Characters / Valkyrie

Character sheet for the 2008 film Valkyrie.

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Main Characters

Claus von Stauffenberg

Oberst im Generalstab Claus Philipp Maria Schenk Graf von Stauffenberg, Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces Reserve Office

Portrayed by: Tom Cruise

“I'm a soldier, I serve my country. But this is not my country. I was lying out there bleeding to death, thinking, if I die now, I leave nothing to my children but shame. I know now there is only one way to serve Germany, and doing so I'll be a traitor... I accept that.”

^{In real life...}

Planned position: State Secretary to the Minister of War
Commands held: 17th Cavalry Regiment (1939-1940)
Staff positions held: Army General Staff (1940), 6th Panzer Division (1940-1942), Operations Officer, 10th Panzer Division (1943), Chief of Staff, Army General Office (1944), Chief of Staff, Armed Forces Reserve Office (1944)
Highest award: German Cross in Gold

The principal character of the movie, Claus von Stauffenberg is a decorated war hero born into the great Stauffenberg family of Prussian nobility. Stauffenberg served in the German Army for the invasions of Poland and the Soviet Union before being transferred to the 10th Panzer Division to fight in the North African campaign. After suffering serious wounds from an air raid he was recruited into the German resistance by Friedrich Olbricht, becoming the de facto leader of the 20 July assassination attempt on Hitler with the task of actually planting the bomb. Had it succeeded, Stauffenberg would have become State Secretary to the planned Minister of War, Olbricht. The coup's failure saw him arrested and executed by firing squad on July 21, 1944.

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• Affectionate Nickname: His children call him "Poppy".
• Bavarian Fire Drill: How Stauffenberg bluffs his way past a checkpoint at the Wolf's Lair (he pretends to call Field Marshal Keitel).
• Berserk Button: Indecision. Anyone whose faith in Operation Valkyrie falters or stalls Hitler's assassination gets his full fury. He is furious at his co-conspirators and Goerdeler in particular for being overly cautious and delaying the plan by five days because Himmler was not present at the meeting. He says as much to Fromm:
  Stauffenberg: I am critical of indecision, General.
• Blue Blood: Was born into the noble Schenk von Stauffenberg family and holds the titles of Graf (count) and Schenk (cupbearer). The Stauffenberg family is one of the oldest and most distinguished aristocratic Catholic families of southern Germany. Among some of his relatives include several famous Prussians, most notably Field Marshal August von Gneisenau.
• Checkpoint Bluff: Stauffenberg gets through a checkpoint at the Wolf's Lair by pretending to call Field Marshal Keitel, and then offering the telephone to the sergeant guarding the checkpoint, inviting him to explain to Keitel why he's delaying one of the field marshal's officers. The sergeant declines to answer, and lets Stauffenberg through.
• Colonel Badass: Is a decorated war hero, having received the Iron Cross, Wound Badge in Gold and the German Cross in Gold, the latter two for his injuries in Africa. Becoming a staff officer for Olbricht and later Fromm doesn't abate his badassery in any way, with Tresckow appointing him over several allied generals to lead Operation Valkyrie with the task of actually planting the bomb.
• Death Glare: Stauffenberg shoots his driver a very venomous one as a warning when he (correctly) suspects this fellow saw the other bomb being covertly discarded during the drive. The intimidation doesn't succeed.
• Determinator: Focuses on getting his men away from the Allied air raid rather than save himself first even when suffering grievous injuries. He stresses that even if he fails to kill Hitler, Operation Valkyrie must proceed to show the world that not All Germans Are Nazis and that there are people who oppose the Führer. He stays faithful to the plan to the very end and continues marshalling the troops still carrying out the plan even with hopes for success rapidly decreasing.
• Dies Wide Open: After his execution by firing squad. His eyepatch covers the missing right eye.
• Dying Moment of Awesome: Standing tall, unrepentant, unbowed, unafraid... Stauffenberg declares "Long live sacred Germany!" with his final breath. Died like an absolute champ... and this is exactly how he really died.
• Eyepatch of Power: Has one for the entire film courtesy of injuries suffered in Tunisia. Cruise actually spent months learning to work with the eyepatch, and stated that while he found it difficult to work with, he acknowledged the real Stauffenberg would have found it difficult as well.
• "Facing the Bullets" One-Liner: "Es lebe unser heiliges Deutschland!". Translates to "Long live our sacred Germany", but the film truncated it a bit, removing the "our" (to be fair, there is some dispute about the actual form of Stauffenberg's last words; his biographer, Joseph Hoffmann, makes a good case for "Es lebe das geheime Deutschland!" ("Long live the secret Germany!")
• A Father to His Men: In the opening, Stauffenberg's only concern is that his men get out of Africa alive. When the British attack, he helps a subordinate into a Kübelwagen before trying to get away.
• Glass Eye: He usually wears an eyepatch but switches to a cosmetic eye when meeting Hitler at the Berghof to discuss the rewritten Operation Valkyrie.
• Handicapped Badass: Losing his right eye as well as his right hand and two fingers on his left hand does nothing to stop him from being a badass. Stauffenberg remains a true soldier and later the committed mastermind behind a plot to kill Hitler. In fact, he uses his handicaps as a way to justify some of his suspicious behaviour such as taking too long to change uniform (this was an excuse to arm the bomb). However, these very disabilities become a problem in their own right. In the above instance, lack of time and dexterity mean he is only able to arm one of his two bombs for the meeting with Hitler, one of the reasons for the assassination attempt failing.
• Happily Married: To Countess Nina von Stauffenberg. It's clear from their repeated displays of affection and his efforts to ensure her safety even during the operation itself that he truly loves her and their children.
• Heel–Face Turn: Stauffenberg himself had been an enthusiastic supporter of Hitler in the dictator's early years, before the situation with the war and Hitler's brutal anti-Semitic policies drove him away. In fact, one of the main reasons Stauffenberg pushes for a concrete plan to take over the government after Hitler's assassination is so he can shut down the concentration camps immediately.
• Heroic BSoD: Stauffenberg undergoes this as the Bendlerblock loses more and more contact with the Berlin military districts, with increased indications that Hitler survived.
• The Hero Dies: Stauffenberg dies for his cause in the end without reaching any of his objectives.
• Historical Hero Upgrade: The film glosses over Stauffenberg's hatred of the Poles - he truly believed that the German occupation of Poland was justified and quote, viewed Poland as "an unbelievable rabble" best under the whip, and as a country filled with "a lot of Jews and a lot of cross-breeds". He only really started getting cold feet when he realized the Nazis were rounding up and killing Poles en masse, a factor in his eventual Heel–Face Turn.
• Honest Advisor: Stauffenberg is very open with his superiors, a quality both admired and reviled in equal measure. His commander in Africa agrees with him on the futility of keeping their territory in the continent, while the abrasive Goerdeler repeatedly opposes the radical parts of his plan and shoots down any of his advice due to their different beliefs.
• Light Is Good: Stauffenberg wears his light-shaded field grey uniform throughout the film.
• Number Two: Officially second-in-command to Olbricht and then Fromm when he joins the Armed Forces Reserve Office. Stauffenberg was planned to be Olbricht's Number Two in the Ministry of War if the coup succeeds but it doesn't come to pass.
• Only a Flesh Wound: Downplayed. Stauffenberg is only slightly weakened by a shot to the shoulder during the final shootout but it makes him realize the futility of resistance against Remer's men, so he and the other conspirators surrender in response.
• Rank Up: He is promoted from lieutenant colonel to colonel after sustaining injuries in the prologue. In Real Life, Stauffenberg's promotion only took place after he was made Fromm's chief of staff.
• There Will Be Toilet Paper: Played with. Stauffenberg intentionally cuts himself shaving in order that when he arrives at the Wolf's Lair he has an excuse to change his clothes and prepare the bomb.
• This Cannot Be!: A rare heroic example. Stauffenberg simply refuses to believe that Hitler survived the blast, despite mounting evidence to the contrary... because once he admits that, he knows all is lost and they are all as good as dead.
• Unflinching Walk: Subverted. Stauffenberg is only several steps away from the conference hut when the bomb explodes and wheels around in shock in response. He quickly pulls himself together to get his ride back to Berlin. In Real Life, Stauffenberg and Haeften were standing by their car several feet away when the bomb exploded.

Henning von Tresckow

Generalmajor Henning Hermann Karl Robert von Tresckow, Chief of Staff of the 2nd Army

Portrayed by: Kenneth Branagh

“We have to show the world that not all of us are like him. Otherwise, this will always be Hitler's Germany.”

^{In real life...}

Planned position: Chief of German Police
Staff positions held: Army General Staff (1939-1940), Second General Staff Officer, Army Group A (1939-1940), Operations Officer, Army Group Centre (1941-1943), Chief of Staff, 2nd Army (1943-1944)
Commands held: 442nd Grenadier Regiment (1943)
Highest award: German Cross in Gold

Chief of staff of the 2nd Army in Belarus and eastern Poland. Tresckow was among the earliest anti-Hitler revolutionaries, deeply against the degradation of Jews in Nazi Germany. His most notable role before 1944 was masterminding Operation Spark, smuggling a bomb disguised as a crate of Cointreau onto one of Hitler's planes. Having been summoned to the front months before the fateful day of the plot, Tresckow committed suicide with a stick of dynamite in Poland on July 21, 1944. When his role in the resistance was discovered, his remains were exhumed and cremated by the Nazis a month later.

