Operation Valkyrie

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With over a million slave workers in Germany, the Nazis feared an uprising. They prepared a plan for the Army to handle any such revolt. Echoing Wagner’s Ring, they called it ‘Operation Valkyrie’. The orders provided an ideal framework for a coup.

In 1943, Claus von Stauffenberg was initiated into this plan. He modified the orders to facilitate a takeover.

He was married, with four children. He felt he could not be a father while turning his back on the moral destruction of his country.

He made contact with all the different groups – police, politicians of all stripes, diplomats, intellectuals, officers, clergymen and more – welding them into a formidable force.

When Hitler agreed to inspect new army uniforms, Stauffenberg searched for an officer prepared to blow himself up with the Führer during the inspection. 

Major Axel von dem Bussche agreed to do it. But when Allied bombs destroyed the uniforms to be modelled, Bussche was transferred back to the front. 

The inspection was rescheduled, and Lieutenant Ewald-Heinrich von Kleist-Schmenzin agreed to make the attempt. Hitler repeatedly postponed the inspection. 

In March 1944, Captain Eberhard von Breitenbuch accompanied Field Marshal Busch to the Berghof for a conference with Hitler. Breitenbuch secreted a pistol in his uniform, intending to shoot Hitler. Inexplicably, he was denied entry.

In June 1944, Stauffenberg was appointed chief of staff of the Home Army – comprising all the troops in Germany. His commander, Colonel General Friedrich Fromm, had responsibility for issuing the Valkyrie orders, but as chief of staff, Stauffenberg could issue the orders in his name.

On 7 June 1944, the day after D Day, Stauffenberg went to the Berghof to meet Hitler for the first time.

On 9 July, Hitler inspected the new uniforms. General Stieff agreed to blow up Hitler – but nothing happened.

Stauffenberg realised he was best placed to  kill Hitler himself. 

Written and narrated by Brian Walters

Original music, editing and sound design by the amazing Sam Loy

Episode Transcript

A full transcript of the episode is available here.

Read the book TREASON

You can read more about Claus von Stauffenberg and the German resistance to Hitler, in the book Treason by Brian Walters.

For those with iPads, Treason is available as an interactive Apple Book here.

The hard copy can be bought here.

If you live out of Australia, the hard copy is best purchased from Blurb.

There is also a Kindle version.

Resources

For a list of the creative commons music and sound effects in this episode, head here.

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TREASON: Claus von Stauffenberg and the plot to kill Hitler