Valkyrie Tries, Fails, to Kill Hitler

Much ado has been made about "Valkyrie," starring Tom Cruise as would-be Hitler assassin Col. Claus von Stauffenberg.

There is the release date, which has been moved around several times until finally being set for Christmas, the perfect time for a feel-good movie about killing Nazis. There's the marketing of the film: Is it a historical thriller featuring Cruise in an eye patch, or is it a straight-up action picture full of explosions? And then, of course, there is the Cruise factor itself — the fact that his very presence adds a layer of tabloid-friendly fascination.

Turns out Cruise is both the central figure in "Valkyrie" and its weakest link. He's distractingly bad in this, the iconography of his celebrity so strongly overshadowing his performance. He's just too powerfully contemporary. With his hard, flat American accent, he stands out in every single scene. And he's not a good enough actor to immerse himself in this kind of period piece, or allow us to do the same. (Then again, if he had affected a German accent — or a British one to blend in among his co-stars — he would have invited derision for that, too. Maybe the guy just can't win.)

It's too bad, too, because "Valkyrie" looks great. With its impeccable production design and German locations — including the Bendlerblock in Berlin, where Operation Valkyrie began and where members of the anti-Nazi resistance were executed after it failed — it feels substantial, never CGI-fake, and it moves fluidly. No one ever doubted the ability of Bryan Singer, director of the first two "X-Men" movies, to make a solid, energetic actioner. But — and this is going to sound like more piling on — Cruise undermines the potential of "Valkyrie" at every turn.

He's outclassed and outmatched by every member of the strong supporting cast, any of whom would have been more believable as Stauffenberg: Kenneth Branagh, Tom Wilkinson, Terence Stamp and Bill Nighy as fellow German officers, even Eddie Izzard, who's a unique and unexpected choice.

Then again, the script from Christopher McQuarrie, who won an Academy Award for writing Singer's breakthrough film "The Usual Suspects," never fully fleshes out his motivations. (Nathan Alexander is a co-writer.) Stauffenberg is depicted as a loyal but wounded army officer who loves Germany yet finds himself increasingly horrified by Adolf Hitler's rise to power.

But we never get a sense of inner conflict, of the doubt he may have felt in betraying his duties, of the fear he may have faced in putting himself and his family in danger by going through with the plan. When Stauffenberg states with clenched-jawed, hushed certitude, "We have to kill Hitler," we'll just have to take his word for it that he feels strongly about the task he's about to lead.

He joins the German Resistance for the last of several failed plots to take out Hitler, scheduled for July 20, 1944. Stauffenberg was to plant a bomb and then head a regime change known as Operation Valkyrie, based on Hitler's own emergency plan to keep the government running in case of his death.

As we all know from the start, that didn't happen — Hitler killed himself a year later — and surprisingly, Singer never generates enough suspense to make us forget that as we're watching. The whole effort feels rather smoothly detached. The actual bomb-orchestration sequence is well-staged and has a few breathless moments, but a scene that's supposed to be pivotal and poignant — when Stauffenberg reluctantly thrusts his partially amputated arm in the air and declares "Heil Hitler!" — instead comes off as laughable.

"Valkyrie," a United Artists release, is rated PG-13 for violence and brief strong language. Running time: 120 minutes. One and a half stars out of four....

Christy Lemire, Associated Press

Say what you will about Tom Cruise’s acting in other movies; in "Valkyrie," which opened yesterday, he is awful. Amid British and European actors, Cruise stands out like a sore thumb. He doesn’t even attempt a German accent, his mannerisms are all from his "Jerry Maguire" era, and his earnestness suggests at best some kind of fictional American soldier trying to infiltrate the Luftwaffe. You knew it would be bad, and it is.

I’m more concerned that “Valkyrie” could represent a new trend in filmmaking: Nazi apologia. We know already what Valkyrie is about: a group of German soldiers who tried to assassinate Hitler in 1944 and failed. Cruise plays Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg—referred to in this film constantly as “Stauffenberg”—as if to make him sound less German or something.

On top of that, there is the matter of the uniforms and the set design. Suddenly, we have German officers in World War II who are not wearing arm bands. Their swastikas are now small tokens on chests of medals. They look more like airline pilots than Nazi soldiers. When they meet, it looks like they’re at a lovely retreat in the Adirondacks. Director Bryan Singer is so sparing with his Nazi flags, swastikas, etc that you’d think the Nazis hardly existed. What’s everyone so upset about anyway?....