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• Driven to Suicide: Tresckow holds a grenade underneath his chin after learning of the plot's failure. Truth in Television because he really did do this (after firing pistols into the air to give the appearance of being shot at by partisans) in order to make it look like he had been killed in the war, to save his family the shame of watching his execution.
• The Heart: Tresckow is the moral centre of the 20 July plotters and alongside Stauffenberg pushes for the disparate factions to work together in service of the larger goal: killing Hitler and ending his regime. In Real Life, even the Gestapo recognized this, describing him as the "prime mover" and "evil spirit" behind the operation.
• Heroic Suicide: When he finds out about the coup's failure, Tresckow commits suicide with a stick of dynamite in a Polish forest and stages it as a Russian partisan attack. He does this to save his family the shame of watching his execution and to protect the other conspirators, the latter of which proved ultimately futile.
• Historical Downgrade: In Real Life it was his idea to use Operation Valkyrie to stage a coup; in the film this role is given to Stauffenberg.
• A Lighter Shade of Grey: He is one of the few conspirators explicitly aiming to kill Hitler for moral reasons, having no regrets if the plan fails so long as there is a show of resistance. Besides him and Stauffenberg, most of the other conspirators only seek Hitler's death to end the war and nothing else.
• Put on a Bus: Tresckow is unexpectedly summoned to the Eastern Front and is forced to delegate responsibility for the coup to Stauffenberg. He remains on active duty for the rest of the film and plays no further role in its events aside from his suicide in the epilogue.
• Senseless Sacrifice: His attempt to protect the other conspirators by killing himself comes to naught, as the entire inner circle is arrested within hours of the coup's failure. Many others would be caught, convicted, and executed over the coming months with only a few survivors.
• Straight Edge Evil: Deliberately invoked. Tresckow notes that Hitler doesn't drink in order to shame Colonel Brandt out of opening his fake bottle of liquor so the hidden bomb won't be discovered.

Friedrich Olbricht

General der Infanterie Friedrich Olbricht, Chief of the Army General Office and Armed Forces Reserve Office

Portrayed by: Bill Nighy

“The point of replacing Hitler is to negotiate a truce with the Allies. The Allies, I suspect would be more amenable to a truce if we offer it to them before they get to fucking Berlin!”

^{In real life...}

Planned position: Minister of War
Staff positions held: Chief of Staff, IV Army Corps (1935-1938), Chief of the Army General Office and Armed Forces Reserve Office (1940-1944)
Commands held: 24th Infantry Division (1938-1940)
Highest award: Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Stauffenberg's superior, the Chief of the Army General Office and Armed Forces Reserve Office. Olbricht opposed Hitler's attempts to take over the army, standing behind Werner von Fritsch when he was accused of homosexuality. He saved several SA members during the Night of the Long Knives by finding positions for them in the Abwehr, the military intelligence service. Olbricht was tasked with initiating Operation Valkyrie and mobilizing the Reserve Army on Fromm's (unwilling) behalf. He was executed by firing squad on Fromm's orders on July 21, 1944, the first of the conspirators to be shot.

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• Desk Jockey: Works from behind a desk as head of the main office in Army High Command.
• The Ditherer: Olbricht refuses to initiate Operation Valkyrie until Stauffenberg returns to Berlin with confirmation Hitler is dead and begins to waffle in his faith of the plan succeeding. He has no way of knowing this because Fellgiebel severed all communications after getting cut off telling him Hitler survived the blast. His hesitancy (something Stauffenberg repeatedly railed against) forces his chief of staff Quirnheim to transmit the order for him.
• Face Death with Dignity: Zigzagged. On the the one hand, he's visibly terrified and looks like he's about to break down crying. On the other hand, he doesn't cry, and manages to follow Stauffenberg's advice and looks his executioners in the eye.
• The Lancer: Serves as one to Stauffenberg, assisting him in areas where he can't go on account of his lower rank and providing a cynical counterpart to his ruthlessly idealistic approach.
• Number Two: To General Fromm which allows Olbricht close proximity to him as well as the authority to act on his behalf, allowing Olbricht to deploy the Reserve Army without anyone getting suspicious. Additionally, it allows him to make Stauffenberg Fromm's chief of staff without issue.
• Precision F-Strike: As seen in the quote above, Olbricht utters this as he's stating his motivation for supporting a coup against Hitler.
• Properly Paranoid: While the film spins it as mere uncertainty, Olbricht does have a reason for making sure Hitler is dead before enacting Operation Valkyrie. He barely managed to conceal the aborted first attempt as a drill and that was enough alarm for Fromm to withdraw his support entirely. A second attempt would have to be successful or risk arousing suspicion. As such, Olbricht's insistence on making sure Hitler is dead before proceeding isn't too far out of left field.
• That's an Order!: Deliberately invoked. Olbricht promotes Stauffenberg to chief of staff of the Reserve Army so he has direct access to Fromm and by extension Hitler. When he protests, Olbricht sternly reminds him that as a colonel, Stauffenberg must obey.
  Olbricht: Tresckow may have left you in charge of this operation, but in this world I still outrank you. You will accept the promotion.

Friedrich Fromm

Generaloberst Friedrich Wilhelm Waldemar Fromm, Chief of Army Equipment and Commander of the Reserve Army

Portrayed by: Tom Wilkinson

"I don't know what you're brewing up, and I don't want to know. But when the music stops, I'd be obliged if Keitel found himself without a chair."

^{In real life...}

Planned position: Commander-in-Chief of the Wehrmacht (tentative)
Commands held: Replacement Army (1939-1944)
Highest award: Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Chief of Army Equipment and Commander of the Reserve Army. Fromm's position makes him crucial to the success of Operation Valkyrie due to being able to command all the soldiers housed in Germany and its occupied territories not in active combat zones. He remains quiet about the conspiracy in exchange for becoming a top official of the new government. When he discovered that Hitler survived the explosion, Fromm immediately tried to arrest Stauffenberg and the plotters but got arrested himself as a result. He hurriedly tried to cover his tracks when the coup fell apart and sentenced all conspirators within reach to death by firing squad (except Beck, who chose to shoot himself), but this only further proved his guilt. He was executed by firing squad on March 12, 1945.

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• Actually Pretty Funny: Stauffenberg responds to Fromm's joke in poor taste about his missing hand by poking fun at the fact Fromm's been chewed out by Keitel moments before. There is an awkward pause...and then Fromm breaks into self-deprecating laughter and positive comments on Stauffenberg's gall.
• Ambition Is Evil: Invoked, though in this case, it's more "Ambition makes you pliable". Given that Fromm is the only person who can officially initiate Valkyrie, Beck asks if he can be brought to their side. Tresckow and Olbricht note that Fromm is a "careerist pig" and has never hidden his displeasure at the fact he's gone as far as he can under the Nazis. Beck tells them to offer him a key position in the new regime in exchange for his support. Ironically, it's the fact that his ambition comes a distant second to his cowardice that keeps Fromm out of the conspiracy.
• Asshole Victim: Fromm is a guy who looks out for only himself, joining the conspirators for selfish reasons and throwing them to the wolves once that opportunity was closed. It's safe to say that no one shed tears when he got executed anyway.
• Cigarette of Anxiety: Smokes as Olbricht, Quirnheim, Haeften, and Stauffenberg are executed with the knowledge that he is likely next on the chopping block. Right as his name and date of execution appear on screen.
• Dirty Coward: Fromm makes it plain from the outset that he won't support the conspirators while Hitler is alive, quickly abandons and tries to arrest them when it becomes apparent that the plot has failed and then, in an ultimately futile bid to save his own skin, has the conspirators hastily court-martialled and shot, contravening direct orders from Hitler that they be taken alive.
• Entitled Bastard: Believes he is entitled to a leading position in the government despite already reaching as high as he can in the military.
• Evil Is Petty: Fromm makes it plain he doesn't mind looking the other way so long as Keitel, who has spent a good part of the film's first half chewing him out and humiliating him, gets what's coming to him.
• For Want Of A Nail: Had Keitel not humiliated him, Fromm would have been much less amenable to supporting the coup attempt and might have even reported Olbricht and Stauffenberg the second they made him an offer to join. His silent assent is what allows the plotters to ultimately carry out the plot and unavoidably implicate him as a co-conspirator. If Fromm wasn't so petty and vengeful against Keitel, he might have survived till the end of the war (after all, he was in charge of the Reserve Army for most of its existence).
• General Failure: If Keitel's "The Reason You Suck" Speech is any indication, Fromm hasn't been doing a very good job at running the Reserve Army.
• Historical Villain Upgrade: In the film, Fromm refuses to take part in the plot but agrees to keep quiet to reap the possible benefits, only to unambiguously side against the conspirators the moment they make their move. In Real Life Fromm actually did support the conspiracy at first, only to back out of it at the last second after Stauffenberg's first attempt at killing Hitler failed, most likely scared off by rumors that the conspiracy had been discovered by the authorities.
• Laser-Guided Karma: The Gestapo is not fooled by Fromm's odious attempt to cover his tracks. Fromm gets no reward whatsoever for executing the ringleaders of the conspiracy since he clearly did it to save his own skin and in Real Life, Goebbels lampshades it by saying: "You have been in a damn hurry to get your witnesses below ground." Even though it can never be proven that he was in on the conspiracy, he is still charged with cowardice before the enemy, expelled from the military, and killed by firing squad in the post-conspiracy purge.
• Leave No Witnesses: Fromm's reason to summarily execute everyone involved. Ultimately, it did not save him.
• Let Us Never Speak of This Again: When Olbricht and Stauffenberg attempt to recruit Fromm a little too openly, he reminds them they are bound by oath to serve the Fuhrer. He then disconnects the (presumably bugged) phone and tells the pair he will overlook what they just said on the understanding they never do so in his presence again.
• Oh, Crap!: Twice in the film:
  • When he realizes Olbricht and Stauffenberg are there to recruit him for the resistance, in his office in the middle of the day, surrounded by countless soldiers and other officers loyal to the Nazi Party. He immediately tries to put an end to the conversation and unplugs his (presumably bugged) telephone to avoid giving Hitler any evidence of supposed treason.
  • He has another when Olbricht informs him that Hitler is dead. Fromm immediately calls Keitel and ask what's happened. Keitel replies that Hitler has survived an assassination attempt, then asks where Stauffenberg is. This makes Fromm aware that the plot is already traced to his office and that he is in danger. He immediately tries to do damage control but is arrested for his trouble.
• Opportunistic Bastard: Described as a "careerist pig" by Olbricht, and the reason why he decides to keep mum about the conspiracy. He wouldn't necessarily be opposed to the conspirators getting rid of Hitler, as long as he gets something out of it, but when they paint a target on his back and their assassination attempt fails twice, he hastily (and futily) attempts to cover up his own involvement with the whole affair.
• Rewarded as a Traitor Deserves: General Fromm ends up executed just like all the other plotters, even though he betrayed them at the last moment. It's pointed out to him that he'll hang just like the rest of them. His treachery only earns him a few extra months of life in the end and a firing squad as opposed to a hangman's noose.
• Stupid Neutral: Fromm refuses to either join or inform on the conspiracy until it is too late. As a result, at the critical moment, he is arrested by the conspirators but is still executed once the coup is put down because he knew about it and didn't tell anybody. By sitting on the fence, all he did was ensure that he was on the wrong side of whoever came out successful.
• Too Dumb to Fool: The conspirators try to convert Fromm with the fact that he is inevitably doomed if the Nazi regime continues due to not having reported their plot despite knowing about it. Fromm however is too proud to admit this and opposes them anyway, causing them to fail and him to lose his only chance at survival.

