Claus Graf von Stauffenberg was born in a Bavarian castle in 1907. As a young German noble it was his duty to serve in the German military. Beginning in 1926, Stauffenberg served his country honorably and eventually was promoted to Colonel. Stauffenberg believed in German nationalism, however he did not approve of the extreme ideology of the Nazi Party. After losing an eye and earning a Gold Cross Metal in North Africa, Stauffenberg was stationed in Germany, eventually meeting General Tresckow and other anti-Nazi officers.
Stauffenberg was placed in the command staff of the “Ersatzheer,” which was the Reserve Army in Germany. The Reserve Army had an emergency order system known as “Operation Valkyrie.” In the case of a coup attempt or a foreign intervention in Berlin which involved a loss of communication with the German High Command, Operation Valkyrie would quickly allow the Reserve Army to seize control of the command structure in Berlin. Stauffenberg realized that Operation Valkyrie could be used to depose Hitler and the S.S. from the reins of power. After several aborted assassination attempts by others, Stauffenberg decided to assassinate Hitler himself. As a staff officer of the Reserve Army, the Colonel was included in Hitler’s war briefings at the “Wolf’s Lair”- Hitler’s military headquarters in occupied Poland. Stauffenberg planned to assassinate Hitler, Himmler, and Herman Goehring in one bomb attack- thus destroying Hitler’s inner circle. Then, flying back to his Reserve Army headquarters, initiate Operation Valkyrie while framing the bombing as an S.S. coup. This would allow the Wehrmacht to seize power in the Third Reich, and it was imagined- immediately make peace with the allied powers which had invaded France.
On the first attempt, Himmler did not arrive for the briefing, and Colonel Stauffenberg aborted the bombing.
Stauffenberg was placed in the command staff of the “Ersatzheer,” which was the Reserve Army in Germany. The Reserve Army had an emergency order system known as “Operation Valkyrie.” In the case of a coup attempt or a foreign intervention in Berlin which involved a loss of communication with the German High Command, Operation Valkyrie would quickly allow the Reserve Army to seize control of the command structure in Berlin. Stauffenberg realized that Operation Valkyrie could be used to depose Hitler and the S.S. from the reins of power. After several aborted assassination attempts by others, Stauffenberg decided to assassinate Hitler himself. As a staff officer of the Reserve Army, the Colonel was included in Hitler’s war briefings at the “Wolf’s Lair”- Hitler’s military headquarters in occupied Poland. Stauffenberg planned to assassinate Hitler, Himmler, and Herman Goehring in one bomb attack- thus destroying Hitler’s inner circle. Then, flying back to his Reserve Army headquarters, initiate Operation Valkyrie while framing the bombing as an S.S. coup. This would allow the Wehrmacht to seize power in the Third Reich, and it was imagined- immediately make peace with the allied powers which had invaded France.
On the first attempt, Himmler did not arrive for the briefing, and Colonel Stauffenberg aborted the bombing.
A few days later another briefing was held and this time Himmler, Hitler, and Goehring were there. Stauffenberg planted a suitcase bomb under the map table near Hitler’s position and departed the building. After Stauffenberg departed, another officer moved the briefcase, which is what saved Hitler’s life as the wide table leg shielded the Fuhrer from shrapnel.
Stauffenberg immediately flew back to Berlin, where he started initiating Operation Valkyrie. He assumed that Hitler must have died in the blast, but it was not true. Nazi Propaganda Minister Joseph Goebbels announced on state radio that the Fuhrer was injured, but still alive. The Gestapo arrested Stauffenberg and his co-conspirators at their Bendlerstrasse offices. They were quickly executed in the courtyard of the building, after a brief show trial by firing squad.