Thursday, May 9, 2013

Hitler's Final Days

The atmosphere in the bunker during the last weeks of Hitler’s life was saturated with resentment, distrust, and accusations. On April 22, Hitler announced at his military conference that the war was lost and berated the men under his command for their cowardice, treachery, and incompetence. He also announced his intention to end his life and thus end his struggle.
The next day, Hitler had his commander-in-chief of the Luftwaffe in Germany, Herman Göring, arrested for high treason. The final blow, however, came two days before his death, when he was informed that Heinrich Himmler, someone who he believed was one of the most committed supporters of Nazism, had attempted to make peace negotiations with the Allies.
On April 29, Hitler married Eva Braun. Following the brief celebration, Hitler settled the terms of his last will and testament where he shed any responsibility of having had any part in causing the war and instead claimed international Jewry was the real culprit. In it he also set up the succeeding chain of command, naming Admiral Karl Dönitz his successor.
Finally on April 30, Hitler and his new wife committed suicide. She accomplished it by ingesting cyanide and Hitler by shooting himself through the mouth. The bodies were burned as Hitler had instructed.
Adolf Hitler and his wife Eva

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