Part 1
Since 1945, a significant question has loomed over the legacy of Adolf Hitler; did he die on April 30th of that year? It is widely accepted among leading historians, both inside and outside Germany, that Hitler committed suicide instinctively but, around the world, many people still ask if he and Eva Braun were able to escape and survive the war.
In May 1945 the Berlin bunker where Hitler and Braun had lived for more than 80 days was showered with bombs and bullets by the advancing Red Army. Both Hitler and Eva Braun are said to have taken their own lives in that bunker, by gunshot and cyanide poisoning.
Anton Joachimsthaler, historian and author of ‘Hitler’s Last Days: A History’, has no doubt as to the authenticity of Hitler’s suicide. Joachimsthaler’s research supports the versions of multiple witnesses in the bunker that afternoon, all of whom say they heard a gunshot, followed by Braun’s ingestion of cyanide. Historical records, including those of the Allied forces, record a dent caused by a bullet in the head of a corpse – the corpse believed to be Hitler.
A long history exists of speculation and claims that Hitler survived World War II, however, these claims are only based on rumor and are not supported by any reliable evidence. The Allied forces had an extensive intelligence gathering operation across Europe to find Hitler at the end of the war, as he was a crucial target in the war effort. It was clear from the volume of resources dedicated to the search for Hitler that belief was not that he had escaped but that he was in the bunker at the time of its destruction.
One of the most well-known claims of Hitler’s survival is found in the Konrads’ ‘Grey Wolf: The Escape of Adolf Hitler.’ Here, the authors claim that Hitler and Braun escaped to the southern tip of Argentina, using the know-how of German captains and a company called the Flug Hellwerks. While there is a preponderance of circumstantial evidence in Grey Wolf, there’s no real proof of the escape, despite decades of investigation.
In recent years, more evidence has come to light suggesting that – even if Hitler did escape – he didn’t live much longer than 1945. Videos and documents have emerged from Havana showing that Hitler spent some time there between mid-1945 and 1947, enjoying a quiet life and cultivating a white beard.
The emerging evidence is fascinating, and reinforces the likelihood that Hitler died in 1945, rather than escaping to the jungles of South America. But while the evidence suggests he died in 1945, the mystery of Hitler’s death continues to fascinate people across the world.
Part 2
The story of Hitler’s death has been the subject of debate and fascination for decades, often centering on the potential of Hitler escaping to Argentina. But while many of the claims behind Hitler’s potential escape have been discredited, it is important to remember how many knew of the plans to escape and why. The strategy of escape brings up several factors that could have prevented or hampered any successful escape plot.
Firstly, there is the issue of morale within the leaders and their men. There was a strong belief that Hitler should never have been allowed to flee, given the terrible crimes he had committed during his reign. This includes the harsh and oppressive regime suffered by many within Nazi Germany and other occupied territories. There would need to have been a large willingness to support a getaway plot amongst those closest to Hitler, from his personal staff to those in higher command.
Secondly, there would have been a number of practical difficulties. Although ports quickly reopened for Nazi personnel in areas around South America, the strait between Spain and North Africa would have been heavily patrolled by British and French forces – making Hitler’s journey there difficult. There were also issues, such as resources or aircraft, successfully reaching the designated locations and allowing Hitler to escape. Then, if he did make it to Argentina, there were further logistical problems facing those helping Hitler settle there, such as the potential of informants betraying the escape plot.
Thirdly, the effort required to get Hitler and Eva Braun out of the bunker and out of the city were significant, and would required a great deal of planning, coordination, and secrecy. It is likely that the conspiratorial plans could not have been communicated to many of those involved until very close to the time of departure.
These practical difficulties and the unwavering belief that Hitler should be held accountable for his crimes make a successful escape from Berlin unlikely. Any escape plan would have been subject to major risks and the successful confirmation of details, which the Allies could easily have foiled.
Part 3
Recent scholarship by authors, such as Professor Thomas Röder and Professor Peter Hoffmann, has suggested that Hitler escaped, along with hundreds of Nazi personnel, on secret U-boats in the weeks before Germany’s surrender. It is suggested that these U-boats were headed south towards Argentina or south-east towards Austria and the Balkans.
In his book, Professor Röder has argued that it is quite plausible that Hitler and Eva Braun were aboard one of these U-boats, and were never seen again. Evidence cited by Professor Röder includes a document from the National Archives’ Nuremberg Trials, which suggests the possibility of Hitler’s escape on a U-boat. However, this document is largely circumstantial and no material proof of an escape in this way has ever been presented.
It has also been suggested that some of the U-boats that left Germany in May 1945 may have been carrying passengers, in what was termed a “ghost fleet”. Some of these boats are believed to have sailed up to 4,000 nautical miles in time for the capitulation of Germany. If these boats indeed carried Hitler, it is likely that he would have died soon after the war, given his advanced age and health problems.
It is difficult to prove that Hitler did, or did not, escape using a U-boat. This lack of clarity over what happened means that the ghost fleet theory has gained traction in recent years, as some feel it could offer an explanation as to why Hitler was never found. Yet, without any concrete evidence to back up the theory, it remains largely speculative.
Part 4
In the very last days of the war, as the German forces began to retreat and Hitler holed up in his bunker, numerous rumors began to circulate that Hitler had escaped from Berlin. One of the most commonly circulated rumors at that time suggested that he had managed to flee to a tiny Alpine village of Obersalzberg, in Bavaria.
The rumors were born out of speculation of how Hitler had remained hidden throughout the end of the war, and suggested that he managed to escape to the mountains and forge a new identity amongst the local populace.
In its investigations into the rumor, the US Department of Justice also discovered that some people in the village believed they had seen Hitler or recognized him by his mustache. Others suggested they may have heard his speeches as he addressed the local villagers. However, all of these claims have been dismissed as folklore and have been mostly dispelled with the onset of DNA testing.
Modern analysis of the rumor has uncovered that, although it’s possible Hitler did stay in the village, his stay was much more likely to have been short and secretive. In later years, it became clear that the rumors had been spread by people loyal to Hitler, such as Joseph Goebbels, in an effort to protect his legacy by having him be associated with heroic survival.
It is, therefore, highly likely that Hitler did not, in fact, survive the war, but depending on your perspective, the idea of Adolf Hitler surviving to lead another life in the Bavarian Alps has remained an attractive prospect, and one which will likely never be put to rest.
