The last days of 3 Reich Hitlergend. The last days of the Third Reich
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Chapter 7.
Hitler's death
When the background of Belov left the bunker, Hitler was already preparing for the final act of his plays. In the afternoon, another news from the outside world was delivered to the bunker: Mussolini was dead. The accomplice of Hitler's crimes, the Westness of Fascism, the first to show Hitler the possibility of establishing a dictatorship in modern Europe and ahead of him in the crash of illusions and defeat, clearly showed him now, what fate awaits defeated Tirana. Separated by partisans during a universal uprising in northern Italy Mussolini and his mistress Clara Petachci were executed, and their bodies are hanged at Milan's market square. The angry crowd beat their corpses and threw stones in them. If these details became known to Hitler and Eve Brown, they would repeat their death orders again: their bodies should be destroyed, "so that they are not left at all." "I do not want to get into the hands of the enemy who requires a new spectacle to distract its hysterical masses." In fact, it is incredible that the details of the execution of Mussolini and Petachchi be known to Hitler and strengthened it in the decision. The fate of overthrown despots at all times was the same; and Hitler, who called to hang the body of one Feld Marshal's body on a hook, like a carcass of a scored cow, did not need abstract historical examples in order to understand what fate would be waiting for his own corpse if it is found 223
People, the imagination of which is developed stronger than the memory, often claimed that the fate of Mussolini affected the decision of Hitler. In the story about a feast conversation of prisoners in Nuremberg, attributed to the main psychiatrist of the process and published in the hectare of Sunday Express on August 25, 1946, even quoted Gket's statement: "Do you remember what happened to Mussolini? We saw a photo on which he and his mistress were dead in the ditch, and then were hung upside down. They looked terribly! Hitler came to fury and began to shout: "This will never happen to me!" But one comparison of the date refutes this fiction. Gering last seen Hitler eight days before the death of Mussolini. Hering himself, being in prison, could see photos, Hitler - no. Such is the value of human evidence, however, a written story is often based.
Day Hitler ordered to kill his favorite Alsatian Shepherd Blondie. Professor Haaz, who was now wounded in his Berlin clinic, appeared in the bunker and poisoned the dog. Two other dogs who lived in the Imperial Office were shot by Feldwebel, who cared for them. After that, Hitler gave capsules with poison to his two secretaries so that they would take advantage of them in case of extreme need. He apologized for the fact that he could not give them the best farewell gift, praised for the courage and in an ordinary his manner added that he would like his generals to be as reliable as they 224
Indications Frau Jung.
In the evening, when the inhabitants of the two outer bunkers have dinner in an improvised dining room, arranged in the central passage of the furer bunker, was one of the Soviet security guards, which he said that the Führer wants to say goodbye to the ladies, and ordered no one to go to bed before receiving the order. About half of the third in the morning, this order was enrolled. Everyone was called by phone in the bunker and again gathered in the dining room - officers and women, just about twenty people. When everyone gathered, Hitler came out of their personal suites, accompanied by Borman. The look of Hitler was removed, the eyes glittered from the covered wet film, which was so colorfully described Hannah Ratch. Some of those present even decided that Hitler is under the influence of drugs; But such an explanation could not come to mind to those who were watching Hitler's day in his last days. Silently Hitler went through the aisle, shaking hands with women. Some of them spoke with him, but he either was silent in response, or washing something intense. On that day, the silent shy of the hands was ordinary for Hitler 225
Story Baroness von Varo.
When Hitler left, participants and witnesses of this strange scene discussing its meaning for some time. They agreed on the fact that only one thing could be the difference: the Führer is about to end the life of suicide. After that, something incredible happened in the bunker. It seemed that the bunker's inhabitants flew a heavy and dark cloud. The terrible sorcerer, a tyrant that filling their days by unbearable melodramatic tension will soon die, and in a brief moment of twilight, they will finally be able to play freely. In the dining room, where soldiers and orders were located, dancing went. When soldiers reported news, they did not think to stop their entertainment. Vestaya from the furer bunker ordered them to calm down, but the dances continued as nothing had happened. Tailor 226
IN. Muller.
He worked at Hitler's bet and now, together with the other hostage in the bunker, was terribly surprised when Brigadeführer Rattenhuber, Head of Police Guide Hitler and the SS General, cordially patted him on his shoulder and greeted him with a democratic familiarity. Accustomed to the strict hierarchy of the bunker, the tailor was extremely surprised. It was treated as if he was a senior officer. "For the first time I heard, as a high-ranking officer told me a good evening!" And I realized that the mood in the bunker had changed. " Then, from one of the soldiers, the tailor found out the cause of such a sudden and unexpected friendliness. Nothing erases the class differences as overall danger and overall relief.