Fox News

Tom Cruise, his reputation defamed, his career desperately in need of a makeover, has chosen as his comeback vehicle a film in which he plays a Nazi officer who tries to kill Hitler. C'mon, Tom, you're not making this easy on us. Couldn't you have gone with a story that would allow your character to, oh, I don't know, succeed?

Valkyrie is the film, nimbly directed by Bryan Singer (X-Men) and based on a true story about an elaborate, complicated, almost-successful assassination attempt that occurred in 1944. Cruise plays Nazi Col. Claus von Stauffenberg, who at the film's outset has already been sent to the North African front as punishment for his outspokenness against Hitler (although he must not have been too outspoken, since he's still alive). He's one of a growing number of officers who believe that, as he puts it, "We can serve Germany or the Fuhrer, but not both." Germany is losing the war under Hitler's direction; the only hope is to remove him from power, cut their losses, and make peace with the Allies.

Once Stauffenberg's opinions become known throughout the underground, he's brought into the inner circle of coup plotters, whose numbers include a lot of high-ranking German officers -- a lot more than you'd think a cabal could have and still remain secret. Unfortunately, with their similar uniforms, their matching British accents, and their near-universal middle-aged-white-maleness, it's hard to keep track of them all in the film, but they're led by Major-Gen. von Tresckow (Kenneth Branagh) and Gen. Beck (Terence Stamp), now retired from duty but still keenly interested in the future of Germany. Gen. Olbricht (Bill Nighy) is onboard but overly cautious; Gen. Fellgibel (Eddie Izzard) is a communications officer whose cooperation will be vital; and Gen. Fromm (Tom Wilkinson) -- by far the most interesting of the lot -- manages to endorse the plot without doing so openly, thus remaining sufficiently two-faced to save his own neck....

film.com

There are more... but why bother?

The RZM SS Wool Armband

In Nazi Germany, there existed a quixotic mixture of manufacturing firms. The textile industry was a large factor in Hitler's plan to re-vitalize his Third Reich. These consisted of industrial corporations, small regional companies and "Mom and Pop" shops. Even tailoring shops did a certain amount of manufacturing. Not only did they make uniforms, they often made shoulder straps, collar patches, and other cloth insignia as well.

The RZM mark found on Nazi State contracted goods, was the signet of quality control, proof of license, and an ominous warning for would be counterfeitors. It was a crime to have manufactured an unapproved state controlled item under Nazi law. To qualify for the license to produce a single RZM regulated item, a "Probe", or a proof item was required to be submitted to the RZM for inspection. This cap, badge, flag or other sample would then be approved if it met the standards of the RZM.



In Hitler's Germany, counterfeiting an RZM item, was dealt with in Criminal Court. Stealing from the state would be dealt with harshly. Controlled goods were not costly. Going into competition with government contracted industrial factories would not have been a profitable criminal enterprise when any company could try for an RZM approval.

This armband is an official government uniform accessory. It is manufactured to strict government design, and materials regulations. These are standardized official pieces of insignia. There are no significant variations of the wool black edged band in this grade. This is the "patented" model, inspected rigorously by the RZM and rejected immediately if not up to the standard defined by the design specifications.

This photo clearly illustrates the rayon grosgrain edge ribbon on 9 absolutely 100% original, Allgemeine SS RZM



Fine quality red melton, or doeskin wool badgecloth comprises the body of the armband. Note that the color is very consistent. An indication of strict uniformity control in a nation where there are dozens of variations of "Field Grey".

A 10 MM band of black artificial silk grosgrain rayon ribbon, is mounted on each edge of the face in the prescribed position. Unlike many armbands, the raw cut wool edge, is folded over and sewn over onto the front face of the body of the wool. The application of the black ribbon edge band, covers the raw edge of the wool and leaves a clean appearance on the interior.



The old saying "Exception to the rule", applies even in the rigid confines of the RZM regulations. Here is a veteran acquired example, which is up to spec in every respect save one. The border area is sewn over on the rear face of the wool, and the raw edge is exposed. It was worn, removed from a uniform, and is known to be original. I speculate that it was tailor made as part of an officer's uniforms order, and was applied during the assembly of the uniform. The lazy RZM approved tailor, apparently never applied the RZM tag either!



There is also an armband specifically said, to be for the Black Algemeine SS overcoat or mantel. It should closely resemble the black edged model but without the ribbon stripes themselves. In fact it will likely appear to be a wool Nazi Party or S.A. armband except for carrying a black cloth or black printed on white SS RZM tag, instead of the blue printed on white N.S.D.A.P. or S.A. tag.
The armbands are often found with either their cloth or paper inspection tag. The paper tags are often missing as they were applied with a simple adhesive glue. Use and cleaning, are the likely reason for those losses.



