As the Allies began to make headway in their efforts to stop Hitler's march through Europe during World War 2, factions within the Nazi regime began to consider what was once unthinkable: toppling Hitler, installing a shadow government, and finding common ground with the enemy. The plan came to life on July 20, 1944 in Operation Valkyrie, an attempt on Hitler's life hatched by German Colonel Claus Von Stauffenberg. One of the most heroic and largely unknown episodes of World War 2, it is the subject of the new major motion picture "Valkyrie" starring Tom Cruise, and the aftermath of this failed attempt is captured in rare footage available on the most comprehensive military videos and military film archive on-line today, RealMilitaryFlix.com.
RealMilitaryFlix.com chronicles America's greatest conflicts through rare and unrivaled footage from World War 1 and World War 2, the Korean War, Vietnam, Desert Storm, and of course the military theatres U.S. forces are engaged in today. The site's ability to shed light on little known episodes like Operation Valkyrie makes it a wonderful educational tool for military enthusiasts, military veterans, and history buffs alike. Stauffenberg's assassination attempt, which involved planting a bomb in a briefcase during a conference the Fuhrer attended, resulted in the deaths of four people. The aftermath of the incident, in which Hitler sustained only a minor injury to his hand, was far worse.
Some 5,000 people were arrested and 200, including Stauffenberg, were executed. The aftermath of the failed assassination attempt is captured in an amazing, once classified German newsreel obtained by realMilitaryFlix.com. The translated newsreel, initially intended to assure the German citizenry that Hitler was in good health, shows the visibly shaken leader meeting with fellow Axis leader Benito Mussolini of Italy and greeting fellow dignitaries by shaking with his uninjured left hand. Seen today through the lens of history, it is a stark reminder of how the further destruction that lay ahead in World War 2 may have been prevented had Operation Valkyrie been successful.
A common thread running through all military conflicts are smaller storylines like the story of Operation Valkyrie whose success or failure shaped history as we know it today. The over 600 films available for free at RealMilitaryFlix.com provide safe passage and a comprehensive glimpse into military history's most important moments, both on the battlefield and behind the scenes.

John Corry is a former Combat Camera Officer in the US Air Force. With the permission of the US Department of Defense, Corry was able to collect hundreds of films and videos