Good Nazis?

 In the minds of simple men history often paints with broad strokes in a series of absolutes. There are good guys and bad guys and all is effectively black and white. Were one to mention the German Army of the 1930's and 40's the general consensus would be of mindless zealots following Hitler's ever order as if it were the infallible word of God himself.

           Adolph Hitler was a vile cancer born of German political apathy which almost killed the entire world. In Valkyrie, his latest and most important film role to date,  Tom Cruise brings to life a hero of the second world war who sadly most Americans have never heard of. His name was Colonel Claus von Staffenberg. Staffenberg lead a group of feild grade officers and generals in a failed assasination/coup which attempted to overthrow Hitlers government and dismantle the SS. 

         Staffenberg and his coconspirators attempted to place a bomb in a briefcase in one of Hitler's staff meetings and while the bomb did go off Hitler's wounds were superficial. Stafflenberg and his cohorts were tried for treason (which they openly admitted) and said that they would rather be remembered by history for having proven that not all Germans agreed with the Austrian despot who forever cast an ugly shadow and the fine people of Germany.

         While I'm not in the habit of writing film reviews I think anyone who does not take the fate of his country or world seriously should sit through this film. As it was once said: "Injustice occurs when good men do nothing."