The color displays differently on computers. The best true example of the actual red used seems to be the red leaf of the Christmas flower, the poinsetta. Here is a picture of the leaf laying on the armband. I would classify it as blood red.

Note how the color is so similar despite different use, condition and soiling.


The Nazis were not playing around. Anybody, including an ss man, could get in a world of trouble, for not towing the official line at all times. It is unlikely an RZM item would either be non-standard, or counterfeit during that regime. Any anomaly would be noticed immediately on parade by a sharp eyed NCO during inspection and there would have been a terrific row and hell to pay. The pressure to conform, and the many levels of domination and submission, were unlike anything that collectors understand today.

There are some other patterns of SS armbands. Early ones were made before the standardization took place. Cotton examples exist. But as far as the black edged wool armband for Allgemeine SS formations, this article should supply you with a good working knowledge of what features should be present in a genuine article.

Charles Warriner, "The RZM Wool SS Armband", germanmilitariacollectibles.com, militaria blog, 2008

Instant Information, The Internet As Your Tool

I believe that one of the biggest issues regarding collecting, is having accurate knowledge. This allows collecting to be a satisfying and rewarding enterprise.

Before the internet existed, accurate specialized knowledge of German collectible items, was a very difficult thing to acquire.

In decades past, your data access, was limited to what you could manage to gather on any subject through the means available at that time. Searching library shelves for reference books, could not only be slow, but finding the exact photo, fact, or map might be nearly impossible.

Book stores had small amounts of general references on the subject of History and WW2. Used book stores had primarily softcover or "pocket editions" and the majority of information was text. What photos were found, were likely grainy black and white, and not very useful at all.

Films were often inaccurate (Hollywood!), or if original, were quick glimpses and flashes.

The massive number of lavishly illustrated specialized reference volumes, now coming to market almost daily, simply did not exist. Getting access to original materials in museums, archives, and libraries was always a costly and time consuming enterprise.

Locating and examining the actual objects, has always been a time consuming effort as well. Networking with other enthusiasts, supplied accumulated knowledge, however it also perpetrated many inaccuracies that survive to this very day! A base of accurate knowledge was hard to build up!

With the development of the new information technology however, information can be retrieved in an instant with a simple keyword query on search engines like Google or Yahoo. Multiple sources of very specific information, can quickly be compared in minutes. This gives a very good basis for reaching conclusions.

It can help a buyer discover the details about an item he finds interesting and intriguing. If he has little real knowledge, he can import a quick education, and insure he is not making a costly mistake. All it takes is doing those specialized searches, and reading through the resulting data. Of course one must still filter out the BS, but that is part of any work like this.

For a seller, it is a powerful tool. It helps him represent his item in the most accurate way. Text previously written expounding on the details of an object can be copied and edited to create a presentation that both informs and excites the buyer's interest. Even more importantly it gives both buyer and seller confidence the transaction is going to be a good experience.

I recently saw an ad for a WW2 M-1911 .45 Auto, Remington Rand Pistol, for sale. After examining the pictures and reading the text, I asked some specific questions. The answers I received by email, gave me no additional accurate information to aid in the decision making process. I felt from my own experience, the item was inaccurately described and priced. My impression was that the seller seemed to lack the inspiration, or perhaps a method to acquire and supply accurate data. This would not instill confidence for me, and would likely not in most thinking potential buyers.

Whether it is simple ignorance, assumption, or a determined attempt at deception, is NOT what I address here. I am definately not calling the motives of the seller into question.

My focus is on how simple it is to acquire accurate reference in a few moments. It is advice on how to create confidence, instead of doubt and possible mistrust. People often make assumptions about motives when money is involved, but not everybody has a level of expertise. It would make things more transparent, if all buyers and sellers make the effort to be more informed. I have handled and examined hundreds of these WW2 sidearms in the past 40 years. I decided to see what one single keyword image search on google would give me if I were a total novice. I typed this, "m-1911 remington .45 ww2" in the Data Box of Google, and then clicked for an image search. I find the old saying is true. A picture IS worth a thousand words. On the first page of Google search results, were these pictures of Government issued WW2 era manufactured .45 pistols.

So what did this 5 second effort accomplish? It gives an instant lesson.

Many other facts can readily be found in the search results, however a careful buyer would quickly note:

a. The WW2 issue .45 was finished in a matte Parkerized finish, not in a glossy bluing.

b. The WW2 grips are an injection molded resin compound with a distinctive pattern and color.

c. The edges and surfaces are sharply defined and very clean looking. This is clearly apparent even on the very worn example pictured.