Hitler was preparing for death, but in the bunker there was at least one person who thought about life at that time: Martin Borman. Although he could not force the German army to come to Berlin to save Hitler and his own, he would at least insist on revenge. Shortly after a farewell ceremony, at a quarter of fourth in the morning on April 30, Borman sent one of those telegrams, in which the nervous atmosphere, who reigned then in the bunker. The telegram was addressed to Dönitsa to Poisen. Borman did not trust the usual communication and sent a telegram through Gauletera Mecklenburg. Here is its maintenance:
"Dönitsa! We have a great conviction that divisions in the Berlin direction are inactive for several days. All messages that we get are controlled are delayed or distorted by Kaitel. We can generally be demolished with the outside world only through Kaitel. Führer orders you immediately and mercilessly to deal with traitors. Borman» 227
In the German text, the surname of Kaitel is replaced by its code name to Taylgauz.
In the postscriptum it was said: "Führer is alive and manages the defense of Berlin." These words in which there is no hint of the end approach - and, moreover, there is a denial of him, "suggest that Bormann even refused to admit that his power will end soon, or will depend on the other, less predictable source.
Later, at the same morning, everyday work began. As usual, generals with their military reports came to the bunker. Brigadefürer Monkey, a commandant of the office, reported to some improvement in the situation - the Germans managed to knock out Russians from the Silesian station. The rest of the situation remained the same. By noon, the situation has worsened again. The Russians captured the subway tunnel at the Friedrichstrasse station. The tunnel of "FosSstraße" was captured partially. The whole area of \u200b\u200bTirgarten was lost. Russians came close to Potsdamerplants and to the Weidendam Bridge through the spree. Hitler perceived these messages without any emotions. For about two hours a lunch was served him. Eva Brown was not with him. Obviously, she was not hungry or ate alone in her room. Hitler, as always, in the absence of Eve Brown dined in the society of two secretaries and the prov. The conversation was quite ordinary. Hitler was calm and did not talk about his intentions. Nevertheless, all preparations for the last ceremony were already over.
In the morning the security was ordered to stockday soldering, since during the day they will be prohibited from entering the bunker corridor. At Lunch Adjutant Hitler Shurmbannfür Günche ordered the personal shovel of Hitler Shurmbannfureruar Erich Campke to deliver 200 liters of gasoline to the garden of the Imperial Office. Keep relied that he would be difficult for him to find so much gasoline, but he was told that gasoline should be found. In the end, Campke managed to find 180 liters and send them to the Imperial Office. The soldiers brought them to the garden in the fifteenalistan canices and set an emergency exit from the bunker. One of the police guards demanded an explanation. He was told that gasoline is needed for the ventilation unit. The guards answered that they were not considered idiots, the ventilating unit operates on diesel fuel. At that moment, Hitler Heinz Linga appeared. He calmed down the guard, the presets began the conflict and dissolved people. Soon all the protection, except for the sentries, was removed from the Imperial Office and ordered during the day not to appear in it. The ceremony should not have to be unnecessary witnesses.
Meanwhile, Hitler ended up with dinner and let go of women. For some time, he was sitting at the table alone, and then came out of the apartments accompanied by Eve Brown, and repeated a farewell scene in which Borman, Goebbels, Burgdorf, Krebs, Hell, Nauman, Foss, Rattenhuber, Högl, Gyhhn, And four women - Frau Christian, Frau Jung, Freulein Kruger and Freulein Manzia. Magda Goebbels was not. She was very worried about the early death of children and spent the whole day with them in their room. Hitler and Eva Brown shook her hands and returned to their apartments. Only high-ranking Officers and those who had to complete the ceremony remained. These people waited for a call in the aisle. All others were dissolved. Then one shot rang out. After some time, officers entered the apartments. Hitler lay on the sofa impregnated with blood. He fired from a pistol to his mouth. Eva Brown was near Hitler on the sofa, too, dead. A gun lay next to her, but she did not take advantage of them, but he accepted poison. All this happened in half the fourth afternoon 228
The method of suicide chosen by Hitler and Eve Brown was equally told by Freulein Kruger and Frau Jung (from Günche) and Frau Christian (from the words of Ling), as well as other, who heard the description of death from the same sources. In addition, suicide method is described by Aksman, which personally examined the body. Keep, who endowed the corpse of Eva Brown from the bunker, did not notice the blood traces on it.
Soon after, Arthur Aksman, head of the Youth Organization Hitlergenda, arrived in the bunker. He was late for a farewell ceremony, but he was allowed at the Hitler's apartments to look at the dead. He examined them and stayed in the room for a few minutes, talking to Goebbels. Then Goebbels left, and Aksman has spent some time in a room with corpses. At this time, in the garden of the Imperial Office, the last preparations were made for the burial of the Viking rite.
By sending gasoline to the garden, Keep came to the bunker in a subterranean, connecting his apartment on Herman Goring Street with the building of the Imperial Office. Günche welcomed him with the words: "Chef is dead" 229
"Der Chef IST TOT". Hitler's personal servant called him "chief" ("Der Chef").