Otto Ernst Remer

Major Otto Ernst Remer, Commander of the Wachbataillon Großdeutschland

Portrayed by: Thomas Kretschmann

"Of (a coup) I'm certain. I just don't know which side we're on."

^{In real life...}

Commands held: Wachbataillon Großdeutschland (1944), Führerbegleitbrigade (1944-1945)
Highest award: Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves

Otto Ernst Remer participated in the invasion of Poland, the Balkans Campaign and Operation Barbarossa, the latter under the then regiment-sized Panzergrenadier Division Großdeutschland. At the time of the 20 July plot, he is commander of the Wachbataillon Großdeutschland and an inadvertent participant of Operation Valkyrie in central Berlin. He was sent to arrest Joseph Goebbels but quickly switched sides upon hearing Hitler's voice on the telephone. Remer arrests the conspirators at the Bendlerblock and for his role in stopping the conspiracy was rapidly promoted to commander of the Führerbegleitbrigade on the Western Front. After the war, he became a radical right-wing politician. He died in Spain on October 4, 1997.

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• Actor Allusion: This isn't the first time that Thomas Kretschmann has played a sympathetic Nazi officer. He plays several of these throughout his career, including Hermann Fegelein in the film Downfall.
• Adaptational Attractiveness: Kretschmann looks more conventionally handsome than the real Remer.
• Foreshadowing: While downplaying his adherence to Nazism in Real Life, the film still hints that he is a loyalist who will ultimately side with the regime:
  • He is first seen from above while swimming in an Olympic pool. He is literally framed in a gigantic swastika painted on the bottom of the pool.
  • When Operation Valkyrie is eventually put in motion and his troops are mobilized a second time, he is very briefly shown walking alone in front of the barracks’ main entrance. Above him a slogan has been painted in gigantic letters on the architrave. Translated from German it means “We will obey the orders of the Führer”.
• The Heavy: While Hitler is the Big Bad of the movie and the target of the conspirators, it is Remer who leads the crusade against them in Berlin itself and finally forces them to surrender.
• Historical Villain Downgrade: Remer is portrayed as a Punch-Clock Villain who follows orders and switches sides without showing any evident sympathy towards either side. In Real Life, Remer was a fanatical Nazi who founded the Socialist Reich Party in post-war West Germany, an openly fascist group that was later outlawed by the government. He also became an early proponent of Holocaust denial, funded neo-Nazi groups and was arrested as late as 1992 for incitement of racial hatred. On the DVD commentary, Bryan Singer and Christopher McQuarrie admit that they downplayed Remer's personal fascism, partly to make him a more compelling character and partly to enhance the film's suspense (as there'd be little doubt which side he'd ultimately take if he was a Hitler loyalist from the start).
• Karma Houdini: Remer surprisingly receives no retribution for his role in the 20 July plot. Granted, he was used as an unwitting dupe, but the fallout that followed was so extreme that anyone with a passing connection to the plot was brutally executed. In fact, he receives a promotion for his role in stopping the coup.
• Majorly Awesome: Implied. While his participation in the invasion of Poland and Operation Barbarossa is never mentioned on-screen, his awards attest to extensive combat experience, in particular the Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves which was personally presented to him by Hitler.
• Mr. Fanservice: Remer's first scene shows an adjutant bringing orders to assemble his men for the aborted first attempt at Operation Valkyrie. While he's swimming. The camera focuses for quite a while on his toned body as he reads the orders, sopping wet.
• Oh, Crap!:
  • He is visibly shaken when the news that the Führer is dead arrive at his headquarters.
  • He already looks slightly unsettled when Goebbels responds to his arrest order by calmly questioning his dedication to National Socialism and offering him the phone. It's when he hears and recognizes the voice on the other end of the phone that all confidence leaves him, he goes ram-rod straight, and he can only softly whisper affirmations to Hitler's calm yet furious orders to take all the conspirators and traitors alive.
• Punch-Clock Villain: The film portrays Remer in a sympathetic light. He puts an end to the coup because it's his (and the army's) job to halt unrest in the city. No indication is made that he supports National Socialism or the atrocities of the regime, only that he makes the arrests because his superiors tell him to do so.
• Rank Up: He is promoted to colonel for suppressing the coup and later major general by the end of the war.
• The Snark Knight: Remer is a highly decorated soldier who doesn't seem all too happy at the inefficiency of the German Army at this point in the war and seems to snap at the soldiers who bring him useless orders. As a result he's pretty irritated that the order to assemble his men for Operation Valkyrie turned out to be a drill, so he tells this to the soldier who brings him the same order a second time:
  Remer: In ancient Greece, you would have been killed for this. Lucky for you we've evolved.
• This Is Not a Drill: When the Reserve Army is first mobilized, Remer says "This better not be a drill!" When it turns out to be one, Remer is not happy about it.
• Unwitting Pawn: Remarked on by him. As his unit starts getting conflicting orders, he realizes it is a coup but is clueless as to which side they're on.
• Villains Out Shopping: Both times that Operation Valkyrie is attempted to be initiated, he's in the middle of this. The first time he's swimming and the second time he's getting a haircut.

Supporting Characters

Nina von Stauffenberg

Elisabeth Magdalena "Nina" Schenk Gräfin von Stauffenberg

Portrayed by: Carice Van Houten

"Evil happens when good men do nothing."

^{In real life...}

Stauffenberg's wife and a member of Bavarian nobility, Nina von Stauffenberg loved her husband dearly. They produced five children together; Berthold^note currently the longest-serving officer in the modern German Army (Bundeswehr), Heimeran, Franz-Ludwig, Valerie and Konstanze (born after Stauffenberg's execution). She was arrested by the Gestapo after the failure of the conspiracy on the basis of shared family guilt and confined in Italy until the end of the war. Nina survived captivity and died on April 2, 2006.

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• Blue Blood: Nina is of Bavarian nobility and is descended from several prominent Bavarian politicians.
• Happily Married: To Claus von Stauffenberg, the main character. It's clear from their repeated displays of affection and his efforts to ensure her safety even during the operation itself that he truly loves her and their children.
• Last Kiss: With her husband before she takes the children to Bamberg and away from the coup that's about to happen. This is the last time she sees her husband before his death by firing squad.
• Last of Her Kind: Nina was one of the last people aware of the 20 July plot to die, passing at the age of 92 in 2006.
• Put on a Bus: Nina leaves Berlin for Bamberg in Southern Germany to protect her children from the fallout of the 20 July plot. It was ultimately a useless move but the post-ending text confirms she survived the war.
• Someone to Remember Him By: The Stauffenbergs already have four kids, but when he leaves to initiate the plot, it is shown that Nina is pregnant with their fifth child.

Ludwig Beck

Generaloberst Ludwig August Theodor Beck, former Chief of the Army General Staff

Portrayed by: Terence Stamp

“Remember, this is a military operation. Nothing ever goes according to plan.”

^{In real life...}

Planned position: President of Germany
Staff positions held: Chief of the Troop Office (1933-1935), Chief of the Army General Staff (1935-1938)
Highest award: Iron Cross 1st Class

Ludwig Beck was initially a supporter of Adolf Hitler's abolishment of the Treaty of Versailles, even defending officers who were court-martialled for joining the Nazi Party. As Chief of the General Staff of the Army High Command, he clashed with War Minister Werner von Blomberg who despised what he saw as Beck's attempts to diminish his power. He resigned in protest to Hitler's aggressive foreign policy and ill-advised decision to declare war in 1939. In conjunction with contacts in Great Britain, Beck became leader of a conservative "anti-war" resistance group along with Admiral Wilhelm Canaris and Baron Ernst von Weizsäcker. He would have become the new head of state had the plot to assassinate Hitler been successful, but he was arrested. He chose to commit suicide with a pistol on July 20, 1944, hours before the other conspirators present were executed by firing squad.

