What if the July Bomb Plot to assassinate Hitler had succeeded?
...e bomb went off. He and Haeften flew back to Berlin, convinced that Hitler was dead. What Stauffenberg and Haeften didn't know was that after Stauffenberg had left the room, Colonel Hienz Brandt had accidentally kicked the briefcase, decided it was in the way, and moved it across the room - away from Hitler. Although Hitler was injured, he most certainly was not killed by the blast, although a stenographer was and several others were badly hurt. Hitler escaped with just cuts, bruises, and perforated eardrums. After this event, Hitler went on a rampage, executing everyone he thought might be involved. Stauffenberg and Haeften were among those arrested and shot - at midnight that same night. Eight others were hanged by piano-wire nooses. Their deaths were filmed for Hitler’s entertainment. He believed that God had spared him to avenge Germany on the world. He met with Mussolini later that same day even though he was wounded. The next few months were filled with purges, with the end result being that around 5,000 people were killed. About 15,000 others were sent to concentration camps. Most of them had nothing to do with the plot at all, but were generally anti-Nazi. Many were family members of the plotters. Some involved with the plot committed suicide. After the attempt, Hitler became even more obsessed with his heath. He had always been a hypochondriac, but now it was more acute. He took pills that his doctor had created himself contained hemlock. These slowly poisoned him, although he didn’t know. It was suggested that Rommel (the man who led the campaign in North Africa) had been involved. In fact he wasn’t; he had been approached about it, but had turned it down. He was given two options: either take poison and get a state funeral, or refuse and see his family executed as well. He chose to take the poison. He had the best ability to change Germany’s war outcomes, but he was gone. By July 1944 all hope of Germany winning the war was lost. Therefore, this incident probably would not have caused Germany to win the war by any means since they were so far behind. However, a few slight changes in circumstances could have enabled the plan to work, killing Hitler and dramatically changing history. If the meeting had taken place in the bunker as planned, the bomb would have been more effective because it was confined. The hut’s windows were open because of the heat, and it was flimsy wood anyway. If the bomb had gone off in the bunker, it would likely have killed everyone in the room, including Hitler. If Stauffenberg had done his research he might have realized this and made necessary alterations to his plan. For example, he could have waited until the next time he was called to a meeting with Hitler in a bunker. Or he could have taken greater precautions that the bomb was placed closer to Hitler in the hut. If Brandt had not moved the briefcase the bomb probably would have killed Hitler anyway, since it was such close range. Or if he had moved it someplace an equal or lesser distance from Hitler, it still would have been effective. If Hitler had died, al...