The seller's pictures illustrated a pistol differing in many respects, from these very standard examples. Comparing these images, to the seller's photos would likely be enough to cause concern to potential buyer. This would hopefully motivate the buyer to expand his knowledge, by doing more research.

If the seller had made the same effort to acquire accurate data, relating to his $1500 item, he might have presented it differently. Information acquired by doing a search, would have allowed the seller to give more accurate and helpful service, when questions are asked by potential buyers.

You may wonder why I do not include photos of the pistol I refer to. The point of the article is not to indict some item or its owner. It is not to cause suspicion or drama. My mission here, is to add tools and creative thinking processes, to the skillset of all the involved buyers and sellers. If everyone operates more competently we all benefit from it.

Charles Warriner,"Instant Information, The Internet As Your Tool", germanmilitariacollectibles.com, militaria blog, 2008

Waffen-SS Foreign Legions

In the nineteenth and twentieth centuries it has become common practice to describe foreign contingents in national armies as legions. The choice of terminology is unfortunate, because foreign detachments have more in common with the Auxilia of ancient Rome, than with her legiones.

During the middle ages it was not uncommon for a state to hire units of foreign mercenaries, such as the Genoese crossbowmen or the Flemish hand-gunmen, for a specific campaign. Varangians and Scots were employed as royal bodyguards, and in the eighteenth century several European states employed foreign professionals from Switzerland, Germany, Scotland, and Ireland in permanent regiments. Today the only homogeneous units to survive are the Swiss Guard of the Vatican, and the Gurkhas.

At the beginning of the nineteenth century the term 'legion' came to be applied to detachments of emegre patriots seeking to free their country from foreign occupation; notable among these were Napoleon's Polish Lancers and the Hanoverian King's German Legion. During World War I, the term was also applied to units of Poles and Czechs seeking to attain national independence. During the Spanish Civil War, the International Brigades no longer fought for a country but for a political ideal.

Probably the most famous force of all is the French Foreign Legion, formed in the nineteenth century, and followed in this century by a Spanish Foreign Legion, which also still exists to this day. However, these legions form a permanent part of the armies of France and Spain and, unlike other foreign contingents, no attempt is made to segregate men by nationality.

The legions raised by the Waffen-SS during World War 2 had little in common with the Foreign Legions of France and Spain because the Germans attempted to organist ethnically homogeneous units. Nor were the German-raised legions intended as a permanent force, since they were formed for one purpose and one purpose only - the defeat of the Soviet Union. Had the war ended with German victory, the legions were to have been disbanded, their purpose having been served.

Since the war there has been a tendency to idealist and even romanticism the foreign contribution to the SS. A legend has arisen that the Germanic legions were a hand-picked body of magnificent specimens of Germanic manhood motivated by National Socialist ideals, and forged into an almost superhuman fighting force by the example and know-how of a hand-picked and dedicated team of SS instructors. It has even been suggested that the legionary movement against Communism was the precursor of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

There is no doubt that, at the beginning, a genuine attempt was made to select only the very best of the volunteers who applied to join the legions; criminals and idlers were rejected,and adventurers discouraged from applying. At the beginning of the war, the majority of Waffen-SS men were still the arrogant standard-bearers of National Socialism, and they reacted violently to the many foreign volunteers who were neither Nazis nor even particularly pro-German, and who showed a complete lack of interest and even disrespect for SS ideals and aims. This attitude was particularly prevalent in the Danish Freikorps.

Unlike the great colonial powers, Germany had few military men with the experience and aptitude for dealing with foreigners. As soon as the volunteers arrived at German training centres they began to complain about the unfriendly and even brutal attitude of the 'Prussian' SS instructors. These SS men were sickened by the sight of the SS uniform being worn by nationals of recently defeated and 'dishonoured' nations, while below the surface was the inbred soldier's contempt for traitors. Despite SS efforts to eliminate criminals, some wormed their way into the legions and offended the mass of honest working-class volunteers. Corruption among the SS existed and this led to mutual contempt.

The average volunteer was working class, apolitical, and if anything a little immature. Typical was the twenty-year-old Dutchman Gerardus Mooyman, who became the first Germanic volunteer to win the coveted Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. According to one of his comrades, Mooyman was not a particularly enthusiastic soldier, and on 13 February 1943 he was sulking in his dugout south of Lake Ilmen when the Soviets launched a tank attack on his position. Mooyman had almost to be dragged out by the ear by a German officer attached to the Dutch Legion. Mooyman then vented his fury on the Soviet tanks by knocking out thirteen of them before cooling off. Still alive today, he remembers with regret his youthful thirst for adventure, the sadness and shame of his devoutly Catholic family and friends when he donned the SS uniform, and the wasted years both during and after the war. Apart from the Knight's Cross, Mooyman's story is typical of a tragic generation which had not reached maturity when circumstances beyond its control obliged it to take sides. Having taken sides, those of this generation fought with varying degrees of courage in a terrible war and, like their victims, suffered untold hardships. But the greatest hardship of all was to return to one's country not as a hero but as a criminal.

