The Closest Assassination Attempts to Hitler: A Historical Review

Throughout World War II, several assassination attempts were made against Adolf Hitler, each with varying degrees of success. While many have been thwarted or aborted, a few managed to come alarmingly close to ending the Nazi leader's life. In this article, we will explore the most notable assassination attempts, those that could have been most successful and the stories behind them.

Operation Valkyrie and the Bombing at the Wolf’s Lair

One of the closest attempts to succeed was Operation Valkyrie, which occurred on July 20, 1944, at Hitler’s “Wolf’s Lair” command post in Prussia. Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg carried out this daring mission.

Stauffenberg arrived at the meeting with a briefcase containing a plastic explosive connected to an acid fuse. The explosive device was placed as close to Hitler as possible. When Stauffenberg departed the room on the pretense of making a phone call, his bomb detonated only minutes later. The blast was powerful enough to send the conference table flying, but it also missed hitting Hitler due to the presence of a wooden table leg that absorbed some of the impact.

Despite the near-disastrous outcome, this assassination attempt remains one of the closest to ever have succeeded. If the bomb had been detonated correctly and in the right location, the outcome could have been far different for Germany and the war itself.

The Munich Beer Hall Putsch

In 1923, Adolf Hitler found himself in a much more chaotic situation. A speech he gave at Munich’s famed Hofbr?uhaus beer hall ended in a nearly violent melee. During the event, a group of unknown assailants drew their pistols and fired shots towards the speaker's podium, narrowly missing Hitler. Instead of leaving the podium, Hitler continued his speech for an additional 20 minutes, an improvised display of bravery that likely influenced the outcome of the event.

In the aftermath of this incident, Hitler was undeterred and continued to develop the Nazi party. This assassination attempt, though unsuccessful, played a role in his rise to power.

The Brandy Bomb at Smolensk

In 1943, a plot was hatched at the Smolensk airfield. Colonel Henning von Tresckow and Fabian von Schlabrendorff planned to assassinate Hitler using a concealed bomb disguised as a bottle of Cointreau.

The bomb was rigged with a 30-minute fuse, but the plot failed when Hitler left the area shortly after the scheduled time. Tresckow was informed of the premature departure and contacted the intended recipient of the bottle. After exchanging the bomb for a genuine bottle of brandy, the fused bomb was defused without incident. Despite the failure, this attempt exemplifies the lengths to which German officers were willing to go to end the war.

The Suicide Mission of Rudolf von Gertsdorff

Rudolf von Gertsdorff, an officer in Hitler's entourage, volunteered to carry out a suicide bombing during a tour of captured Soviet flags and weaponry in Berlin. However, upon realizing the tight security, he devised a plan to carry the explosives on his person and detonate them as close to Hitler as possible.

Despite his best efforts to shadow Hitler, the Führer managed to leave the area after a few minutes, and Gertsdorff only had seconds to defuse the explosives in a nearby bathroom. This plan, while ingenious, ultimately failed to claim Hitler's life.

Conclusion

These assassination attempts against Adolf Hitler, though thwarted by various factors, serve as fascinating case studies in history. They not only highlight the determination of those who sought to bring down the Nazi regime but also underscore the complexity and desperation of the times.