CC Col. Claus von Stauffenberg
[about the leadership of the German Resistance]
Those men are confusing respect with popularity. The Army swore an oath, an oath that won't just die with Hitler. What are you going to do? How are you going to deal with Goebbels, Himmler, the SS? They will wipe you out!
MG Maj Gen Henning von Tresckow
It doesn't matter! It only matters that we act now, before we lose the war. Otherwise, this will always be Hitler's Germany, and we have to show the world that not all of us were like him.
That is not enough for me. There has to be a chance of success.
Tresckow Then find a way.
CC Col. Claus von Stauffenberg
Valkyrie.
We've already considered Valkyrie, it isn't suitable.
MG Maj Gen Henning von Tresckow
Not as it's currently written, but the colonel has an idea I think we should consider.
Dr. Carl Goerdeler Excuse me, what is Valkyrie?
Operation Valkyrie. The Reserve Army has thousands of men all over Berlin. Valkyrie is Hitler's contingency plan to mobilize those men during a national emergency.
Tresckow The sole purpose of the order is to protect Hitler's government if he's cut off or killed.
Goerdeler And what use is this to us?
Valkyrie is designed to contain civil unrest, but what if the SS was staging a coup? State Security is trying to overthrow Hitler; how would High Command respond?
We'd have no choice, we would declare a military state of emergency.
Tresckow Exactly, and initiate Valkyrie.
Hitler's own Reserve Army, using Hitler's own plan, will have no choice but to seize power in Berlin to prevent the SS takeover. They'll think they're fighting for Hitler's government, not against it.
Tresckow While we quietly put a new government in place.
Goerdeler But only if he's dead. That's what you're saying, isn't it? How else are you going to convince people the SS are trying to seize power?
Goerdeler I'm disappointed in you, Colonel. I thought a man of your background would suggest a more honorable approach.
Your plan has a few minor obstacles, Colonel. Firstly, Valkyrie would have to be rewritten to exclude the SS.
And I'll need your help to get a copy.
Rewriting an order is one thing, distributing it is another. In this case, we'd be willfully circulating written evidence of high treason.
Evidence requiring Hitler's signature.
Well, we can all draw straws for that job.
Goerdeler Fromm, who is Fromm?
He's the commander of the Reserve Army.
I can put the Reserve troops on alert, but only Fromm can initiate Valkyrie.
We're running out of time, can you get to Fromm?
Tresckow But one who's gone as far as he can go in Hitler's army. It's no secret he's unhappy about it.
Offer him a key position in the new regime. Make him see the light.