At this point, the doors of the Hitler's apartments opened, and Keep witnessed and participant in the burial.
While Axman was indulging in the contemplation of corpses, two SESSERS - one of them Linga - entered the room. They wrapped the Hitler's corpse into the blanket, covering the bloody split head, and carried it into the passage, where all those present immediately identified the Fuhrera on his black pants. Two other SESS officers raised the body along the four marches of the stairs to emergency exit, and from there to the garden. After that, Borman entered the room and raised the body of Eva Brown into his hands. Her death was cleaner, and did not need a blanket to cover wounds. Borman ruled the body into the passage and handed him to Campke, who brought him to the foot of the stairs. There, the corpse took Günche and handed it to the third SSEEC officer, who made the corpse into the garden. From precaution to avoid the appearance of uninvited witnesses, hurriedly locked the second door of the bunker leading to the imperial office, and some exits from the bunker to the garden.
Unfortunately, the most thorough precautions often turn out to be in vain; The direct result of these precautions was that two random people became involuntary witnesses of the scene, which they wanted from them. One of these witnesses was an employee of police protection, a certain Erich Mansfeld, on duty on a concrete tower, standing near the corner of the bunker. Through the smoke shoe, he noticed some strange thing from the entrance to the bunker, the slams of the closing doors and decided to find out what was the matter. Going along the screw staircase from the tower, he approached the emergency to leave the bunker, see what is happening there. On the porch, he encountered a funeral processing from the bunker. The first walked two SESS officers who were wrapped in a blanket corpse in black pants sticking out. For them, she walked another SS, carrying an uncomplicated corpse of Eve Brown. They followed the Posterkers - Borman, Burgdorf, Goebbels, Günche, Ling and Keep. Günche loud voice ordered Mansfeld to get away, and he, having time to see the forbidden, but intriguing scene, rose again on the tower 230
This episode was equally told by Keek and Mansfeld. Keep mentions the incident when the guard (that is, Mansfeld) faced the procession on the porch and was driven Günche. Some details of this incident were accidentally seen by Schwerman.
After this zaminka, the ritual was continued. Both corpses were put next to a few meters from the porch and had plenty of gasoline from the canister. The continued Russian shelling made the scene truly apocalyptic and very dangerous. Posterkers decided to get away from sin, hiding on the porch. Then Günche plunged the rag into gasoline, settled her and threw it on the corpses, who immediately disappeared from the sea of \u200b\u200bthe sea. The present stretched into the string and have tracked their Führer, and then descended into the bunker, where they went through their rooms. Günzha told about the ceremony to those who did not see her. He said that the burning of the body of Hitler was the most terrible experience in his life 231
The testimony of Freulein Kruger and Frau Jung.
Meanwhile, the scene of the burning of the bodies was observed another involuntary witness. They turned out to be another police guard, who also watched it precisely because of the precautionary measures taken. His name Herman Karnau. Karnau, like other security officers, not at that moment, duty was ordered by one of the officers of the SSEs escort to leave the bunker and go to the dining room of the Imperial Office. Karnau, after a short meditation, decided not to obey the order, but to return to the bunker. Returning, he discovered that the door was locked. Then Karnau went around the building and entered the garden to take advantage of emergency exit. Having reinked the tower on which Mansfeld stood in Karaul, Karnau was amazed, seeing two corpses lying next to each other near the pincher's porch. Almost at the same second, the corpses flared up with a bright flame. Karnau could not understand the reason for such a rapid fire. He did not see the man who settled the corpses, but he could guarantee that the fire was not a consequence of the shelling, as he himself was a few meters from the bodies broken. "Probably, someone threw a match from the porch," he suggested Karnau, and, in fact, it turned out to be right.
A few moments of Karnau looked at the burning corpses. It was easy to know, despite the fact that the head of Hitler was separated by a shot. The spectacle was "frozen to extremes," recalls Karnau. Then he descended into the bunker through an emergency exit. In the bunker, I collided with Nurmbannfür Franz Shedley, an officer of the Eschov escort. The minion was recently injected with a fragment of the shell in his leg. He was out of herself from grief. "Fuhrer is dead," he said, "and now burns on the street." Karnau helped him docking to his room.
Mansfeld, who was on the tower, also observed burning tel. Having risen on the tower after the Günche order, he saw a huge pillars of smoke rising through the ambrusura. When smoke scattered a little, Mansfeld was able to see the same bodies he saw, entering the bunker, burning with a bright flame. After all those present went, Mansfeld, not hiding, continued to observe. From time to time, the bunker went out by SS, and poured gasoline to the fire to support the burning. Some time later, Mansfeld changed the carnaau on the tower. He helped a comrade descend from the tower, and they together approached the burning corpses. The lower parts of both bodies are completely burned, and nude bones of the heads of Hitler have become visible. An hour later, Mansfeld again approached the fire. The bodies were still burning, although not a very high flame.