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• Better to Die than Be Killed: Pretty much summed up in why he asked for a pistol: 'for personal reasons'. Beck chooses to die on his own terms rather than face a painful death sentence. Since Beck is no longer on active duty, Fromm has no authority to deny him this and can only ask Beck to "get on with it".
• Big Good: Beck is by and large the leader of the resistance to Hitler who confidently manages the tensions between the disparate factions. Even Stauffenberg defers to him.
• Bungled Suicide: Averted; in Real Life General Beck botched his self-inflicted gunshot rather painfully, and had to be finished off by a sergeant. It was removed from the film to prevent the touching final scene from becoming comical.
• The Leader: Of the German resistance. Beck was previously Chief of the Army General Staff.
• Mildly Military: Zig-zagged. He has the attitude and bearing of a military general but otherwise eschews it, donning civilian attire on the day of the plot to emphasize that the revolution should be seen as 'a movement of the people'.
• Old Soldier: Has served in the German Army since the First World War and was Hitler's original Number Two in the army. Beck is 64 years old by the time of the plot, the oldest member of the inner circle of the resistance.

Erich Fellgiebel

General der Nachrichtentruppe Fritz Erich Fellgiebel, Chief Signals Officer of the Army High Command and Armed Forces High Command

Portrayed by: Eddie Izzard

"You're nothing but rats jumping from a sinking ship! What makes you think you'll be any different? What makes you think you're stronger than the people, the Reich? The very momentum of history?"

^{In real life...}

Staff positions held: Chief of the Army Signal Establishment and Chief Communications Liaison to the Armed Forces High Command (1938-1942), Chief Signals Officer of the Army High Command and Armed Forces High Command (1942-1944)
Highest award: Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Erich Fellgiebel was a general staff officer and chief of the signal corps of the German Army and the Wehrmacht as a whole. He introduced the Enigma machine as the common enciphering machine for the Wehrmacht. An independent-minded man, Hitler never truly trusted him. Stauffenberg pressures Fellgiebel into joining the conspiracy as the plot calls for all communications between the Wolf's Lair and the outside to be severed. Try as he might, the communications blackout he ordered failed to stop Hitler from contacting Joseph Goebbels via separate SS lines. The plot's failure saw him quickly arrested and condemned to death by hanging on September 4, 1944. Ironically, his efforts to establish a joint cipher agency for the Armed Forces only came to fruition after his execution when Albert Praun took over his post.

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• All for Nothing: His integral role in severing all communications proves useless. The SS-controlled telephone lines not under his authority allow Goebbels to contact Hitler and learn of his survival. This glaring setback eventually causes the whole plot to unravel.
• Bearer of Bad News: Informs the conspirators in Berlin via telephone that Hitler survived the explosion but is cut off as he says the word 'alive'. He severs all communications as planned immediately, clueless that his warning failed to reach Olbricht's office.
• Communications Officer: Serves as the highest-ranking signals intelligence officer of the Wehrmacht. This high rank along with his authority over communications at the Wolf's Lair makes him essential for the success of Operation Valkyrie.
• The Mole: Almost everyone in the German resistance is a mole, but Fellgiebel stands out as a mole that only Stauffenberg knows about. The resistance doesn't learn of his identity until he contacts Olbricht with the news that Hitler survived the explosion.
• Nerd Glasses: Of the round horn-rimmed variety. The nerd part comes with the fact that Fellgiebel is not a Frontline General but is instead charged with encrypting messages and transmitting orders.
• Pistol-Whipping: Technically rifle-whipping. As the surviving conspirators are rounded up and arrested, Fellgiebel is at the receiving end of one to the chest.
• Poor Communication Kills: Fellgiebel attempts to tell Olbricht that Hitler survived, but only says, "Something terrible has happened-" before getting cut off by static. Olbricht is left unsure of what happened and decides not to do anything until Stauffenberg can report in person.
• Teeth-Clenched Teamwork: With Stauffenberg and the rest of the resistance. Fellgiebel has no intention of dying for Stauffenberg's noble goals but joins in on the plot with the proviso that his identity be kept secret.

Carl Friedrich Goerdeler

Dr. Carl Friedrich Goerdeler

Portrayed by: Kevin McNally

"The people know we put our principles above personal gain."

^{In real life...}

Planned position: Chancellor of Germany
Offices held: Reich Price Commissioner (1931-1932, 1934-1936), Oberbürgermeister of Leipzig (1930-1937)

Dr. Carl Friedrich Goerdeler was a deeply conservative politician who opposed Hitler for his irresponsible economic and racial policies. While anti-Semitic himself, Goerdeler was appalled by the systematic killing of Jews, homosexuals, and other undesirables in the Third Reich, condemning the Final Solution as "barbaric". He became a key recruiter for the German resistance and was personally responsible for bringing Tresckow on board and planning out the post-Hitler cabinet. However, unlike most of the inner circle, Goerdeler sought to restore the Kaiser to the throne rather than establish a new republic which caused friction with Claus von Stauffenberg. Had the plot succeeded, he would have become Chancellor of Germany. He was arrested while fleeing Berlin and hanged to death on February 2, 1945.

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• Dirty Coward: Stauffenberg thinks of him as such because he's hesitant about killing Hitler as opposed to arresting and putting him on trial. His jerkassery towards Stauffenberg certainly doesn't help his case either. Stauffenberg berates him for his obstructionist attitude to this effect:
  Stauffenberg: [to Goerdeler] You don't have the courage to kill Hitler, so you are making the task impossible!
• Everyone Has Standards: Despite being the most antagonistic of the main cast, even Goerdeler balks at Witzleben's idea to let the Allies finish the job and wipe out the regime for them since it will lead to countless more casualties than if they were to assassinate Hitler now.
• Headbutting Heroes: With Stauffenberg, even in real life. He distrusted Stauffenberg due to his socialist connections and Stauffenberg considered Goerdeler to be an out-of-touch reactionary. They also had radically different political views (Stauffenberg was a republican and Goerdeler wanted to restore the Kaiser) and different approaches to the coup (Stauffenberg wanted Hitler dead, Goerdeler wanted him captured and tried.) Their disagreement is believed by some — and implied by the film — to have been part of the reason why the coup failed, as Goerdeler's reluctance and their mutual distrust slowed things down considerably.
• Herr Doktor: Has a doctorate in economics and law, and most of the conspirators refer to him respectfully as "Doctor" Goerdeler.
• Historical Downgrade: In Real Life, Goerdeler was the central figure of the German resistance to Hitler. The movie downplays his role in favor of emphasizing Colonel Stauffenberg's.
• Historical Hero Upgrade: The film leaves out Goerdeler selling out the conspirators who were not initially caught to the Gestapo in a (failed) bid for clemency, which led to the executions of hundreds of anti-Hitler partisans. Made even worse by the fact that he was responsible for convincing a great number of them to join the resistance in the first place. To be fair to him, the confessions were elicited by a prolonged, intense bout of psychological torture, and may have been motivated by a misguided belief that the Gestapo would not have enough time to act on the information before Berlin was captured.
• Jerkass: He seeks Hitler's ousting as leader of Germany to end the war, and that's all well and good. However, his attitude towards Stauffenberg is very reminiscent of an Obstructive Bureaucrat who despises any contradiction of his ideas. At one point he frowns on Stauffenberg's outspokenness, sarcastically comparing him to the more tight-lipped Hans Oster.
• Jerkass Has a Point: Goerdeler delays the plot by five days because Himmler does not attend the meeting as planned. His motive for delaying it, while ultimately ruining everything, does have a point: if Hitler is killed, Himmler and his SS will make a bid to seize power, essentially "replacing a madman with a lunatic". Moreover, he's highly sceptical that killing Hitler without taking into account the rest of his inner circle will change anything. Stauffenberg thinks he's just making excuses not to kill Hitler because he doesn't have the guts.
• Honor Before Reason: He opposes any form of a coup that involves killing Hitler despite any plan leaving him alive making it virtually implausible to create a new government. The fact that Operation Valkyrie requires Hitler's death to proceed causes Goerdeler to oppose it, even when said plan is the most viable option of a coup after several failed attempts.
  Goerdeler: [in response to Stauffenberg saying they have to kill Hitler] I'm disappointed in you, colonel. I thought a man of your background would suggest a more honourable approach.
• Put on a Bus: Invoked. When Goerdeler demands that Stauffenberg be removed from the operation, Beck informs him that the Gestapo has issued a warrant for his arrest and that he must leave the country immediately, effectively banning him from participating further.
• The Watson: As a politician, Goerdeler is completely clueless as to what "Operation Valkyrie" his fellow conspirators (all army officers) in the room are talking about and General Fromm's importance to their plan. This allows the others to get some important exposition across.

Mertz von Quirnheim

Oberst Albrecht Mertz von Quirnheim, Chief of Staff of the Army General Office

Portrayed by: Christian Berkel

“Any problem on Earth can be solved with the careful application of high explosives. The trick is not to be around when they go off.”

^{In real life...}

Staff positions held: Army General Staff (1939-1942), Chief of Staff, XXIV Army Corps (1942-1944), Chief of Staff, Army General Office (1944)
Highest award: German Cross in Gold

Mertz von Quirnheim was friends with quite a few of his future co-conspirators. Hans-Jürgen von Blumenthal, who introduced him to the resistance in 1943, the brothers Haeften, of whom the younger one, Werner, was Stauffenberg's aide and Stauffenberg himself. He becomes Olbricht's chief of staff at the Army General Office after Stauffenberg is transferred to Fromm's staff. He is the one who supplies the bombs for the fateful assassination attempt. He urges Olbricht to go ahead with Operation Valkyrie even though Hitler is not confirmed to be dead. Following the plot's failure, he was arrested and executed by firing squad on Fromm's orders on July 21, 1944.

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• Demolitions Expert: He is introduced explaining to Stauffenberg and company how to arm the bombs used for the plot. From the enamoured way he talks about the procedure, it is safe to say he has done this quite often.
• Understatement: While going over the process to arm the explosives, Quirnheim remarks that they'll want to be "very far away" once the acid eats away the wire holding back the firing pin.
• What the Hell, Hero?: Quirnheim calls Olbricht out when the latter refuses to initiate Valkyrie until he can confirm Hitler is dead, reminding Olbricht that Stauffenberg made it clear earlier in the film that even if Hitler did manage to survive, they were to still initiate Valkyrie as the bomb going off marks the point of no return. After all the work his superior put in to recruit Stauffenberg into the resistance, Quirnheim berates him for cowardly abandoning Stauffenberg after he has completed his duty. Olbricht is not swayed, forcing Quirnheim to transmit the order himself.

