Valkyrie Trivia Quiz

Answer: False

'Valkyrie' is based on an actual plot to assassinate Hitler. Colonel Stauffenberg was a Colonel in the German army, who plotted to kill Hitler. The movie is entirely based on the real incident and tries to factually depict the plot.

Answer: Tom Cruise

'Valkyrie' has popular Hollywood actor Tom Cruise playing the role of Col. Stauffenberg. Cruise reportedly agreed to play the lead role as he felt that he resembled the real Col. Stauffenberg. Cruise is associated with United Artists who produced the film.

Tom Cruise is one of the leading American actors and has won a number of awards for his various roles, including the Golden Globe awards. He made his debut in 1983 and has acted in hit movies like 'Top Gun', 'The Color of Money', 'The Firm' and in the popular 'Mission Impossible' series. Cruise is known for his controversial advocacy of Scientology which has earned him a lot of criticism.

Answer: False

Tom Cruise has worked earlier with Spielberg in movies like 'Minority Report' and 'War of the Worlds', but 'Valkyrie' is directed by Bryan Singer.

Bryan Singer is an American film director whose works include 'The Usual Suspects', 'X-Men' and 'Superman Returns'. Singer commenced shooting 'Valkyrie' on July 19, 2007 (a day before July 20 - the actual date of the assassination plot!).

Answer: Africa

The movie opens with Colonel Stauffenberg reflecting about the war in Africa, where he was deployed. Stauffenberg is shown having the opinion that his loyalty was with Germany and not with Hitler. During an attack by the Allies, Stauffenberg is injured and loses one of his eyes and his right hand. This results in his returning back to Germany.

Answer: Maj. Gen. Tresckow

The movie starts with an attempt by Major General von Tresckow (Kenneth Branagh) to kill Hitler by planting a bomb in his plane. But the bomb fails to detonate. After this incident, Tresckow and his fellow conspirator, General Friedrich Olbricht (Bill Nighy) co-opt Stauffenberg (who has returned after being injured in Africa) into the plot.

Answer: It is a contingency plan approved by Hitler himself.

Operation Valkyrie was an operational plan approved by Hitler himself. The plan envisaged the use of the Reserve Army to take command of Germany in the event of Hitler's death or any failure of communication link with Hitler. They plan to co-opt General Fromm, the head of the Reserve army, in the conspiracy and Stauffenberg rewrites the plan to reduce the role of the SS.

The conspirators plan to assassinate Hitler and then invoke Operational Valkyrie to take control of Germany and then sue for peace with the Allies.

Answer: Because of Himmler's absence

The conspirators plan to detonate a bomb in Hitler's bunker so that maximum damage could be inflicted and Hitler's death is assured. But it is decided that the bomb would be detonated by Stauffenberg, only if the SS head Heinrich Himmler is also present along with Hitler. Since Himmler is not present at the bunker, the first attempt is called off at the last minute.

Answer: In a briefcase

The plan involves the use of pencil detonators, smuggled into the meeting room in Stauffenberg's briefcase. During the second attempt Stauffenberg takes the detonators into the meeting room in his briefcase. The plan is for Stauffenberg to place the briefcase in the room and quietly leave the room before the bomb explodes and make his escape.

Answer: The bomb is moved out of position.

Col. Stauffenberg places the briefcase with the detonators under the table and leaves the room to make his escape. But Hitler bangs the table during the meeting and the bag falls down. One of the officers present in the meeting sees the fallen briefcase and moves it to the end of the table opposite Hitler. The bomb explodes, but Hitler is saved as the bag is far away from him and also because the meeting is held not in his bunker, but in a room with open windows.

Thinking that Hitler is dead, Stauffenberg invokes Operation Valkyrie. But there is confusion among the conspirators over Hitler's death and General Fromm refuses to take part in the coup which ensures the failure of the plot.

Answer: He is executed by a firing squad.

Assuming that Hitler is dead, Stauffenberg invokes Operation Valkyrie. But General Fromm refuses to take part and is arrested by the conspirators who try to take over Berlin. But later the Reserve Army learns that Hitler is alive and decides to arrest the conspirators, who flee. But they are captured and General Fromm orders their execution.

Stauffenberg is shot dead by a firing squad. As he dies his last words are "Long live sacred Germany". (In reality, Stauffenberg uttered the words "Long live our holy Germany" before his death!). In spite of his betrayal of the conspirators, General Fromm is also executed. Thus the Jul 20 plot ends in the death of all the conspirators.