In the late afternoon, another police officer officer tried to consider the burning corpses closer. This man was called Hans Hofbek. Having risen along the steps from the bunker, he stopped on the porch, but he did not stay there for a long time. The unbearable smell of burned meat drove him away.
Late at night, Brigadefürer Rattenhuber, the head of police guard, came to the "dog bunker", where the guard rested, and turned to the scarf of the SSOs escort. Brigadeführer ordered him to appear to his commander of a master, pick up three reliable soldiers and bury the corpses. Soon after, Rattenhuber again appeared in the "dog bunker" and turned to the soldiers, taking a solemn oath with them to keep all that they saw and heard. For the disclosure of secrecy, the perpetrators will be immediately shot. Shortly before midnight, Mansfeld again took his post on the tower. Russian shells continued to fall on the imperial office, and the sky is that and it was illuminated by flash outbreaks. Mansfeld noticed that one of the funnel was noticeably corrected, and the bonfire was disappeared. There was no doubt that the funnel was used as a grave for burnt bodies. No projectile could leave such a smooth rectangle in the ground. At about the same time, Karnau, together with other police officers patrolled FosSstraße, and one of his comarants told him: "It is sad that any of the officers is not interested in what has become with the body of the Fuhrer. I am proud that one know where he is buried " 232
In his stories about the burning bodies, Karnau and Mansfeld agree in detail, but diverge in dates and time. Both are uncertainly called dates, but the dates specified by Mansfeld are confirmed by indirect facts, but Karnau is confused hopelessly. If you take the testimony of Mansfeld for the truth, then the bodies were set fire to about four hours of afternoon (it's almost exact time) and continued to burn in half the seventh. Rattenhuber gave an order about the burial "late at night", and they were buried about eleven wattime nights.
It's all that we know about the destruction of the remains of Hitler and Eva Brown. One of the secretaries Lingu later said that, as Hitler ordered, his body was burned until "nothing remains." But the possibility of such complete combustion in high degree Doubtful. Slowly burnt in the sand in the sand of 180 liters of gasoline could charging the body and evaporate from the tissues of all moisture, leaving only unrecognizable energic core. But at such a fire it is impossible to burn bones. But the bones were not found. Perhaps they were smashed and mixed with other bodies - the bodies of soldiers killed during the defense of the imperial office, and the FEGELIAN Body, also buried in the garden. Russian sovereign garden and found many such bodies there. Perhaps, if you believe the words attributed to Günche, the ashes were assembled into the casket and exported from the imperial office. But probably no sophisticated explanations are required. It is possible that the investigation was simply negligent. Investigators who have not seen the Hitler's service diary for five months could, all the more skipping deliberately hidden evidence. But what would be the explanations, Hitler achieved his: as Alarich, buried at the bottom of Busrento, a modern fighter of mankind will never be found too.
While watch and guard contemplated burning in the garden of the imperial office of the body, the high-ranking inhabitants of the bunker were engaged in more prosaic affairs. Betraying the body of fire and giving them the last honors, they returned to a safe basement to think about the future. Again, as after the goodbye of Hitler, it was the impression that the bunker was scattered, the oppressive cloud. The nightmare of ideological suppression disappeared, and, although the prospects were more than doubtful, nevertheless everyone was free to solve these problems in business. It seemed that from this point on, no one was cared for the past, and the more so calm the corpses in the courtyard. This episode remained in the past, and now, for a short time, still allotted by the inhabitants of the bunker, they had to solve their own problems. Yes, as the melancholic copped policeman noted, it was a sad sight: everyone had to do not care on the corpse of the Fuhrera.
The first testimony of the changed atmosphere in the bunker was noticed by secretaries who were not present at the ceremony, but now returned to their premises. Ling and Gynzhe told them the details of what happened, but not from these stories, women became clear that Hitler was dead. All those in the bunker smoked. During the life of the Fuhrer, smoking in the bunker was categorically prohibited. But now the strict teacher left, and the boys could put it off and violate all the rules. Under the soothing effect of nicotine, the absence of which probably increased the nervousness of the last week, people were finally seriously involved in the decision of the administrative problems left to Hitler's inheritance.
First, the problem of continuity. With the death of Hitler, the center of power automatically moved from the bunker to the distant bet of a new Fuhrer in Schleswig-Holstein. Bormanu was deadly to realize that after so many years unlimited power, when he gave orders on behalf of Hitler, he will lose all his privileges if Dönitsa does not approve him as a deputy party in the New Government. On the other hand, it was extremely unlikely that a copy of the Hitler's will is already at Dynitsa, which, therefore, still does not know not only about the death of Hitler, but also about his appointment by his successor. It is clear that the direct responsibility of Borman was to inform the new Fuhrera about these facts telegram. It is interesting to note the ambiguous way it was done.