Werner von Haeften

Oberleutnant Werner Karl Otto Theodor von Haeften

Portrayed by: Jamie Parker

"For anything, sir. Anything at all."

^{In real life...}

Werner von Haeften was the son of an army officer and president of the National Archives Hans von Haeften. He joined the German Army during World War II and served on the Eastern Front. In 1943, Haeften received severe wounds in combat and was transferred back to Berlin. He becomes Stauffenberg's adjutant after he becomes chief of staff of the Armed Forces Reserve Office and makes up for his superior's physical disabilities. After the plot's failure, Haeften was one of four conspirators sentenced to death by firing squad at the Bendlerblock. He was the second last to die, stepping in front of Stauffenberg to take the shots meant for him, dying on July 21, 1944.

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• Commonality Connection: He shares much backstory in common with Stauffenberg. Both were wounded serving on the front (though in different locations) and thus chose staff duties when transferred back to Berlin to recover.
• Number Two: Haeften is Stauffenberg's adjutant and physical anchor, helping him do things that he would otherwise be unable to do with his lack of hand. He helps Stauffenberg change his uniform and arm the bombs, at least until von Freyend interrupts them.
• Taking the Bullet: Haeften steps in front of Stauffenberg and takes the bullets meant for him. This show of loyalty only gives Stauffenberg a couple more seconds to live.
• Undying Loyalty: To Stauffenberg. He is willing to do anything for his superior, up to and including running a coup for him and protecting him from a hail of bullets. Olbricht seems to think the same when he sends Haeften to Stauffenberg, saying that he comes highly recommended. Also, see Taking the Bullet above, he proected Stauffenberg to his last breath.

Erwin von Witzleben

Generalfeldmarschall Job Wilhelm Georg Erdmann Erwin von Witzleben, former Commander-in-Chief West

Portrayed by: David Schofield

“You may hand us over to the executioner, but in three months time, the disgusted and harried people will bring you to book and drag you alive through the dirt in the streets.”

^{In real life...}

Planned position: Commander-in-Chief of the Wehrmacht
Commands held: 3rd Division, Wehrkreis III (1934-1935), III Army Corps (1936-1938), Gruppenkommando 2 (1938), 1st Army (1939-1940), Commander-in-Chief West (1941-1942)
Highest award: Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Erwin von Witzleben was commander of German forces in the West who took leave for health reasons. He led the 1st Army to a rapid stream of victories during the campaign in France, for which he was awarded the Knight's Cross and a promotion to Field Marshal. As the highest-ranking military officer in the German resistance, Witzleben was designated to be Commander-in-Chief of the Wehrmacht had the plot succeeded. However, he arrived at the Bendlerblock several hours late when it was clear that Operation Valkyrie had failed and immediately retreated to his country home where he was arrested. He was sentenced to death by hanging by the People's Court and died on August 8, 1944.

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• The Cavalry Arrives Late: He arrives at the Bendlerblock with reserve forces to subdue the Hitler loyalists far too late to do anything. They all beat a hasty retreat before Remer swoops in with his own reinforcements.
• Defiant to the End: The above quote is stated by Witzleben to Roland Freisler before he is dragged away to his inevitable execution.
• Enemy Mine: Witzleben invokes this, suggesting that at this stage in the game, they could just sit back and leave the task of dealing with the Nazis to the Allies. Goerdeler shoots it down, pointing out that Hitler is spiteful enough to drag all of Europe down with him rather than admit defeat.
  Witzleben: Gentlemen, I think it's time we faced facts. The Allies are coming, sooner or later. I say we sit back and let them wipe out the Nazis.
  Goerdeler: And ask every living soul in Europe to pay the price? Use your head!
• Final Speech: The quote above is his last words to Roland Freisler before he is escorted out of the courtroom to his death. Nothing of the sort happened to Freisler, whom the comment was directed at. In fact, he died during the American bombing of Berlin while conducting the trial of Fabian von Schlabrendorff — a bomb fell through the open roof in the middle of the trial and blew him up. A worker in the hospital when the body was brought in commented "It was God's verdict." Even more awesome (and hilarious) was that not a single person present responded negatively to this comment.
• Frontline General: Implied. As former commander of the war's western front, Witzleben is already subject to this but is never seen commanding troops at the front even in a flashback.
• Minor Major Character: Witzleben is one of twelve generals Hitler promoted to field marshal in the 1940 Field Marshal Ceremony. Naturally, this made him one of the highest-ranking figures in the Wehrmacht. However, he has only a few scenes with other resistance members and plays no important role beyond his impassioned speech to Freisler at the end. According to the DVD commentary, his original role was even smaller, but Bryan Singer wanted to give David Schofield more to do since the actor made a point of showing up on set even on days when he wasn't needed.

Hitler and his inner circle

Adolf Hitler

Führer Adolf Hitler, Supreme Commander of the German Army

Portrayed by: David Bamber

"May I say what an honor it is to meet an officer who has sacrificed so much for Germany. If only more of my men were like you."

^{In real life...}

Offices held: Führer of Germany (1934-1945), Führer of the Nazi Party (1921-1945), Chancellor of Germany (1933-1945), Commander-in-Chief of the Wehrmacht (1938-1945), Supreme Commander of the German Army (1941-1945)
Highest award: Golden Nazi Party Badge (Party), Iron Cross 1st Class (military)

The tyrannical dictator of Germany and the target of Stauffenberg's assassination attempt. He rose to power in 1933 with the passing of the Enabling Act and took over the German Army, removing War Minister Werner von Blomberg and Supreme Commander of the Army Werner von Fritsch on scandal charges and taking both positions for himself in 1938 and 1942 respectively. It is in this position that Hitler commands the German war effort and where the main characters plot to assassinate him to end the war and stop the Holocaust. He narrowly survives the bomb blast and orders the arrest and execution of all involved, eventually resulting in 4900 dead. Hitler killed himself on 30 April, 1945 as the Soviet Red Army surrounded Berlin, shooting himself in the head while biting down on a cyanide capsule.

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• The Bad Guy Wins: He survives his attempted assassination, has most of the conspirators gathered and eventually executed, and continues directing the German war effort until the Soviets reach Berlin.
• Big Bad: Of the entire film which centers around a plot to kill him.
• Born Lucky: At least in one respect: Hitler was saved from assassination several times due to absolute random luck. Two times are featured in the movie. In both cases, it is absolutely impossible Hitler would have survived if things went to plan...
  • The plane bomb didn't detonate.
    • Though not explained in the film, the officer with the gifted bottle decided to stash it in the cargo compartment instead of taking it into the cabin with him. The bomb triggered just fine, it just was too cold for the detonation to occur inside the cargo compartment.
  • An officer nonchalantly moves the bomb satchel on a whim seconds before it explodes.
    • Some contend that was the one location in the room it could have been placed to save Hitler, as it was perfectly placed for the blast at Hitler's position to be absorbed by the table. Remember that the satchel was placed there randomly by an officer who had no idea it was a bomb! It really was a miraculous stroke of luck for Der Führer. Maybe someone really was looking out for him.
• Cold Ham: Surprisingly, he's quite restrained with his temper, rarely raising his voice except in short bursts of anger. This makes him a lot more chilling than his usual depictions in films.
• Evil Sounds Deep: In contrast to his public appearances, Hitler speaks in a calm, deep voice. This is accurate to how Hitler spoke in private, exemplified in a recorded conversation with Mannerheim in 1942.
• Faux Affably Evil: When he meets Stauffenberg for the first time, he praises him for his service and his sacrifices for Germany and then tells his fellow national socialists that they could learn a lot of things from him. The exact second he discovers Stauffenberg's treason, he furiously demands the arrest and execution of all involved. It's clear he is very civil towards those who are both loyal and able to carry out orders but utterly immoral and vengeful towards those who fail him or worse, oppose him.
• Foregone Conclusion: Anyone who's read about the 20 July plot knows that Hitler will survive the explosion.
• I Reject Your Reality: It is clear to his generals that the war as of 1944 is a lost cause and that it is only a matter of time before the Soviets storm Berlin. Hitler is seemingly oblivious to this and readily believes his yes-men like Göring and Keitel that the war proceeds well.
• I Want Them Alive!: Stated word for word in his call to Major Remer since he wants the traitors tried and executed painfully for attempting to kill him and undermine his regime. True to his word, he has the surviving conspirators hung 'like cattle' from meat hooks with piano wire. In Real Life this is taken up to eleven; he had the hangings filmed for his own amusement.
• Living MacGuffin: The entire plot of the movie centers on him being targeted for assassination.
• Pet the Dog:
  • Hitler at the Berghof does this, literally to his pet dog Blondi before addressing Stauffenberg. Outside of the context of the movie, this was later subverted when Hitler had Blondi killed.
  • He tells Stauffenberg that he is a hero and that Germany appreciates his sacrifices. This only sours after Hitler finds out it was Stauffenberg who planted the bomb.
• Rule of Cool: Only gives the reedited Valkyrie documents a cursory glance before approving it, as he's clearly more enamored with the symbolism of the emergency plan's name than checking it the conspirators' changes are above board..
• Suddenly Shouting: A byproduct of his Hair-Trigger Temper. After a long period of silence and murmuring, he briefly yells in a fit of rage and slams his fist on the table when General Heusinger updates him on the strength of the Soviet air force compared to the Luftwaffe (that being vastly superior).
• Taking You with Me: This is why the 20 July plot occurred despite the fact that Hitler had no chance of winning the war. Goerdeler argues that letting the Allies deal with Hitler would only drive the Führer to burn down Germany in a last act of defiance. He ends up being proven right in the long run as Hitler would indeed order the destruction of Germany's infrastructure.
• Tranquil Fury: Hitler's voice when giving instructions to Remer. He's deathly calm, even almost quiet, but the murderous rage is simmering right below the surface and just looking for an excuse to be let loose.
• Villainous Breakdown: His brief fit of rage after General Heusinger informs him about the faltering Luftwaffe numbers in the Eastern Front foreshadows Hitler's mental collapse in the coming year.

