Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Operation: Valkyrie (2009 version)

The failure of Operation: Valkyrie could have been avoided if it happened in this day and age of cellphones and the internet. That was my realization after watching the movie. In the movie (spoiler alert!), Col. Claus von Stauffenberg (let's call him Claus), Tom Cruise's character, thought all along that the blast from the explosive he placed in the meeting Hitler called for killed the latter. As Claus saw the blast himself and he hurriedly escaped the location, he believed that Hitler was dead and immediately spread the word through telegrams as the phone lines were disconnected. It was actually uncanny watching how communication was that basic and slow before. It made me appreciate the technology we have now.

If only the internet was available at that time, Hitler's entourage might have been able to dispel the rumors in their government's website or sent e-mails that people could forward. If Claus had a cellphone, he might have been able to retract his statements and text brigade it to friends. but then, that wouldn't really make an interesting story and plot, would it?

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