Immediately after the death of Hitler, Bormarman sent the following telegram to Dönitsa:
"Grossadmilan Dönitsa. Instead of the former Reichs Marshal Gering Führer prescribes you, Mr. Grossadmilal, his successor. Written confirmation of your powers sent to you. You should take all measures that you consider necessary. Borman».
In the telegram, he was not mentioned that important fact that Hitler was already dead by that time. It seems that Borman wanted - albeit not for long - to extend his power, which he loved so much, but by which, according to the law, no longer possessed.
This telegram revealed the inhabitants of the Poben in a stupor. The appointment of the child was a complete surprise for him. Just two days ago, Dönitz inflicted his visit to Himmler and offered him all the best support, as the most likely to successor Hitler. Himmler at that moment seriously engaged in the formation of his future government. Now they have changed roles with herring. "Not Himmler, and Dönitsa!" - exclaimed the defeated Schwerin von Crod, who, as always, did not put on that horse, although his ingenious ability to survive guaranteed him a place in any government. Dönits himself was not only surprised, but also deadly scared. Among all Nazi Bons, he was the only one who did not cherish the hope of becoming a successor of Hitler. And now this appointment fell to him as snow on his head. Dönitz nervous, even having received just a post of commander of the army in the northern region; To receive the Borman telegrams, his well-being, as one source indicates 233
Julius Weitman, press referment at the maternity headquarters.
Surrounded by the maiden, it became even worse. Nevertheless, since it was the order of the Fuhrer, no one, and even more even Dönitsa, would not mind not to obey this order. There was no conspiracy, no problem. The rose bodyguard of the Himmler was nothing to do here, and Himmler himself, reluctantly abandoning his unfulfilled hopes, offered his service to Dynitsa, and Dönits himself also reluctantly accepted a serious responsibility and answered the telegram Führer, who was still alive:
"My Fuehrer! My loyalty can be left unconditional. I will do everything in my power to rescue you from Berlin. But if fate forces me to take the Raughter's Board's Brazda as your successor, then I will continue this war to the end, worthy of the unprecedented heroic struggle of the German people. Gross Admiral Dönits.».
What is the goal pursued by Borman, screaming the death of Hitler's death and at the same time bringing himself to the blessing of the child to take power? To talk about human motives - an ungrateful occupation, but in this case one thing is clear: Borman sought to get to the Poben. He has already figured out different options for this difficult journey. It is likely that he expected to become a muster, who personally delivers the news about the death of the Fuhrera. Thus, by reducing to a minimum, the period of his deposition from power, Borman, probably hoped, appearing at the Menni at the most decisive moment, maintain his authority and power.
The initial plan of Borman was in the group breakthrough through Russian positions, and all the inhabitants of the bunker were ordered to prepare for an attempt at such a breakthrough under the cover of the night. But such a breakthrough was very dangerous and could fail. Hitler has already announced such a breakthrough impossible on the eve when the situation was not so hopeless, and during the day another idea was one. Since Borman and Goebbels, due to the Hitler's will, were members of the new government, the Russian command could well recognize their status and, if they offer the capitulation, send Borman to Poisen to ratify the conditions of such surrender to Derinitsa. In this case, the Russians will send Borman to Poisen as a Plenipotentiary Diplomatic Representative, who will enter the new government and will take place one of the leaders of the New Reich. Such hopes seem ridiculous to us; But on the Nazi ship of fools there is nothing ridiculous. These hopes were no more ridiculous than the political plans of Himmler, Shellenberg, Ribbentrop, Schwerin Crysta von, who, without exception, allowed the possibility of the revival of the Nazi or semi-industrial state. Therefore, such a delusional idea did not seem ridiculous and Borman.
The project for establishing contacts and negotiations with the Russians was considered in detail at a long meeting in the evening of April 30. Him attended Borman, Goebbels, Krebs, Burgdorf and Axman; Perhaps also monk. With the Russian command contacted Radio and asked if the Marshal of Zhukov was a representative of the German command. The answer was positive, and General Krebs left at midnight from the bunker, driving with him a letter of Goebbels and Borman. Krebs was the most suitable emissary. Having worked for a long time at the military attache in Russia, he knew Russians and spoke in their tongue; He was known as a hot supporter of Russian-German friendship. Borman and Goebbels could hope to hopefully that Krebsi will meet in the Russian commander's rate as a person who once enjoyed Stalin himself 234
This happened in March 1941, during the wires of the Japanese Minister of Foreign Affairs Matsuoki from Moscow to Berlin. This case was told to me General Game, heard it from Krebs himself. In addition, this episode will be mentioned in the Diary of the Land. According to the Land, Stalin "In Russian, hugged him [Krebs] and said:" If we stay brothers, then nothing happens to us in the future. Take care that we continue to remain good friends. "
In his letter, Borman and Goebbels were notified by Zhukov about the death of Hitler and in confirmation of their rights to negotiations indicated what positions in the new government they were appointed in the will of the Führer. They authorized their parliamentary, General Krebs, negotiate a truce or temporary cease-fire in anticipation of the decisions of the Reich Springs 235
Indications Frau Christian and Freulein Kruger.
