Today in the Second World War

Welcome to the July 20 issue of the Hidden History Newsletter, where we delve deep into the narratives of a past that still shapes our present. On this day, we mark the 79th anniversary of Operation Valkyrie, the failed assassination attempt on Adolf Hitler, shedding light on the complex faces of courage that emerged from within the ranks of the enemy. As we navigate these historical landscapes, we uncover lessons of resilience and the human spirit, embracing the echoes of the past to understand our world today and foster conversations for the future.

"Once again I take this opportunity, my old comrades in arms, to greet you, joyful that I have once again been spared a fate which, while it held no terror for me personally, would have had terrible consequences for the German People. I interpret this as a sign from Providence that I must continue my work, and therefore I shall continue it." - Adolf Hitler - July 20

Regia Marina Under Attack

Six British Swordfish torpedo bombers from carrier HMS Eagle attacked Tobruk, Libya in search of Italian cruiser Giovanni dalle Bande Nere that escaped the Battle of Cape Spada on the previous day. The cruiser was not found in port, thus destroyers Ostro and Nembo and transport Sereno were attacked and sank instead.

Sick Ideas

Wilhelm Keitel entertained with the idea of branding Soviet prisoners of war/slave laborers on the buttocks similar to how one would treat cattle.

Devastating Strike

At 0010 hours, a US TBF aircraft equipped with radar detected the Japanese Night Battle Force between Vella Lavella Island and Choiseul Island in the Solomon Islands. Multiple waves of aircraft were launched to attack. At 0034 hours, Yugure was hit by a 2,000-poung bomb amidships (sinking within minutes), followed by a hit on Kumano in the starboard quarter. Additional attacks scored no hits; two TBF and two B-25 aircraft were shot down during the attacks. Kiyonami picked up about 20 of Yugure's survivors at about 0200 hours. At 0521 hours, eight US B-25 bombers tasked with finding the damaged Kumano found Kiyonami instead, scoring a hit that detonated a magazine, and Kiyonami sank within two minutes. Only one of Kiyonami's crew survived (not found until 4 Aug 1943); all of Yugure's survivors were killed. At 1108 hours, the destroyer transports, having successfully delivered 300 men and supplies to Vila, Kolombangara, Solomon Islands before dawn, joined the surviving ships of the Night Battle Force, and they would arrive at Rabaul, New Britain, Bismarck Islands at 1730 hours.

Operation Valkyrie

Operation Valkyrie was originally a contingency plan developed by the German General Staff to maintain order in the event of an internal crisis such as an uprising by the millions of forced laborers from occupied countries working in German factories. It entailed mobilizing the Reserve Army (Ersatzheer), comprised mostly of older men and young boys, to maintain control of key locations and infrastructure.

However, by 1944, a group of high-ranking German officers, civil servants, and aristocrats had formed a resistance movement against Hitler's regime. They saw the plan as a means to not only assassinate Hitler but also seize control of the government. This group was not homogenous and held varying motives for their involvement - some were disillusioned by the atrocities committed by the Nazis, others were concerned about Germany's likely defeat in the war, and some saw Hitler's policies as strategically flawed and endangering Germany's future.

The central figure in the plot was Colonel Claus Schenk Graf von Stauffenberg, a Catholic aristocrat and career military officer who had become increasingly opposed to the Nazi regime due to its crimes against humanity. Stauffenberg was severely wounded in North Africa and had lost an eye, his right hand, and two fingers on his left hand, but he continued to serve actively in the military.

On July 20, 1944, Stauffenberg attended a briefing at Hitler's Wolf's Lair field headquarters carrying a briefcase containing a bomb. He placed the briefcase under the table near Hitler and then excused himself from the room. The bomb exploded, killing four people, but Hitler survived, shielded from the blast by the conference table's heavy oak support.

The plan also called for the arrest of the SS and Nazi leadership in Berlin, but due to a lack of clear communication and the news of Hitler's survival, the coup failed. Stauffenberg and his co-conspirators were quickly arrested. Stauffenberg, along with three other conspirators, was summarily tried before a hastily convened court-martial and executed by a firing squad the same night. In the aftermath, a brutal purge followed, during which thousands were arrested and many executed.

Despite its failure, Operation Valkyrie highlighted that not all Germans supported the Nazi regime, and there were indeed those who risked everything to resist from within. The plot's intricate planning, the high rank of the conspirators, and their ultimate sacrifice have made this a point of significant historical interest in the study of Nazi Germany.

Photo of the Day

Captured A6M Zero fighter 'Akutan Zero' being loaded onto a ship bound for the continental United States, US Territory of Alaska, July 1942.

As we close today's issue of the Hidden History Newsletter, we thank you for joining us in reflecting on the 79th anniversary of Operation Valkyrie, a stark reminder of the courage and complexity that pervaded that epoch. Your engagement breathes life into these narratives, transforming history from a static record into a dynamic conversation that teaches, inspires, and connects us all. Tomorrow, we'll continue our journey through the pivotal moments of WWII. Until then, stay engaged, keep exploring, and always remember - the echoes of history are not only reminders of our past but also guides for our future.

If you ever have any recommendations feel free to reach out to us at [email protected]

Have a great week :)

Recommended Books:

Today’s email was brought to you by Hidden History.