Joseph Goebbels

Dr. Paul Joseph Goebbels, Reich Minister of Public Enlightenment and Propaganda

Portrayed by: Harvey Friedman

"Are you a dedicated National Socialist, Major?"

^{In real life...}

Offices held: Reich Minister of Public Enlightenment and Propaganda (1933-1945), Reich Plenipotentiary for Total War (1944-1945), Gauleiter of Berlin (1926-1945), Reichsleiter of the Nazi Party (1933-1945), Chancellor of Germany (1945)
Highest award: Golden Nazi Party Badge

One of Hitler's most devoted followers, Goebbels was a brilliant orator and ardent anti-Semite. He became Reich Minister of Public Enlightenment and Propaganda after Hitler rose to power, responsible for all media circulating in the Third Reich and the creation of material to maintain support for the regime. As Gauleiter (regional leader) of the city of Berlin, he is one of the prime targets of arrest during Operation Valkyrie. A working line to the Wolf's Lair helps convince his detainer otherwise and ruins the plot. Goebbels was elected Plenipotentiary for Total War a few days after and worked tirelessly to delegate non-essential industries to the war effort. He and his wife Magda killed themselves on May 1, 1945, unable to fathom a life without the Führer.

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• Badass Bureaucrat: Downplayed. He's disturbingly calm in the midst of a coup happening in the capital and even maintains his composure when Remer is preparing to arrest him. And did we mention he had a cyanide pill in his mouth?
• Better to Die than Be Killed: Goebbels has no intention of being arrested and live the rest of his days as a prisoner (or worse, sentenced to death). So he has a cyanide pill ready to use if Hitler had indeed been assassinated.
• Cyanide Pill: Goebbels puts what is obviously a suicide pill in his mouth before being confronted by the German Army coming to arrest him, just in case he wasn't able to get out of that situation. When Major Remer is convinced of Hitler's survival, Goebbels spits the pill out the second he leaves the room.
• Driven to Suicide: Joseph Goebbels was prepared with a cyanide capsule... just in case Major Remer decided to proceed with the coup and arrest him anyway.
• Nerves of Steel: Calmly confronts Remer when faced with arrest and asks him if he's a "dedicated National Socialist" before simply handing him the phone on a direct line to the Führer in his hand.
• Propaganda Machine: Goebbels leads the Reich Ministry of Public Enlightenment and Propaganda, responsible for drumming up support for the regime and their war of extermination.
• This Is Gonna Suck: When Hitler mentions his confidence that the Normandy situation is under control per Göring's assurances, Goebbels (who has a far more realistic outlook) can only give a sour yet silent face since he knows he can't correct Hitler without greatly angering him.
• Undying Loyalty: Is fanatically loyal to his Führer to the point of being willing to die for him if his regime has indeed collapsed.

Wilhelm Keitel

Generalfeldmarschall Wilhelm Bodewin Johann Gustav Keitel, Chief of the Armed Forces High Command

Portrayed by: Kenneth Cranham

"You're dismissed, send your man home and Fromm, have some fresh tea brought in, will you?."

^{In real life...}

Staff positions held: Head of the Armed Forces Office, Reich Ministry of War (1935-1938), Chief of the Armed Forces High Command (1938-1945), Chief of the Army General Staff (acting, 1945)
Highest award: Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Chief of the Armed Forces High Command and besides Göring the highest-ranking officer in the Wehrmacht. Keitel's willingness to function as Hitler's mouthpiece earned him many detractors, not least of whom was Friedrich Fromm whose desire to see Keitel humiliated caused him to sanction the coup in the first place. War crimes on the Eastern Front earned him death by hanging along with several other high-ranking Nazis on October 16, 1946.

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• Deadly Euphemism: He finishes the call to Fromm by asking him to put him in contact with Stauffenberg when he arrives back in Berlin, as he wants to "have a word with him."
• Good Hair, Evil Hair: Keitel has a very thick, bushy mustache which clearly marks him as a villainous soldier.
• Mean Boss: To Fromm. The two mutually dislike each other for being bad at their jobs and Keitel is quick to belittle Fromm for nothing more than petty amusement. At one point, he even asks Fromm to fetch tea for Hitler as if he was a waiter.
• "The Reason You Suck" Speech: Gives a particularly nasty one to Fromm. Keitel is fairly justified in dressing down the selfish and careerist general even if he was being dickish about it.
  Keitel: I have got better things to do with my time than to come down here and clean up your mess! If you were enough of a man to run this department, then I wouldn't have to do it myself! You're an old woman, Fromm! I'd send you to the front, if I didn't think you'd surrender just to be Montgomery's whore!
• Unwitting Instigator of Doom: It's his terrible attitude towards Fromm that convinces the latter to support the German resistance and halfheartedly let the coup proceed for a time. Had Keitel been more considerate towards his bitter subordinate, Fromm could still be leading the Reserve Army with no treasonous actions to accuse him of.
• Wham Line: Delivers Fromm the shocking news that Hitler survived the explosion. Everyone else in the room, especially Stauffenberg, refuses to believe him.
  Fromm: [on the phone with Keitel] There's talk that the Führer has been assassinated.
  Keitel: Another failed attempt
• Yes-Man: Alongside Alfred Jodl, Keitel is one of the highest-ranking officers in the German Armed Forces to unquestionably take Hitler's orders to the letter. In Real Life, Keitel was derisively nicknamed Lakeitel (roughly, lickspittle or lackey) by other members of the General Staff.

Heinrich Himmler

Reichsführer-SS Heinrich Luitpold Himmler, Reich Minister of the Interior and Chief of German Police

Portrayed by: Matthias Freihof

^{In real life...}

Offices held: Reichsführer-SS (1929-1945), Chief of German Police (1936-1945), Reich Minister of the Interior (1943-1945), Director of the Reich Main Security Office (acting, 1942-1943), Reichsleiter of the Nazi Party (1933-1945), Reich Plenipotentiary of Administration (1944-1945)
Commands held: Replacement Army (1944-1945), Army Group Oberrhein (1944-1945), Army Group Vistula (1945)
Highest award: Golden Nazi Party Badge

Hitler's right-hand man and head of the SS (Schutzstaffel), who joined the Nazi Party in 1923. Alongside his deputy Reinhard Heydrich, he masterminded the infamous Final Solution. His status as Hitler's most capable and loyal enforcer made him a prime target for the 20 July plotters. He was captured by the British Army upon war's end and committed suicide in captivity with a cyanide pill on May 23, 1945.

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• The Bad Guy Wins: To a lesser degree than Hitler but a victory nonetheless. Ironically, the operation technically amended to prevent an SS takeover actually aids in giving them more power. Hitler appoints Himmler commander of the Reserve Army to prevent the 20 July plot from re-occurring, which he uses to divert army recruits to the Waffen-SS and strengthen his control over the Army. What Operation Valkyrie was supposed to prevent achieved the exact opposite.
• Demoted to Extra: Like Göring and Speer, Himmler's role as a member of Hitler's inner circle is relegated to a single cameo in the Berghof residence.
• The Dragon: Compared to Göring who is sitting smugly on his laurels, Himmler is still well-poised to enforce policy on Hitler's behalf. As Hitler's right-hand man and commander of the SS, effectively a state within a state, this makes him the immediate threat to eliminate after Hitler's death, above even Goebbels, Speer and Bormann.
• Dragon Ascendant: The reason why Goerdeler wants to include his death in any assassination plan. He and the conspirators expect him to immediately seize power in the wake of Hitler's death, effectively replacing "a madman with a lunatic".
• The Dreaded: The conspirators fear him because he controls the SS and is considered to be even crazier than Hitler.
• Eviler than Thou: He's considered to be even worse than Hitler, which is why it's essential for the conspirators to eliminate him immediately after Hitler's assassination.
• Four Eyes, Zero Soul: As expected, Himmler wears a pair of round glasses. And he is the most dangerous Nazi official, second only to Hitler.
• Secret Police: As if Himmler would be associated with anything else. As both head of the SS and Minister of the Interior, he wields great power over state security and via his subordinate Heinrich Muller controls the Gestapo, the Nazi secret police.
• State Sec: Again, something that would heavily be associated with Himmler. The SS, aside from being Hitler's personal bodyguard, are pretty much their own standing army independent of the Heer, complete with their own Panzer divisions.
• You Are in Command Now: Himmler is made commander of the Reserve Army after General Fromm is executed. He uses the opportunity to elect SS officials to top Reserve Army positions and divert recruits to the Waffen-SS.

Hermann Göring

Reichsmarschall Hermann Wilhelm Göring, Reich Minister for Aviation and Supreme Commander of the Luftwaffe

Portrayed by: Gerhard Haase-Hindenberg

^{In real life...}

Offices held: Reich Minister for Aviation (1933-1945), President of the Reichstag (1932-1945), Minister President of Prussia (1933-1945), Reich Governor of Prussia (1933-1945), Reich Minister of Forestry (1934-1945), Reich Plenipotentiary of the Four Year Plan (1936-1945)
Commands held: Supreme Commander of the Luftwaffe (1935-1945)
Highest award: Golden Nazi Party Badge (Party), Grand Cross of the Iron Cross (military)

Hermann Göring was a World War I fighter ace who joined the Nazi Party in 1922. When they rose to power, Göring became one of the regime's leading officials, founding the soon to be infamous Gestapo later ceded to Heinrich Himmler's control. He also became supreme commander of the German air force, the Luftwaffe. By 1944, Hitler's second-in-command was rapidly losing favour and growing stagnant on his morphine addiction. He requested for permission to take over as leader of Germany in the face of Hitler's impending suicide but in response was forced to resign from all his posts and flee in disgrace. Capture by American forces soon followed and he was sentenced to death at the Nuremberg trials, but he committed suicide via cyanide pill the night before on October 15, 1946.