Throughout the night and the next morning, Goebbels and Bormarman were waiting for reports of the results of the trip Krebs to Zhukov. At eleven o'clock this message came, but it turned out to be unsatisfactory 236
According to the statement of Lieutenant Colonel Trojanovsky, the correspondent of the Russian army newspaper "Red Star", Zhukov, contacting Krebsu through General Chuikov, demanded unconditional surrender. Returning to the bunker, Krebs again was sent by Goebbels and Borman to Russian with consent to the capitulation, provided that their "government" would be recognized by the Russians. This condition was rejected, and Krebs finally returned to the bunker.
And now finally, Borman decided to inform the Mennie that his time was coming. But even this time, Borman did not clearly mention the telegram about the death of Hitler. This concise message has more concerned the position of the Borman himself. Telegram reading:
"Grossadmilan Dönitsa. The testament entered into force. I will join you as soon as I can. Before that, I recommend to refrain from any publications on this topic. Borman».
Dönitsa had to be satisfied with this short and not quite an exhaustive message.
At noon or a little later, Krebs returned to the bunker from Marshal Zhukov. The answer he brought was disappointing. Russians demanded unconditional and unconditional surrender and passing all the inhabitants of the bunker. There was no speech about a privileged status or a possible trip to Schleswig-Holstein. Another meeting was held in the bunker, and it was decided to send the Radiogram to the Russian Radiogram. There was only one alternative - a group breakthrough from the bunker.
The third and last telegram was sent to the fourth and last telegram in addition to the miser than Borman's stood. The telegram was signed by Goebbels this time. Having no political claims, Goebbels did not need, unlike Borman, in tricks and tricks; He could afford directness and frankness. Telegram text read:
"Grossadmilan Dönitsa.
Completely secret - urgently - transfer the addressee only with an officer.
Fuhrer died yesterday at 15.30. His will of April 29, you were appointed by the Reichsovisident, Reichs Minister Dr. Goebbels - Reichscanzler, Reichsleter Borman - Minister for Party Affairs, Reichs Minister Zeisss-Inquart - Minister of Foreign Affairs. By order of the Fuhrer, a copy of the will was sent to you, General Field Marshal Shernera and Munich, for storing and subsequent publication. Reichsleter Borman counts today to leave for you and inform about the situation. The time and form of the message in the press and in circulation to the troops are left at your discretion. Confirm receipt. Goebbels» 237
This telegram Dynitsa was sent only from Goebbels, but perhaps this is a mistake; Employman's encryption officer Edmund Kraft later showed that the signature of Borman was accidentally lowered, and the adjutant Dyennog Walter Ludda-Neratan in his book Regierung Doenitz (Göttingen, 1950), mentioning only Goebbels signature, writes that he could not claim full confidence that telegram It was not signed, in addition, and Borman.
Having received this telegram, Dönitsa not only took over the burden of responsibility, but also conjugate with the new appointment of the right, which provided for the right to accept or reject the advice of the ministers of the former government and the right to appoint members of the new government himself. He decided not to appoint the ministers of people imposed on him a telegram (for he never received, neither then, never later, full list Ministers specified in the will), and do not wait for the arrival of Borman to speak on the radio. At half past pm, the Hamburg Radio warned the German people that an important message will be transmitted now. Then, against the background of heroic motifs from the Wagner Opera and slow passages, the seventh symphony of Bruckner, a formal statement was followed by Hitler's death, until the end of the battlement with Bolshevism. At twenty minutes of the eleventh with the appeal to the German people, the Dönitsa himself, who announced the death of Hitler and his appointment. Fuhrer, said Grossadmiral, Pal "Today"; He died, "fighting ahead of the troops faithful to him." Both of these statements are false, for Hitler died "yesterday", and not "today", and since the maiden did not inform about how Gitler died, the statement of the new Fuhrer was pure water speculation. The first inaccuracy was probably just an error; The second is most likely intentional. If Dönitz knew and said that Hitler had committed suicide, then how would the troops for such a news respond? Would the soldiers and officers feel that the Führer betrayed them by throwing his post by freeing them with his desertion from the oath of loyalty? In any case, it was this that was the reaction of a collera and iodla on April 22, when Hitler announced his intention to reduce the scores with life, as well as the reaction of General Wadling. Waidling, as usual, arrived in the bunker, where he was told that "Führer did Harakiri"; After that, Waidling returned to his team point and freed his subordinates from the oath of loyalty to Hitler. As a new Führer, who considered an oath given his predecessor, is still valid 238
It was this point of view that Dönitsa adhered to her appeal to the German people in the evening of May 1. In connection with the lack of reliable communications, Dönits physically could not bring the army to a new oath to the loyalty to him.
