History Film / Valkyrie

Not to be confused with the [[{{Valkyries}} mythological characters]] from which this movie takes its name. For a German-language film on these same events, see ''Film/OperationValkyrie''.

Not to be confused with the [[{{Valkyries}} mythological characters]] from which this movie takes its name.

* DidntThinkThisThrough: Stauffenberg implies this to Treskcow, pointing out that even if they succeed in removing Hitler, they haven't dealt with the more fanatical elements of the Nazi regime that will remain into account.

* ForWantOfANail: The July plotters actually make two attempts to kill Hitler before initiating 'Operation Valkyrie' (some of them, such as Treskcow, had made attempts even before the plan took its current form). The first time, the Reserve Army has already been mobilized and Stauffenberg is at the Wolf's Lair with the bombs and calling for confirmation, but the civilian leaders of the conspiracy are hesitant to go for it without Himmler at the meeting. They finally proceed on the second attempt two weeks later (where Himmler isn't present either), but the meeting between Hitler and his officers has been moved to a cabin outside the bunker.[[note]]This, in addition to the bomb being moved behind a big wooden table leg by pure chance, significantly decreased the bomb's blast force[[/note]] If Goerdeler hadn't hesitated at the last second, Stauffenberg's bomb would have certainly killed Hitler.

** The plotters get this in the film. There's no doubt that the plotters were not Nazis, but it's important to remember that the conspiracy was a circle of men with ''widely'' disparate interests who were simply unified by their opposition to Hitler. Their motives were unclear and varied from person to person, but for the most part, while almost all of them were horrified by the Holocaust, many were less concerned with ending Hitler's regime than they were with saving Germany from Hitler's ineptitude. They also varied in what they planned to do next, from reactionaries like Goerdeler who wanted to restore a pre-WWI Germany, to democrats like Stauffenberg who were still motivated by racism to keep Germany's wartime holdings, and those such as Treskcow who were primarily motivated by guilt and didn't care about what happened next as long as they did ''something''. The complexity of the plotters' motivation is ignored in the film, both for [[RuleOfDrama narrative convenience]] and to keep the focus on the plot itself.

* EvilIsHammy: Ian [=McNeice=]'s character shouting at the top of his lungs that Hitler is alive after he is taken for arrest. Also, Judge Reisler's trial was truly scenery-chewing in real life, but was actually [[RealityIsUnrealistic toned down]] for the film.

* DownerEnding: Stauffenberg and all the conspirators are rounded up and executed. However, it ends up being a BittersweetEnding in the long run, as the war in Europe is on its last legs and the Nazis will be defeated, while Stauffenberg is immortalized as a national hero.

** Hermann Göring, whose small appearance consists of lounging around a lunch table like a fat pig. Which actually sums up his role in World War II quite nicely.

* BatmanGambit: The conspirators took a big risk assuming The Fuehrer wouldn't take a close look at the Valkyrie Order revision before signing it. [[BrilliantButLazy Typically for him]], and fortunately for them, he doesn't.

** Wolf-Heinrich Graf von Helldorff, Berlin's Chief of Police. Although a minor character, he's 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.

** The Berghof was built onto the side of a hill and ''not'' the direct top. There ''was'' a smaller house at the summit as part of the Berghof complex, but Hitler rarely used it.

** Controversially, the film downplays Claus von Stauffenberg's anti-Semitic and nationalistic views, depicting him as a relatively apolitical German patriot who wanted to save Germany from Hitler. While he was not a member of the Nazi party [[EvenEvilHasStandards and was disgusted by the Holocaust]], he was still a committed German nationalist but felt (quite rightly) that Hitler was going too far and was militarily incompetent.

** Controversially, the film depicts Claus von Stauffenberg as a relatively apolitical German patriot who wanted to save Germany from Hitler. While he was not a member of the Nazi party [[EvenEvilHasStandards and was disgusted by the Holocaust]], he still held anti-Semitic and nationalistic views, and wanted Germany to win the war but felt (quite rightly) that Hitler was militarily incompetent. He would likely have been perfectly happy with a more competent Nazi in charge.

** Controversially, the film depicts Claus von Stauffenberg as a relatively apolitical German patriot who wanted to save Germany from Hitler. He was in fact a committed National Socialist who felt (quite rightly) that Hitler was militarily incompetent. He would have been perfectly happy with a more competent Nazi in charge.

* KillEmAll: Discussed at one point. Goerdeler and others insist that all members of the high command have to be killed in order for any coup to be successful. Stauffenberg thinks he's just making excuses not to kill Hitler because he doesn't have the guts.

** Speaking of the Ju 52, Staffenberg actually flew back to Berlin in a Heinkel He 111.

* TranslationConvention: After an opening transition, everybody speaks perfect English. The written documents are still in German, and during the coup the reserve army troops issue orders in their native tongue.

* BaldOfAwesome: Colonel Quirnheim.

* ForWantOfANail: The July plotters actually make two attempts to kill Hitler before initiating 'Operation Valkyrie' (some of them, such as Treskcow, had made attempts even before the plan took its current form). The first time, the Reserve Army has already been mobilized and Stauffenberg is at the Wolf's Lair with the bombs and calling for confirmation, but the civilian leaders of the conspiracy are hesitant to go for it without Himmler at the meeting. They finally proceed on the second attempt two weeks later (where Himmler isn't present either), but the meeting between Hitler and his officers has been moved to a cabin outside the bunker.[[note]]This, in addition to the bomb being placed behind a big wooden table leg by pure chance, significantly decreased the bomb's blast force[[/note]] If Goerdeler hadn't hesitated at the last second, Stauffenberg's bomb would have certainly killed Hitler.

* HangingJudge: Judge Roland Freisler. He's actually toned down a bit in the film compared to [[RealityIsUnrealistic how he was in real life.]]