals his intentions to Lieutenant Haeften. Because the lieutenant agrees to aid him, Stauffenberg recruits him as a right hand man. Firstly, they must rewrite
11/21/2011
WWII Movie Project
I watched “Valkyrie,” starring Tom Cruise, a movie that depicts the plot to assassinate Adolf Hitler during the height of World War II. It brings to light the events leading up to the assassination, as well as its aftermath. The failed July 20th attempt led to the execution of around 5,000 Germans, ordered by Hitler. Although World War II was not impacted very heavily by it, the war certainly would have been had the attempt been successful. Because of the armistice that would have been signed, nine months of war could have been avoided and hundreds of thousands of lives could have been salvaged. The attempt shows the world that not all Nazis were evil; some followed their conscience rather than Hitler’s orders. People should either watch the movie or research about the attempt; they need to know how brave the conspirators were and how much they were willing to sacrifice for the greater good. Of the fifteen assassination attempts made on the Fuhrer, this one came the closest to succeeding.
The film opens with Colonel Claus Von Stauffenberg (played by Tom Cruise) being severely injured in Tunisia due to an air raid. He loses his right hand, the last two fingers on his left hand, and his left eye, and spends some time recovering in a hospital. Meanwhile, General Tresckow attempts to assassinate Hitler by smuggling a bomb onto his airplane. It does not succeed, however, because the bomb fails to detonate. After Stauffenberg heals, he is recruited into a secret committee by General Olbricht, who is looking for new members. After being introduced to the committee, Stauffenberg comes up with an idea: to use the Reserve Army to take control during a national crisis, known formally as Operation Valkyrie. The committee decides to go through with it. Stauffenberg also reveals his intentions to Lieutenant Haeften. Because the lieutenant agrees to aid him, Stauffenberg recruits him as a right hand man. Firstly, they must rewrite
Cited: Dulles, Allen, and Nigel Jones. "Valkyrie: The Wehrmacht July Bomb Plot (July 1944)." Historical Boys ' Clothing 19 Nov. 2011. <http://valkyrie-plot.com/july151944.html>. "Synopsis for Valkyrie." International Movie Database. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Nov. 2011