The Nazi Plot That’s Haunting Tom Cruise and United Artists

[Jono]

As it has already been said it would have been impossible for Stauffenberg to have shot, stabbed or attacked Hitler in some physical way in order to kill him due to tight security and his injuries. It has also been already stated that the number of conspirators was relatively small, therefore they needed everyone they could get in order to ensure the following coup would work. If Stauffenberg had stayed in the room with the bomb and died, a key member of the conspiracy would be lost and the rest of the plan would be in peril.

[entasis]

not sure what he meant exactly but in Philipp von Boeselager's NYTimes obituary from a few weeks ago:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/03/wo...yt&oref=slogin


The following is referenced from an interview:

As for the failure of the assassination attempt, Mr. von Boeselager said, “Stauffenberg was the wrong man for this, but no one else had the guts.”

All in all, action speak louder than words. I believe I once read somewhere that many people who performed heroic actions felt that they had no choice in the matter.

Another recently deceased heroic person during the era was Irena Sendler.

[BrianK]

Judging by the results, it was an ill-conceived plan. If those so close to Hitler failed to realize the retribution involved for failure, they neglected to take into account a key element in the conspiracy plot. The late 30's failed bomb plot against Hitler was similar, yet failed to draw a similar bloodbath, so he (or they) covered his tracks much better. It was an ill-conceived plan in the same sense that, for example, Hitler's ivasion of Russia was an ill-conceived plan, since it failed so miserably. It's too bad that suicide bombers were not in fashion 60 years ago.

[KatL.]

It's too bad that suicide bombers were not in fashion 60 years ago.

actually... it was

[bigschuss]

not sure what he meant exactly but in Philipp von Boeselager's NYTimes obituary from a few weeks ago:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/03/wo...yt&oref=slogin


The following is referenced from an interview:

As for the failure of the assassination attempt, Mr. von Boeselager said, “Stauffenberg was the wrong man for this, but no one else had the guts.”

All in all, action speak louder than words. I believe I once read somewhere that many people who performed heroic actions felt that they had no choice in the matter.

Another recently deceased heroic person during the era was Irena Sendler.

Thanks for posting this.

I don't know why Mr. von Boeselager would say that Stauffenberg was the wrong man for the job? He was unassuming. He flew under the radar. He was a war hero. And he had the ability to get close to Hitler with a bomb. What more does it take to place a bomb under a table...a Ph.D.?

[Paul Giva]

Thanks for posting this.

I don't know why Mr. von Boeselager would say that Stauffenberg was the wrong man for the job? He was unassuming. He flew under the radar. He was a war hero. And he had the ability to get close to Hitler with a bomb. What more does it take to place a bomb under a table...a Ph.D.?

He was referring to his disabilities.

[bigschuss]

He was referring to his disabilities.

I got that. Maybe I missed something on the obituary? I don't understand how Stauffenberg's disabilities made him the wrong man.

If I remember, there were some delays before the plot that were no fault of Stauffenberg's. The decision was made to use only one stick on explosive, not two. The briefcase was moved to the opposite side of the large wood table leg. And there was no contigency plan for an overt but failed assassination attempt. I'm pretty sure it was decided that Stauffenberg must survive the plot because his co-conspirators agreed he was the only man who could then lead the coup.

How did Stauffenberg's disabilities prevent him from accomplishing what a non-disabled officer could have? What is he refering to?

[Paul Giva]

If I remember, there were some delays before the plot that were no fault of Stauffenberg's. The decision was made to use only one stick on explosive, not two. The briefcase was moved to the opposite side of the large wood table leg. And there was no contigency plan for an overt but failed assassination attempt. I'm pretty sure it was decided that Stauffenberg must survive the plot because his co-conspirators agreed he was the only man who could then lead the coup.

How did Stauffenberg's disabilities prevent him from accomplishing what a non-disabled officer could have? What is he refering to?

Hi bigschuss,

Actually, it was not a delay. The meeting was pushed up by a half-hour because Mussolini was arriving later on in the day. Because of this and the fact that he was interrupted while preparing the explosives, Stauffenberg wasn't able to prime the second charge (even with von Haeften's assistance). Two able-bodied individuals would likely have been able to prime both charges. I believe that is what von Boeselager was specifically referring to.

[Jos L C]

If nobody had the guts, Stauffenberg was the right man, simple..

Jos.

[bigschuss]

Hi bigschuss,

Actually, it was not a delay. The meeting was pushed up by a half-hour because Mussolini was arriving later on in the day. Because of this and the fact that he was interrupted while preparing the explosives, Stauffenberg wasn't able to prime the second charge (even with von Haeften's assistance). Two able-bodied individuals would likely have been able to prime both charges. I believe that is what von Boeselager was specifically referring to.

Aahhh. I see. Thanks for that info, Paul.

Best,
Blair

[Paul Giva]

Aahhh. I see. Thanks for that info, Paul.

Best,
Blair

Hi Blair,

No problem.

[BrianK]

Killing Hitler

To compare & contrast the conspiracy plots against Hitler, see the recent book "Killing Hitler" by Roger Moorhouse.

[JON1971]

Killing Hitler

LETS PEEL BACK TO THE BASICS....

WELL NEARLY DONE von Stuffenburg..................(NEARLY SAVED 20MILLION LIFES!!!

THATS A HELL OF AN ACHEIEVMENT..!!

(AS MUCH AS I LIKE THIRD REICH)
JON...

[Federico Perez]

And I think theres was a change in the location of the meeting also, original location was going to be in one of the concrete buildings but was change at the last minute to one of the timber ones because of the sufocating heat of the summer in that area. This help in making the blast less concentrate and powerful and the wood structure was able to absorb the energy of the blast, concrete would have contained and kill everyone on that room.

Also I have read that it was after the assasination plot that all those geting close to Hitler had to check in their weapons, with very,very,very few exeptions. You can clearly see in pictures of field meetings before the plot that the officers in almost all ranks around A.H. where carriying weapons. In fact, the proof that the check up for weapons on staff officers and others in attendance where minimal, was the fact that a briefcase with a bomb was taken to the room where Hitler was having a conference, if there was an tight security in clearance for weapons(of any kind) it is for sure that the bomb would have been found.

Hi bigschuss,

Actually, it was not a delay. The meeting was pushed up by a half-hour because Mussolini was arriving later on in the day. Because of this and the fact that he was interrupted while preparing the explosives, Stauffenberg wasn't able to prime the second charge (even with von Haeften's assistance). Two able-bodied individuals would likely have been able to prime both charges. I believe that is what von Boeselager was specifically referring to.

[Paul Giva]

Hi Federico,

Yes, you are quite correct. If the meeting had taken place as originally planned in the concrete building, regardless of how many explosives were in the case or where the bomb was positioned, Hitler would have almost certainly met with one fate, and one fate only, death. Too bad. It appears that all of the planets aligned for him on that fateful day.