Dönitsa could not allow such a development of events. If he was going to conduct successful negotiations on the separatist world with the West, he needed reliable support for the army, which would have strengthened his position in such negotiations. That is why, not knowing the real circumstances of the death of Hitler, he did not doubt a minute in the fact that the most reasonable would say that the Führer Fal Fal Fali.
Meanwhile, in the bunker, Borman and his colleagues planned the details of a mass breakthrough, which would have led everyone to salvation, and Borman himself would return to power. But it was not going to run away by all the inhabitants of the bunker. Among them were those who have lost hope and lost interest in life, those who, like the coldural, decided to meet death in the ruins of the Imperial Office. Among those inhabitants of the bunker was Goebbels. This decision was made long ago. He outlined him in the "add-on" to the political testament of Hitler. Goebbels's wife received from Hitler the last reward for loyalty, and now the hour has come. By sending your last telegram, Goebbels, together with his wife and children, returned to its apartments. Several friends visited them to say goodbye - Among them, Aksman and Keep. Then Goebbels began to prepare for death. This time there was no drama in the spirit of Wagner; Goebbels was not going to compete with the owner. As a tribal leader, Hitler had the right to spectacular, symbolic burial fire; But Goebbels, like a minor figure, was supposed to follow him not immediately and more modest. He again analyzed the situation and came to the conclusion that only emptiness can be the outcome, nothing. Self-destruction was the only faithful conclusion from the ideological nihilism of Goebbels. Children were poisoned in advance with the prepared poison. After that, in the evening, Goebbels caused his adjutant Gunter Schwgerman. "Schwerman," Goebbels told him, "the worst betrayal happened. The generals changed the Führer. Everything is lost. I have to die along with my wife and children. You will burn my corpse. Can you do it?" Schweherman promised, and Goebbels let him down, giving him a photo of Hitler in a silver frame that was standing at Goebbels on a writing desk. I said goodbye to the adjutant and Magda Goebbels. Then Schwgerman sent the chauffeur of Goebbels and one Escheza to extract gasoline for the funeral campfire. Yesterday's grotesque scene was to repeat, but in a less pompous scale. Shortly thereafter (approximately half of the ninth evening) Goebbels and his wife were held on Bunker to the exit. At the foot of the staircase emerging in the garden of the Imperial Office, they, without saying a word, passed by the adjutant of Schwgerman and the driver of Raha and went out into the garden. Immediately after that, there were two shots. When Rah and Schwerman climbed upstairs, they saw the trupes of Goebbels and his wife lying on Earth and standing next to the Sunsman who shot them. Obediently after fulfilling the last order, they poured the bodies with gasoline, set fire to them and left. Cremation was careless, and the Russians on the next day discovered these corpses only slightly charred - no one took care to bury them. Returning, Schweherman and Rahk faced Brigadefürer Monkey, who ordered them to set fire to the bunker. They poured the remains of gasoline in the conference room and set fire to it. It was nine o'clock in the evening when they left the furera bunker, after which there was a mass escape from the office 239
This story is based on the most part on the testimony of Schwgerman, supplemented by the testimony of Aksman and Kemp.
How did the Germans defended Germany in 1945? We decided to look at the defeat of the Third Reich, based on German sources, as well as on the research of Western historians with access to the fascist archives.
Preparation
Major General Alfred Weideman in the analytical article "Everyone in his post" brought the composition of the armed forces, which the third Reich was defended. According to him, "in July 1944, the armed forces had the following numbers: The current army is 4.4 million people, the army of the reserve - 2.5 million, the Navy - 0.8 million, 2 million, , SS troops - about 0.5 million people. In total, there were 10.2 million people under a gun. "
Alfred Weideman was confident that such a number of soldiers was quite enough to stop the Russians on the German border. Plus, on July 22, 1944, Hitler instructed Goebbels to conduct "total mobilization of resources for the needs of war", which was done. This made it possible to compensate for the losses of the Wehrmacht in the second half of 1944.
At the same time, under the patronage of the Nazi Party, the creation of a folksturma - narrow-engineering formations from the number of men who were not called to the army by age or diseases, as well as from adolescents and specialists with "reservation". These detachments were equated with the parts of the land army and subsequently defended Eastern Prussia. It was about a few million men who, according to Alfred Weideman, should have been "riding a cart through the mountain," to enhance the armed forces. "
Resistance line in Germany
The Nazis sought to cover the conquered territories, as well as their homeland an impregnable network of defensive structures. In the book "The fortification of World War II 1939-1945. III Reikh. Fortresses, dots, bunkers, bludges, defense lines, "written by military historians Kaufman J. E and Kaufman G. U., said that" Hitler created the most fortified country in the history of mankind. "
From East, Germany defended the "Pomeranian Val", the key fortresses of which were the city of Stolp, Rummilsburg, Neusthettin, Schnaydemul, Gdynia and Danzig. In the West in 1936-1940, Siegfried Line, 630 km long and 35-100 km deep. From defensive structures in the south, the Alpine Redout in the Bavarian Alps received the greatest fame. For the protection of its capital, the Germans erected three defensive rings, including directly in the center of Berlin. The city has formed nine sectors of defense, which included 400 reinforced concrete long-term structures and hex-storey bunkers in the ground.