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• Custom Uniform: As is customary for the Reichsmarschall, Göring is dressed in a grey double-breasted jacket resplendent with his wartime medals and badges.
• Demoted to Extra: Like Himmler and Speer, Göring's role as a member of Hitler's inner circle is relegated to a single cameo in the Berghof residence. Though he does very briefly become a setback to the entire plot after his smug assurance of the Luftwaffe's superiority convinces Hitler not to listen to Stauffenberg's planned briefing. Stauffenberg is quick to hide his dismay though and immediately presents the amended Operation Valkyrie for Hitler's approval, nullifying this.
• Fat Bastard: His brief screentime consists of him lounging around a lunch table like a fat pig. Which actually sums up his role in World War II quite nicely. Additionally, while Stauffenberg and Fromm are explaining to Hitler the necessity of updating Operation Valkyrie in the wake of the Normandy landings, Hitler tells him Göring has assured him the Luftwaffe can handle them. Göring smirks complacently, while Goebbels, who has a more realistic view, gives a sour look.
• General Failure: The fact that Hitler is oblivious to the real situation of the Normandy landings because he had faith in Göring is all you need to know why the conspirators don't consider him to be as big of a target as Himmler.
• Number Two: Technically Hitler's second-in-command and his designated successor, as well as commander of the air force. Göring's influence unfortunately has been diminished due to the lowering effectiveness of the Luftwaffe and Hitler's dissatisfaction with his performance.

Albert Speer

Oberbefehlsleiter Albert Speer, Reich Minister of Armaments and War Production

Portrayed by: Manfred-Anton Algrang

^{In real life...}

Offices held: Reich Minister of Armaments and War Production (1942-1945), Head of the Chief Office for Construction of the Nazi Party (1934-1937), General Building Inspector for Berlin (1937-1942), Reich Minister of Industry and Production (1945)

Albert Speer joined the Nazi Party in 1931 and became its chief architect after the death of his predecessor Paul Ludwig Troost. He was instrumental in creating many of the new buildings and field headquarters for Hitler and became one of his closest personal friends. His position as Hitler's favorite architect got him appointed as the new Minister of Armaments in 1942, responsible for supplying the Wehrmacht with supplies and directing the war production effort for which he was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment. Post-release, he cultivated himself as an ardent opposer of Hitler's policies, including having refused to carry out Hitler's intended utter destruction of Germany's infrastructure. He died of a stroke on September 1, 1981.

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• Demoted to Extra: Like Göring and Himmler, Speer is only given a small cameo in the Berghof, despite being part of Hitler's inner circle.
• The Evil Genius: He's an architect, ardent Nazi, and is also the man in the Third Reich responsible for organizing Germany's war production and increasingly limited resources as the tides turn against them.
• Sole Survivor: Amusingly, he's the only named character present at the Berghof who doesn't ultimately die via the assassination attempt, execution, or suicide and in fact lived long after the war concluded.

Wehrmacht personnel

Heinz Brandt

Oberst Heinz Brandt

Portrayed by: Tom Hollander

"I am the Führer's eyes, lieutenant."

^{In real life...}

An aide to Lieutenant General Adolf Heusinger, Chief of the Army General Staff. He unknowingly ruins the entire plot to assassinate Hitler by moving the briefcase with the bomb to the other side of a table leg, shielding Hitler from the force of the explosion. He lost a leg in the ensuing explosion and died the next day, on July 21, 1944.

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• Desk Jockey: He serves Hitler largely at a desk. When Tresckow arrives in Berlin, he finds Brandt writing up reports about a recent attempt against the Führer.
• Double Speak: As he's preparing to hand the liquor bomb over to Tresckow, he suddenly stops and offers to share a drink from it with him, and the way Brandt says it hints that he at least suspects what the container actually is and Tresckow is actually a traitor but has no leg on which to directly call him out. When Tresckow is able to talk his way out of it, Brandt's own disappointed attitude reads more like failing to confirm his suspicions than missing out on a drink.
• Killed Offscreen: Brandt is never mentioned after moving the briefcase, but he is fatally injured by the explosion and dies after surgery.
• Rank Up: Hitler personally promotes Brandt to major general posthumously for his role in preventing the assassination.
• Small Role, Big Impact: Casually moving a fallen briefcase to the other side of a table leg ends up changing the course of history.
• Unwitting Instigator of Doom: Had he not moved the briefcase to the other side of a table leg, Hitler would have likely been killed in the explosion. The fact that Hitler survives eventually causes the whole conspiracy to unravel.

Ernst John von Freyend

Major Ernst John von Freyend

Portrayed by: Werner Daehn

"General Keitel insists that the Colonel please hurry."

^{In real life...}

An adjutant to Field Marshal Keitel. Freyend carries the briefcase containing the bomb to the conference hut for the disabled Stauffenberg and is among those injured in the explosion at the Wolf's Lair but survives. He was captured by the United States Army alongside his superior and interrogated, but was found innocent since he merely served as Keitel's valet. Freyend joined the Gehlen Organization after the war and died on March 24, 1980.

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• Spotting the Thread: Freyend is one of the first to realize Stauffenberg is up to something when the colonel leaves the meeting room but leaves his officer's cap behind, noticeably glancing around in confusion as he holds the cap. The bomb detonates before he can act on his suspicions, but his survival allows him to inform the High Command of Stauffenberg's disappearance and provide said cap as evidence, which leads them to realizing the conspiracy.

Adolf Heusinger

Generalleutnant Adolf Bruno Heinrich Ernst Heusinger, Chief of the Army General Staff

Portrayed by: Matthew Burton

"Not only have they been advancing from the east, but they're coming down on the northern and the southern fronts as well. As you can see, my Führer, if the enemy continues at this rate, the situation in the East Prussian sector is critical."

^{In real life...}

Staff positions held: Chief of Operations, Army General Staff (1940-1944), Chief of the Army General Staff (acting, 1944), Chief of Cartography, Army General Staff (1945), Chairman, NATO Military Committee (1961-1964)
Commands held: Inspector General of the Bundeswehr (1957-1961)
Highest award: Iron Cross 1st Class (WW2), Grand Cross with Star and Sash of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany (post-war)

Adolf Heusinger is one of the few German military officers fortunate enough to serve for all of its eras: the German Empire, Weimar Republic, Nazi Germany and West Germany (today unified Germany). For most of his career he was a staff officer in all the forms of the German General Staff, rising to acting chief of the army general staff to replace the ailing Kurt Zeitzler. He was injured in 20 July bomb plot and hospitalized, but that did not protect him from investigation by the Gestapo and subsequently removal from active duty. Heusinger survived all post-war trials and went on to become the first Inspector General of the West German armed forces, the Bundeswehr. He died on November 30, 1982.

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• Bearer of Bad News: Is in charge of relaying the dismal situation on the Eastern Front to an increasingly paranoid and irritable Hitler, and his truthful assessment of the superiority of the Soviet air forces only makes Hitler slam the table in rage.
  Heusinger: ...Russian air activity has proven just as impregnable as their ground force.
  Hitler: [slams table] WHY?
  Heusinger: [alarmed] My Führer...
• Number Two: To Hitler on army matters, since his boss is both supreme commander of the army and armed forces overall. This makes him regrettably the chief messenger on the increasingly dire situation on the Eastern Front, which is worrying when the one you're passing messages to can either dismiss you or execute you for treason.
• Satellite Character: All his dialogue and role within the story is tied to Hitler.

Franz Herber

Oberleutnant Franz Herber

Portrayed by: Matthias Schweighöfer

"The General will see you now."

An adjutant to General Fromm and the officer manning the desk outside his office.

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• Desk Jockey: Played Straight for most of the film since he is basically just running administration and paperwork outside Fromm's office. Then subverted once he finds his boss has been arrested, since for the last legs of Operation Valkyrie he is seen shooting after Stauffenberg and company and taking charge of the firing squad executing them.
• Small Role, Big Impact: Pretty much a non-entity for most of the film until the climax begins. Once he finally confirms that Fromm is being held against his will, he takes charge against the traitors in the Bendlerblock (until Remer arrives with The Cavalry) and is involved in the shootout at the end of the film. Herber is then given charge of the firing squad tasked with executing Olbricht, Quirnheim, von Haeften and finally Stauffenberg.

The Desert General

"The Desert General" (no name given)

Portrayed by: Bernard Hill

"It's just that sort of talk that had you sent here, Colonel."

Commanding officer of the 10th Panzer Division and Stauffenberg's superior while he was serving in Tunisia. He is based on the real life general Wolfgang Fischer.

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• Can't Take Criticism: Inverted. Even while he insists that his forces stay in Africa for a victory that will never come, he accepts Stauffenberg's open criticism of these plans and their lack of water to even advance to Sidi Mansour as planned.
• Character Death: He's killed when the RAF bombs and attacks the convoy he and Stauffenberg are part of.
• Frontline General: He's in desert attire with goggles and in open terrain talking with Stauffenberg on the North African front. Plus, he dies on that front.
• No Name Given: His name is never mentioned by Stauffenberg during their brief conversation at the start of the film.

The Pompous General

"The Pompous General" (no name given)

Portrayed by: Ian McNeice

"This is treason. I will not take part."