Philip H. Buss and Andrew Mollo, "Hitler's Germanic Legions", MacDonald and Jane's Publishers Ltd., 1978

SS Visor Cap Eagle

Form II, 1936-1945

In early 1936 Hitler inspected and approved a new form of national emblem, especially designed for the SS. This eagle was sanctioned by a letter dated March 23, 1936 from the Chief of the SS-Hauptamt. This form remained in use until the end of the war and became the standard pattern replacing the earlier eagle insignia.

The first new SS national emblems were available beginning in April 1936 and were manufactured in silvered Cupal, a synthetic alloy (consult volume 3, page 36 for Cupal detail). An unauthorized neusilber version was manufactured by some manufacturers as a result of a misunderstanding of the regulations. One must note that the neusilber metal was no longer allowed for use in manufacturing from the summer of 1935.

Simultaneously with the Cupal version, the matte-grey aluminum eagle form appeared. The Cupal (or Coupal) version of the eagle officially was tobe worn by enlisted ranks as well as leaders with the Schwarze SS-Dienstmutze (black visored cap) the matte aluminum version was to be worn with the erdgraue und erdbraune SS-Dienstmutze (field-grey and earth-brown visored cap).

Two months later, in June 1936, the bright aluminum version was first mentioned in the Mbl.d.RZM and was to replace the earlier matte version. This light weight national emblem was for the most part worn by all personnel when they obtained the new insignia for any reason. The reverse was stamped with the RZM control number which was occasionally positioned At the edge of the wing.

Embroidered versions were not officially permitted for wear with the SS visored caps of the General-SS, but other forms were observed being worn, predominately being the 1936 political or army forms.

Higher SS-leaders often purchased better quality insignia even though this form was not strictly regulated. In fact, the Cupal version was an item of excellent quality.

The basic design of the new SS emblem consisted of an eagle with outstretched wings, staggered at the tips. The head of the eagle, faced to its left.The eagle clutches an oakleaf wreath enclosing a mobile or slanted embossed swastika. The wingspan is approximately 7.0cm and the height approximately 3.2cm. Its design remained unchanged through the years until the end of the war.

Many eagles manufactured during the war were of pot or zinc metals and of a slightly smaller size, measuring 6.7cm.

During the early war years, the SS national eagle emblem was also available in silver-painted aluminum, grey-painted cheaper light weight materials or of better quality silvered Cupal.

Wilhelm P.B.R. Saria, "Headgear of Hitler's Germany Vol.4", R.J. Bender Publishing, 2005

Bender-Publishing.com

Heer Tropical Tunics

Hearing Bone Twill Tunic

The drill uniform was first introduced on April 1, 1933. It was made of linen, which is made from the flax plant, with what is known as a herring bone weave, hence H.B.T. It was originally worn for barracks square drill duties, indoor duties, at the firing ranges and for basic combat training.

It came with and without bottom on-flapped patchpockets. The buttons could be removed by use of 'S' rings. No shoulder straps or eagle emblem were worn with the tunic. It was issued in a white or natural color.

As a result of favorable responses from the troops, on February 12, 1940, a more practical reed green uniform was issued and the tunic was soon being mass produced for the front troops. It was identical in cut and style as the wool field blouse and was worn with rank insignia, national emblem and for the N.C.O., tresse.

It had two flapped top and bottom pockets. The buttons were detachable but later pieces may have the buttons sewn on directly to the tunic. It was lined with a silklike material, possibly rayon, and had various reinforcement on the inside of the tunic.

The 1st model had four pleated pockets with pointed flaps. It was well made and differed from the tropical tunic in that it could be buttoned all the why to the top and had a hook and eye on the collar. It also had buttons on the inside of the collar for wearing a neck liner.

The second and third model tunics, though identical in design, went through the same pocket conversions as its tropical counterparts.

Front view of a herring bone twill first model tunic. The example is in prime condition with original eagle, collar tabs and N.C.O. tresse. It has pleated upper and lower pockets and a six button front. The breast eagle was applied above the pocket flaps, this being a distinction when compared to actual AK tunics.

J.R. Figueroa, "Tropical Uniforms of the German Army and Airforce in W.W.II", Author published, 1993