English Learning for Curious Minds | A More Interesting Way To Learn English #580 | Operation Valkyrie & The Plot To Kill Hitler
Nov 20, 2025
On July 20, 1944, a bomb targeted Hitler at his Wolf's Lair but failed to kill him due to a briefcase being moved. Claus von Stauffenberg, who had been severely injured, played a crucial role in this daring plot. After the explosion, a chaotic coup began, with conflicting reports on Hitler's fate. The aftermath saw brutal crackdowns, with thousands arrested and executed. The chilling 'what ifs' of this historical moment leave us wondering how different the world might have been if the assassination had succeeded.
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The Briefcase Bomb At Wolf's Lair
- Claus von Stauffenberg prepared a briefcase bomb and placed it beside Hitler during the Wolf's Lair meeting on 20 July 1944.
- He left after receiving a phone call and caught a plane back to Berlin within 20 minutes of the explosion.
Small Acts Changed History
- A small, accidental action likely saved Hitler: an officer pushed the briefcase behind the table leg, reducing the blast impact on him.
- That minor movement cost Heinz Brandt his life but preserved Hitler's, altering history's course.
A Contingency Plan Turned Coup Tool
- Operation Valkyrie was an official reserve-army contingency plan signed by Hitler but secretly repurposed by conspirators to seize power after his assassination.
- The plot aimed to blame the SS and enable a controlled transition without mass chaos.