An unnamed general who tries to interrupt the coup.

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• Composite Character: A composite of various minor historical figures, most prominently General Joachim von Kortzfleisch who tried to disrupt the coup in a very similar way.
• Evil Is Hammy: He is shouting at the top of his lungs that Hitler is alive after he is taken for arrest.
  Pompous General: The Führer is not dead! The Führer is not dead!
• Fat Bastard: Is very fat and brazenly tries to stop the coup singlehandedly.
• No Name Given: This officer is never referred to by name and is only referred to in the credits as "Pompous General".
• Too Dumb to Live: He pompously thinks he can halt the coup by himself by yelling like a maniac. When clearly surrounded by people loyal to Stauffenberg explicitly ordered to shoot officers who resist his orders. That was totally going to work.

Others

Wolf-Heinrich von Helldorff

SS-Obergruppenführer und General der Polizei Wolf-Heinrich Julius Otto Bernhard Fritz Hermann Ferdinand Graf von Helldorff, Chief of the Berlin Police

Portrayed by: Waldemar Kobus

"You will have no interference from my men. You have my word."

^{In real life...}

Offices held: Member of the Reichstag (1933-1944), Police President of Potsdam (1933-1935), Chief of the Berlin Police (1935-1944)
Highest award: War Merit Cross 1st Class with Swords (military), Golden Nazi Party Badge (Party)

Like Stauffenberg, Wolf-Heinrich von Helldorff was born into Prussian nobility. He joined the Nazi Party in 1924 and became a leading member of its original paramilitary arm, the SA (Sturmabteilung) as well as a Reichstag member and Police President of Potsdam. In 1935, Helldorff was made Chief of the Berlin Police, a position he held until 1944 where he prevented the police from intervening during Operation Valkyrie with the intention of aiding the new government once the plan had succeeded. Following the plot's failure, he was arrested and sentenced to death. So enraged was Hitler at his participation that he gave explicit orders for Helldorff to be Forced to Watch his fellow conspirators die before being hanged himself on August 15, 1944.

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• Da Chief: Is chief of the Orpo (Order Police) police forces in the city of Berlin, and pledges his support for the conspiracy with the promise that his men will not interfere with the capture of government officials.
• Historical Hero Upgrade: Helldorff is portrayed heroically for siding with Stauffenberg and receives a postscript notifying viewers about his fate alongside the other, more prominent conspirators. Unmentioned in the film is that von Helldorff was a member of the Nazi Party who was close friends with Joseph Goebbels, and had earlier masterminded round-ups and pogroms of Jews in Berlin, including a key role in organizing Kristallnacht in 1938. Even the degree to which von Helldorff was involved with the Resistance is unclear; some claim he was one of its leaders, others that he played a peripheral role, others that (like many military and political officials) he was aware of the plot, and broadly sympathetic to its aims, but didn't actively participate. In any case, von Helldorff was ultimately executed for his alleged involvement.
• Minor Major Character: Is the chief of police forces in Berlin yet only has two scenes in the film after which he is promptly killed off.
• One Last Drink: Downs one last mouthful of alcohol before Gestapo officers enter his office to arrest him for his involvement in the conspiracy.

Margarethe von Oven

Margarethe von Oven

Portrayed by: Halina Reijn

"I'll tell that I was serving the German people. Then I'll tell them to go to hell."

^{In real life...}

A secretary for the German military since 1925, Margarethe von Oven had the pleasure of serving under high-ranking generals Kurt von Hammerstein-Equord, Werner von Fritsch and her friend's husband, Henning von Tresckow. She played a key role in drafting orders and decrees for the coup in advance. During Operation Valkyrie, she reported on the state of the operation and the taking of key military districts. The coup's failure saw her detained for only three weeks and immediately sent back to work. After the war, she worked several clerical jobs in Switzerland and Germany, marrying Wilfred Graf von Hardenberg in 1955. She died on February 5, 1991.

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• Easily Forgiven: Oddly enough received a very light sentence (three week's jail) for her part in the 20 July plot without ever having been convicted and was allowed to return to her job at the Bendlerblock. This rings highly abnormal as many other accomplices who were even remotely related to the plot were executed or at best incarcerated.

Roland Freisler

Roland Freisler, Judge President of the People's Court

Portrayed by: Helmut Stauss

"This is an outrage that has never before been perpetrated here! A field marshal and a general declare that they could do things better than he who is the Führer of us all!"

^{In real life...}

Offices held: Director of the Prussian Ministry of Justice (1933), State Secretary State of the Prussian Ministry of Justice (1933-1934), State Secretary of the Reich Ministry of Justice (1934-1942), Judge President of the People's Court (1942-1945)

The Judge President of the People's Court, a Kangaroo Court of the regime. Freisler's mastery of legal texts and zealous loyalty to National Socialism and verbally abusive attitude in the courtroom made him the most feared judge in Germany. This star would only rise when he was made State Secretary of the Reich Ministry of Justice and head of the People's Court, though Hitler never gave him a leading position due to his time as a POW in communist Russia. He died in the midst of a British air raid on February 3, 1945.

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• Evil Is Hammy: Astonishingly toned down from real life, and also because he only has two lines in the film. The above quote still demonstrates his tendency to rave and chant loudly at defendants without giving them a chance to utter a full sentence in their defense.
• Hanging Judge: Freisler is well-known for rarely giving anything but death sentences. He's actually toned down a bit in the film compared to how he was in real life.
• Kangaroo Court: The People's Court is essentially this, giving show trials to all July plot conspirators as well as those suspected to be in league with them.
• Laser-Guided Karma: Freisler died in his own courtroom during an Allied bombing raid when he went back to retrieve some documents on the defendant whose trial was being held there, and was either blown up by the explosion or crushed when the ceiling collapsed on him. He was the only fatality of the bombing raid, and when Freisler's body was brought to the hospital, a worker gave the supremely badass observation, "God has delivered His verdict." Doubly karmic in the fact that a 20 July plot member, Fabian von Schlabrendorff, was standing right next to him at the time and would have been trialled that day. Freisler's death saved his life as the replacement judge (in a rarity for the People's Court) acquitted him, something that wouldn't have happened under Freisler.
  • As an extra bit of karma, Freisler was a party to the Wannsee Conference, in which the Holocaust was fully planned and implemented. The air raid that killed him was commanded by an American Jew.
• Red and Black and Evil All Over: Freisler dresses in blood-red judicial robes and is a fanatical Nazi, delighting at the chance to hold a person's life or death in his own hands and almost always hands out death sentences.
• Small Role, Big Impact: Freisler only appears in a single scene condemning Erwin von Witzleben. Yet he is the man in charge of prosecuting the 20 July plotters, many of whom are just as important as Witzleben.

Mentioned characters

Hans Oster

Generalmajor Hans Paul Oster, former Chief of the Abwehr Central Department

^{In real life...}

Planned position: President of the Reichskriegsgericht
Staff positions held: Deputy Chief of the Abwehr and Chief of the Abwehr Central Department (1935-1944), Chief of Staff, OKW Foreign Intelligence Office (1939-1944)
Highest award: Iron Cross 1st Class

Former deputy chief of the Abwehr, the military intelligence service and an important member of the German Resistance. Oster was dismissed from his post and arrested by the Gestapo on the suspicion of helping Jews escape Germany. His replacement in the resistance by Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg is what kick-starts this film's titular plot. Had the plot succeeded, Oster would have become president of Germany's highest military court, the Reichskriegsgericht. Under house arrest at the time of the plot, he would have escaped retribution had his superior's incriminating diaries not been found. Oster was immediately arrested, convicted and hanged on April 9, 1945 at Flossenbürg concentration camp, two weeks before it was liberated by American forces.

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• The Ace: Among the most skilled and useful of the Resistance, since his high position in German intelligence meant that he could provide false documents and classified information, conceal treasonous activities as intelligence work and link disparate resistance cells. He also played a key role in the first military conspiracy to overthrow Hitler which led to General Beck's resignation.
• The Ghost: Referred to quite a lot on-screen since Stauffenberg replaces him but doesn't actually appear in the film.
• Killed Offscreen: Was hanged off screen along with alleged conspirators Wilhelm Canaris (his superior) and Dietrich Bonhoeffer at the Flossenbürg concentration camp. They were forced to strip naked before proceeding to the gallows.
• The Quiet One: The reason why Goerdeler cites him as a great organizer. Unlike Stauffenberg (who just let loose an Armor-Piercing Question), Oster keeps his opinions to himself.
• Small Role, Big Impact: Is never mentioned beyond several remarks by General Olbricht. One of those remarks is about Stauffenberg being his replacement and the Colonel is the nerve centre of the film's titular plot. In Real Life, Oster was responsible for inducting Olbricht into the resistance, who is himself responsible for some of the most important maneuvers contributing to Operation Valkyrie.
• The Spymaster: His role as second-in-command of all military intelligence matters, answering only to Admiral Wilhelm Canaris who himself was a member of the German resistance. His position easily allowed him to smokescreen the actions of the resistance from public view and made him one of their most valued members up until his arrest by the Gestapo.

George Patton

Lieutenant General George Smith Patton Jr.

One of America's most famous generals, he commanded II. Corps during the Tunisia campaign.

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• The Dreaded: Stauffenberg mentions that Patton's troops are closing in on the coast, which, in conjuncture with the British coming in from the south, will trap 10th Panzer in a pincer movement.
• The Ghost: As an enemy commander, Patton is not seen in the film

Bernard Montgomery

General Bernard Law Montgomery

The commander of British troops, including the 8th Army in Africa and the 21st Army Group during the Normandy campaign.

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• The Ghost: Monty is mentioned once in the film, when Keitel telling Fromm that he'd send him to the front if he didn't think he'd surrender "just to be Montgomery's whore."

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