The Stauffenberg Plot: A Failed Attempt to Assassinate Hitler

Introduction: A Defining Moment in Berlin’s WWII History

On 20 July 1944, Colonel Claus Schenk von Stauffenberg and fellow conspirators attempted to assassinate Adolf Hitler in what became known as Operation Valkyrie, also referred to as the 20 July Plot or The Plot to Kill Hitler.
This pivotal moment in Berlin’s WWII history was an attempt to end the Nazi dictatorship and bring about a change in Germany’s leadership.

Background to the Plot

The Military Situation in 1944

By mid-1944, Allied forces had landed in Normandy but faced heavy resistance.
Many senior officers in the German Army General Staff feared Hitler was steering Germany toward total ruin.

Stauffenberg’s Turning Point

Over the course of the war, Stauffenberg became increasingly aware of the criminal nature of National Socialist policy.
Injured in 1943—losing an eye, his right hand, and two fingers on his left—he was transferred to the General Army Office where he connected with high-ranking opponents of the Nazi regime.

Planning Operation Valkyrie

The Coup Leaders

• General Friedrich Olbricht – a key figure in coup planning since 1938
• Ludwig Beck – former Chief of the General Staff
• Carl Friedrich Goerdeler – former mayor of Leipzig and anti-Nazi activist

Together, they formed a network of military and civilian leaders determined to act.

The Assassination Plan

The strategy: assassinate Hitler, then activate Operation Valkyrie—a contingency plan repurposed to seize control of Germany.

20 July 1944: The Assassination Attempt

At the Wolf’s Lair

Stauffenberg traveled to Hitler’s Eastern Front headquarters in East Prussia (today Poland) carrying a time bomb hidden in his briefcase.
The meeting location was moved from a concrete bunker to a wooden structure, a change that would prove crucial.

The Moment of Action

With his remaining fingers, Stauffenberg primed the bomb and placed it under the oak map table before leaving the room.
Unknowingly, someone pushed the briefcase behind a table leg, shielding Hitler from the full blast.

Aftermath: Failure and Retribution

Immediate Consequences

The explosion killed four but only injured Hitler.
Believing the mission a success, Stauffenberg returned to Berlin to initiate the coup.
When confirmation arrived that Hitler had survived, the plan collapsed.
That evening, Stauffenberg and other key conspirators were executed in the courtyard of the War Ministry.

The Nazi Response

• 170+ people tried and executed in the People’s Court
• 150+ more imprisoned without trial, later murdered
• Operation Thunderstorm launched, arresting over 5,000 suspected opponents

Historical Significance

While the attempt failed, the plotters demonstrated extraordinary courage in risking their lives to end a brutal dictatorship.
Had they succeeded, the war’s end and the prevention of countless deaths might have been possible.

Visiting the Memorial Today

Today, the courtyard where Stauffenberg and his allies were executed is home to the Memorial of the German Resistance Museum in Berlin.
The museum documents the stories of those who resisted National Socialism and honors their sacrifices.

Learn More About Berlin’s WWII History

As a Berlin tour guide and member of the Berlin Guide Association, I share these stories on private tours, offering first-hand insights into the sites and events that shaped the city.