Humpday History Highlight
By Wyatt Earp | July 21, 2010
July 21, 1944 – Hitler Claims, “I’m Still Alive”
Hitler had survived the bomb blast that was meant to take his life. He had suffered punctured eardrums, some burns and minor wounds, but nothing that would keep him from regaining control of the government and finding the rebels. In fact, the coup d’etat that was to accompany the assassination of Hitler was put down in a mere 11 1/2 hours. In Berlin, Army Major Otto Remer, believed to be apolitical by the conspirators and willing to carry out any orders given him, was told that the Fuhrer was dead and that he, Remer, was to arrest Joseph Goebbels, Minister of Propaganda. But Goebbels had other news for Remer-Hitler was alive. And he proved it, by getting the leader on the phone (the rebels had forgotten to cut the phone lines). Hitler then gave Remer direct orders to put down any army rebellion and to follow only his orders or those of Goebbels or Himmler. Remer let Goebbels go. The SS then snapped into action, arriving in Berlin, now in chaos, just in time to convince many high German officers to remain loyal to Hitler.
Arrests, torture sessions, executions, and suicides followed. Count Claus von Stauffenberg, the man who actually planted the explosive in the room with Hitler and who had insisted to his co-conspirators that “the explosion was as if a 15-millimeter shell had hit. No one in that room can still be alive.” But it was Stauffenberg who would not be alive for much longer; he was shot dead the very day of the attempt by a pro-Hitler officer. The plot was completely undone.
Sadly, the plot failed, but Hitler would get his less than a year later. Von Stauffenberg is now celebrated as a hero in Germany, and a central figure of the German Resistance Movement.
Topics: HHH | 11 Comments »
July 21st, 2010 at 8:12 pm
Hitler was sitting behind a solid oak conference table- it was dumb luck that he survived.
July 21st, 2010 at 9:25 pm
Mrs. Crankipants – Damn you, Oooooak!!!
July 21st, 2010 at 9:30 pm
If it were a Docksta dining table from Ikea, he would have been toast.
July 21st, 2010 at 10:44 pm
Or if the good Colonel had used both blocks of explosive. Or if they had left the windows closed. But then again, Herr Hitler had been dodging explosions since the late 30s, so he did have some practice…
July 21st, 2010 at 11:07 pm
Thanks for the reminder of how not to take out a thug.
July 22nd, 2010 at 7:39 am
Mrs. Crankipants – Lousy Swedish resistance!
Dixie – The Military Channel has a terrific series called “Hitler’s Bodyguards,” which explains the many close calls he survived. Apparently, Adolf didn’t have a lot of Facebook friends.
Rick – I used the same tactic to try and take out my grade school bully. Heh.
July 22nd, 2010 at 9:45 am
Tip for everyone don’t rent “Valkerie” from Redbox, it totally, unequivocally sucks. If von Stauffenberg could he should come back and kick Cruise’s ass for making the movie.
July 22nd, 2010 at 9:53 am
Ferrell – Didn’t see it, but I couldn’t picture Cruise in that role.
July 22nd, 2010 at 3:05 pm
They cast Cruise as VS because he was the only name actor short enough to run under the table with the bomb…
July 22nd, 2010 at 4:38 pm
One of the most depressing movies I’ve ever watched. All the “good guys” get lined up and shot at the end and the bad guy wins.
July 22nd, 2010 at 10:23 pm
Richard – Nicely played.
Woody – Sadly, that’s what really happened. Not a smiley, fun-time story.