American Valor Quarterly Issue 4 - Autumn 2008 | Page 9

Operation Valkyrie
And the Plot to Kill Hitler
On December 25, 2008, MGM studios will release VALKYRIE,
the true story of the plot to kill Adolf Hitler on July 20, 1944 by
members of the German resistance. The film stars Tom Cruise
as Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg, the man who was given the
task of planting the bomb intended to take out Hitler. It was
filmed on location in Germany at many of the actual locations in
which the events took place.

that there was an attempt to overthrow Hitler from within the
German government, as opposed to a civil uprising. At this point,
Operation Valkyrie would go into effect, and the German Reserve
Army would be used to unwittingly assist them in overthrowing
the German government. That was the plan.

As far as the resistance movement was concerned, that is a much
more complicated answer. There were many pockets of resistance,
Recently, American Valor Quarterly editor Tim Holbert with different groups within both the German government and
had the opportunity to speak with Christopher McQuarrie, co- military, as well as civilian groups, that had been actively resisting
producer and co-writer of the film. Included in this issue is that Hitler and plotting against him from as early as the 1930s.
interview, which focuses on bringing one of the most incredible
stories – and great tragedies – of World War II to the big screen. Tim Holbert: That is what is so interesting about this plot – that
Operation Valkyrie was a plan that Hitler had signed off on, and
Tim Holbert: Many of our readers will already know of the it was used against him.
attempt on Hitler’s life on July 20, 1944. However, I