Comments on: Valkyrie is Better–and Worse–Than I Expected http://pjmedia.com/ronrosenbaum/2008/12/28/valkyrie-is-better-and-worse-than-i-expected/ Fri, 02 Apr 2010 00:15:41 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Scott http://pjmedia.com/ronrosenbaum/2008/12/28/valkyrie-is-better-and-worse-than-i-expected/#comment-2477 Scott Sun, 04 Jan 2009 11:06:41 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/ronrosenbaum/?p=502#comment-2477 Actually, the aristocracy was split. There were those who thought that they could use the nazis to reestablish the German monarchies, there were those who believed in the cause, and there were those who detested it -- for many reasons. Perhaps the best example of the latter might be the aged former Kaiser Wilhelm II, who, upon learning of Kristalnacht, wrote in his diary, "For the first time in my life, I am ashamed to be German." Actually, the aristocracy was split. There were those who thought that they could use the nazis to reestablish the German monarchies, there were those who believed in the cause, and there were those who detested it — for many reasons. Perhaps the best example of the latter might be the aged former Kaiser Wilhelm II, who, upon learning of Kristalnacht, wrote in his diary, “For the first time in my life, I am ashamed to be German.”

]]> By: Michael http://pjmedia.com/ronrosenbaum/2008/12/28/valkyrie-is-better-and-worse-than-i-expected/#comment-2464 Michael Thu, 01 Jan 2009 19:00:54 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/ronrosenbaum/?p=502#comment-2464 There's a book by a German author on the attempts to assassinate Hitler. Operationally, they started at Munich. The chief of the German General staff, in a different office and killed after Valkyrie for his participation, asked the British not to co-operate at Munich putting Hitler in the position of warmonger for which they would arrest or kill him. There were others. There’s a book by a German author on the attempts to assassinate Hitler. Operationally, they started at Munich. The chief of the German General staff, in a different office and killed after Valkyrie for his participation, asked the British not to co-operate at Munich putting Hitler in the position of warmonger for which they would arrest or kill him. There were others.

]]> By: Slampo http://pjmedia.com/ronrosenbaum/2008/12/28/valkyrie-is-better-and-worse-than-i-expected/#comment-2448 Slampo Mon, 29 Dec 2008 03:38:08 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/ronrosenbaum/?p=502#comment-2448 Not sure what your complaint is here. I saw the movie and was not left with the impression "that all well-groomed Germans of a certain (upper) class and (higher) military rank opposed Hitler," nor was I left with the impression that the filmmakers were trying to leave that impression. I can't vouch for the total historical accuracy of the film, but the conspiracy was relatively large and, as the flim portrays, included members who were craven, cowardly and opportunistic (and probably demented). Hitler was portrayed as suitably creepy and fear-inspiring (maybe they should have given him Cruise's Kansas non-accent for a touch of regular-guyness). I would hazard a guess that this sort of thing was hard to pull off in a stone-cold police state. The movie was not a towering work of genius but managed to build and maintain suspense, which was difficult given that the audience knows the ending (or so you would hope). Not sure what your complaint is here. I saw the movie and was not left with the impression “that all well-groomed Germans of a certain (upper) class and (higher) military rank opposed Hitler,” nor was I left with the impression that the filmmakers were trying to leave that impression. I can’t vouch for the total historical accuracy of the film, but the conspiracy was relatively large and, as the flim portrays, included members who were craven, cowardly and opportunistic (and probably demented). Hitler was portrayed as suitably creepy and fear-inspiring (maybe they should have given him Cruise’s Kansas non-accent for a touch of regular-guyness). I would hazard a guess that this sort of thing was hard to pull off in a stone-cold police state. The movie was not a towering work of genius but managed to build and maintain suspense, which was difficult given that the audience knows the ending (or so you would hope).

]]> By: Dave http://pjmedia.com/ronrosenbaum/2008/12/28/valkyrie-is-better-and-worse-than-i-expected/#comment-2444 Dave Sun, 28 Dec 2008 22:23:23 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/ronrosenbaum/?p=502#comment-2444 I don't think we should marginalize the man who led this plot and failed. He did not just dream this up suddenly after D-day, it was the catalyst that got him and his group to finalized their plans and risk their lives (which they LOST). Many German army officer's survived the war and had a future, he gave up that chance for a possibly better future with his wife and maybe offspring. Many people tried and failed to kill Hitler, the Devil was on HIS side. I don’t think we should marginalize the man who led this plot and failed. He did not just dream this up suddenly after D-day, it was the catalyst that got him and his group to finalized their plans and risk their lives (which they LOST). Many German army officer’s survived the war and had a future, he gave up that chance for a possibly better future with his wife and maybe offspring.

Many people tried and failed to kill Hitler, the Devil was on HIS side.

]]> By: charlie finch http://pjmedia.com/ronrosenbaum/2008/12/28/valkyrie-is-better-and-worse-than-i-expected/#comment-2443 charlie finch Sun, 28 Dec 2008 20:13:41 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/ronrosenbaum/?p=502#comment-2443 For the last letters, before execution by the Nazis, of German student resisters to their famiies, see Dying We Live (Seabury Press, 1969) For the last letters, before execution by the Nazis, of German student resisters to their famiies, see Dying We Live (Seabury Press, 1969)

]]> By: charlie finch http://pjmedia.com/ronrosenbaum/2008/12/28/valkyrie-is-better-and-worse-than-i-expected/#comment-2442 charlie finch Sun, 28 Dec 2008 19:39:13 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/ronrosenbaum/?p=502#comment-2442 Just think, students who spoke up against Hitler, wrote a letter against him, put up a poster against him were tried and executed with in days. Just think, students who spoke up against Hitler, wrote a letter against him, put up a poster against him were tried and executed with in days.

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