Character Relationship Map: The Plot to Kill Hitler

Characters

• Count Claus von Stauffenberg (played by Brad Davis) — protagonist

  Count Claus von Stauffenberg is the Army colonel who leads the conspiracy against Hitler. He plants a bomb in a briefcase at Hitler's battlefield headquarters, but the attack fails after the briefcase...

• Friedrich Olbricht (played by Michael Byrne) — supporting

  Friedrich Olbricht is a German general participating in the conspiracy to assassinate Hitler and seize control of the government. When the plot fails, he is arrested and tried with Stauffenberg, Beck,...

• Wilhelm Keitel (played by Kenneth Colley) — supporting

  A German military commander whose report to Friedrich Fromm changes the course of the coup attempt. Fromm speaks with Keitel and learns that Hitler survived the bombing, then confronts Stauffenberg an...

• Erwin Rommel (played by Helmut Griem) — supporting

  The commander under whom Stauffenberg serves in North Africa. Rommel tells him that he is being transferred to Berlin because the German position is collapsing and the war cannot be won. This conversa...

• Friedrich Fromm (played by Helmuth Lohner) — supporting

  A senior officer who approves Stauffenberg’s revisions to Operation Walküre, though his loyalty is uncertain. After learning from Wilhelm Keitel that Hitler survived, Fromm confronts Stauffenberg, cal...

• Adolf Hitler (played by Mike Gwilym) — minor

  Adolf Hitler is the target of the officers' assassination plot and the leader whose survival prevents their planned takeover of Germany. The bomb detonates at his headquarters, but he escapes unharmed...

Canonical Relationships

Family, romantic, and professional connections based on plot evidence.

• Adolf Hitler → Wilhelm Keitel (Power Leader And Military Subordinate) — Keitel's report confirms the survival of the leader targeted by the conspiracy.

  Keitel communicates to Fromm that Hitler survived the bombing at the Führer's headquarters.

• Count Claus von Stauffenberg → Erwin Rommel (Professional Commanding Officer) — Rommel commands Stauffenberg in North Africa and informs him of the transfer that takes him to Berlin.

  Stauffenberg serves under Rommel in North Africa, where Rommel tells him he is being transferred to Berlin.

• Friedrich Olbricht → Friedrich Fromm (Power Uncertain Conspiratorial Superiors) — Fromm's approval helps enable the conspirators' plan, but his loyalty is explicitly uncertain.

  Fromm approves revisions to Operation Walküre, the plan Olbricht and the conspirators intend to activate after the uprising.

• Count Claus von Stauffenberg → Friedrich Fromm (Professional Conspirator And Uncertain Superior) — Fromm initially enables the plan by approving its revisions, then turns against Stauffenberg when the assassination fails.

  Fromm approves Stauffenberg's revisions to Operation Walküre, but his loyalty remains uncertain. After learning Hitler survived, Fromm confronts Stauf...

Story Dynamics

Alliances, conflicts, and narrative interactions that evolve throughout the story.

• Count Claus von Stauffenberg → Wilhelm Keitel (Conflict Indirect Adversaries) — Keitel's report to Fromm helps trigger the collapse of Stauffenberg's attempted takeover.

  Keitel informs Fromm that Hitler survived, undermining the conspirators' belief that the assassination succeeded.

• Friedrich Fromm → Wilhelm Keitel (Narrative Source Of Confirmation) — Keitel's confirmation changes Fromm's understanding of the bombing and prompts his confrontation with Stauffenberg.

  Fromm speaks with Keitel and learns that Hitler survived the explosion.

• Count Claus von Stauffenberg → Friedrich Olbricht (Alliance Conspiracy Partners) — They coordinate the conspiracy's attempt to use the reserve army to take control of the capital.

  Stauffenberg joins the resistance network in Berlin, and after the bombing he presses Olbricht to activate Operation Walküre.

• Count Claus von Stauffenberg → Adolf Hitler (Conflict Assassination Target) — Stauffenberg personally carries out the bombing intended to kill Hitler, but Hitler survives.

  The conspirators consider killing Hitler, and Stauffenberg plants an explosive near him at the Führer's headquarters.

Story Analysis

Stauffenberg and fellow army conspirators attempt to kill Hitler and seize control using Operation Walküre, but Hitler's survival defeats the plan.

Plot Progression

1. Defeat and Transfer — Serving under Rommel in North Africa, Stauffenberg hears that the war cannot be won and is transferred to Berlin. His disillusionment with Hitler and the SS accompanies this change.
2. A Coup in Disguise — In Berlin, Stauffenberg joins Olbricht and other conspirators, who have support but lack coordination. They reshape Operation Walküre as cover for taking control, while Fromm's loyalty remains uncerta...
3. The Bombing Attempt — An alternative suicide attack falls through, and Stauffenberg decides to act because he can access Hitler. He prepares a bomb, travels to the headquarters, places it near Hitler, and leaves believing...
4. The Failed Takeover — Back in Berlin, Stauffenberg urges Olbricht to activate Walküre, but unclear reports initially cause hesitation. Orders begin after news that Hitler is supposedly dead; Keitel then confirms Hitler sur...