There are many people who have speculated about what would have happened if Hitler had been assassinated 20 July, 1944. And it seems that not a whole lot different would have happened in the long run. However, few people know about let alone speculate about the what ifs involving an earlier assassination attempt against Hitler on 8 November, 1939. That day Hitler left the Bürgerbräukeller in Munich early after making his traditional speech on the anniversary of the Beer Hall Putsch of 1923. Hitler's early exit likely saved his life as 13 minutes after his exit a bomb planted by Georg Elser within a pillar only a few feet away from the podium that killed eight people and injured 63.

What if Hitler hadn't left the Bürgerbräukeller early that night, however? What if he had indeed been killed on this day?

To start off with Hitler would have been given a hero's burial, likely in Munich or Linz. Goering would have succeeded Hitler as stipulated by Hitler on September 1 of that year. Plans for the attack on France would have been well under way but would Goring have led them to a similar conquest of France as Hitler actually did? Goring was less than enthusiastic about the war at the beginning and was not confident his Luftwaffe could defeat the Allies. How would he have responded to having the ground and naval forces at his disposal as well? And how would the rest of the Nazi hierarchy take to having Goring as new Fuhrer? Would the Allies have been more willing to come to some sort of negotiated end to the war without requiring the unconditional surrender of Germany? Would events have ever led to an invasion of the Soviet Union, Germany's newfound ally?

I think there are many more interesting things to consider in this what if Hitler was assassinated scenario than the usual one that considers only the 20 July, 1944 attempt.