User Reviews

This episode does not have as many laughs as others. But more importantly it tells some stories that are realistic. There are allied casualties. Mistakes are made by both sides.

The issue of the briefcase can be used as a teaching tool about the attempted assassination of 20 July 1944 by some of Hitler's own senior staff using a briefcase with a bomb inside.

The dialogue about the best minds in Germany working now to assassinate Hitler when they were the ones who put him in power in the first place is very telling.

Teaching about war is vital. From a useful historical take on the war this episode is one of the best.

Sometimes your greatest strength can be your greatest weakness. Writer Laurence Marks excelled at keeping the Heroes' capers plausible, portraying the Germans overall as a formidable foe, and injecting humor into the narrative. It was a tricky juggling act, and with "Operation Briefcase," Marks inevitably dropped a ball.

Make no mistake: the storyline is not only a weighty one efficiently told, it is rooted in fact. The Heroes, the intelligence and sabotage unit under Colonel Hogan operating covertly from Luft-Stalag 13 commanded by Colonel Klink, receive orders to deliver a briefcase bomb to turncoat German General Stauffen (Oscar Beregi) as part of a conspiracy to assassinate Adolf Hitler.

In July 1944, Oberst (Colonel) Claus von Stauffenberg planted a briefcase bomb at Hitler's staff meeting that wounded Hitler in the failed coup d'etat to wrest control of Nazi Germany from him; von Stauffenberg was executed quickly afterward as were nearly 5000 others eventually including national hero Field Marshal Erwin Rommel (who was allowed to commit suicide). (The 2008 movie "Valkyrie" attempts to dramatize this landmark event.)

Marks establishes the gravity of the operation right away. A courier is wounded and dies while delivering the briefcase to the Heroes. When he gives the briefcase to Stauffen, Hogan expresses approval of the plot but rebukes Stauffen for allowing Hitler to come to power in the first place. And when Sergeant Schultz inadvertently activates the timer bomb, the race is on to deactivate it before it (ahem) blows the operation.

Amidst such seriousness, the comic elements feel incongruous and contrived, such as Sergeant Carter's engaging a camp guard to help look for his "pet mouse Felix" as the distraction to enable Corporal LeBeau and Sergeant Kinchloe to slip Hogan the briefcase to give to Stauffen. Moreover, Marks uses his standard ploy of Hogan somehow persuading Klink to approve, condone, or ignore actions that would immediately arouse suspicion but are necessary to his operation, usually the weakest link in the Marks chain; this time, it is to allow him to accompany Schultz on the search for "escaped" POWs Carter and LeBeau let loose as part of the attempt to warn Stauffen about the now-live bomb.

Smartly executing Marks's typically polished script, director Gene Reynolds keeps the interest high and the action credible; nevertheless, he prompts the question that always hovers over the very premise of "Hogan's Heroes": How dramatic can a situation comedy get before it finally drops a ball?

Priceless episode when the unexpected happens, a Briefcase was sent from London, to Stalag 13, the agent died on action, even so Hogan gets the package, a couple of Nazi Officer arrived in the Pow camp, his assignment will be trade the Briefcase with one of them, actually inside has a device of a time bomb, the trade was made by the Hogan's skills, sadly in the morning the clumsy Schultz close the belt and active the timer, now another task force of Hogan's heroes start to turn off the bomb and the time is running fast, interesting see again the great Willard Sage as special guest on this episode!!!

Resume:

First watch: 2019 / How many: 1 / Source: DVD / Rating: 7

Hogan gets a important message from London concerning an agent code-named Hercules being drop by airplane with an important package. When approaching the Stalag, the agents plane is hit by flack and the agent seriously wounded. Before the agent dies he is able to say that the briefcase he is carrying is for General Stauffen who has contacted the Allies in an attempt to assassinate Hitler.

It just so happens that General Stauffen (Oscar Beregi) is making an inspection tour of Stalag 13. Hogan has to get with the General and exchange briefcases so the attempt can be carried out. But things do not always go as planned.

This was an nice drama but really lacked comedy that we expect from a TV sitcom. If you take the story and acting then you have a heck of a tale. If you are watching for comic value then you are disappointed. Overall this was a nice story--just was wanting more laughs.