German cities defense tactics
The defense tactics of German cities was built on the experience of preceding fights with the Red Army. German Military Theorist and Fabrist Eyka Middeldorf so described the methods of capturing by the Soviet units of fortified German settlements:
"Most often it happened in the prosecution of the retreating vermochet units with a sudden blow of tank groups with infantry landing. If it was not possible to capture the city, the Russians "they went with the flanks and the rear, they carried out systematic attacks or tried to master the night storm." The main task of the defendant parts was to prevent the dismemberment of circular defense into separate foci. That is why plans of support points thoroughly thought out. As a rule, battles have been introduced from well-trained and having anticata protection of structures. It was also prescribed to perform a sudden attack from ambushes at a low shooting range with immediate departure to the main positions.
Panic and Military Field Courts
Meanwhile, such a tactic that showed effectiveness in Russia in other occupied countries, in Germany gave failure. The victims among the peaceful German population, who were an inevitable companion of all wars, had demoralizing influence on the soldier of the Wehrmacht. "Sergeant Kurt saw a group of Russian soldiers who were hiding around the corner," recalls one of the defenders of Rummilsburg, "he ran in his back along the corridors of the long house and gave a queue from the room on the second floor. Two fell, and the third threw a grenade into the window. It is clear that the sergeant was not from newbies and immediately jumped out. But at the last moment he saw beautiful woman And three cute children who hid in the corner. The explosion of them in the shreds. In Poland, Kurt would not give this importance, but in Rummonsburg he almost came crazy. The next morning he surrendered. " Mobile military field courts began to operate such panic sentiment in Germany. "The first was sentenced to death and two hours later, the General, who was not blown away by the remune bridge. At least at least some glimpse, "Goebbels wrote on March 5, 1945.
Nazi media - the last sigh
The combat body of the National Socialist Movement of the Great Germany - the newspaper Völkischer Beobachter also told about it. As far as relevant, it says its penultimate number, released on April 20, 1945. The central article was called the "bounce of cowardly deserters in Munich was suppressed." In general, the fascist media tried to unwind the Germans around Hitler. In particular, the speeches of the same Goebbels about the role of the Fuhrera were regularly quoted. Even parallels between the leader of the Third Reich and Most High were held. "Who has the honor to participate in the leadership by our people, can consider their service to him as serving God." To raise the moral spirit, articles about Friedrich Great, as the symbol of German resistance, as well as with Paphos, described the exploits of the soldiers and officers of the Wehrmacht. Much said the roles of German women in the defense of Germany. "There is no doubt that, at the expense of one voluntary recruitment, we would never have been able to create such a huge army of female servicemen, the number of which has not yet been accurately established, - analyzing the publications of the German newspapers in 1944-1945, the West German public women's organization said. - Service obligations and national socialist legislation on the use of women's labor force made it possible if necessary to call women on military service In compulsory. " The third most popular theme in the German media of 1945 was the horrors of the Bolshevik occupation.
On April 30, 1945, Führer of Germany Adolf Hitler committed suicide in the FürgerBunker, which he did not leave in the last weeks of life. The Third Reich, who was proclaimed in 1933 and who had to exist a thousand years, only a few days survived his creator. Twilight Reich had a complete collapse of the state apparatus, the collapse of the army, the crowds of refugees, the suicide of some Leaders of the Reich and attempts to hide others. Life found out the picture of the last days of the Third Reich after the death of Hitler.
Twilight Reich
In the middle of April soviet troops Berlin operation begin, the purpose of which is the environment of the city and its capture. By this time, the Germans were already doomed, the Soviet troops had three-time superiority in the lively strength and aircraft and a five-time superiority in tanks. And this is not counting the allies on the Western Front. In addition, a significant part of the German forces was the division of the Volkssturma and Hitlergenda, consisting of the older people who were previously considered unsuitable for the service and adolescents.
By the beginning of the 20th, the threat of the final environment of Berlin arose. The last hope of the capital Reich was the 12th Army under the command of Walter Wreath. This army was formed in April literally from what was. The militias, reservists, cadets - all of them were reduced to the army, which was to save Berlin from the environment. By the time of the beginning Berlin Operation The army occupied his position on the Elbe against the Americans, since the Germans still did not know that they would not attack Berlin.
This army was given a big role in Hitler's plans, thanks to which almost all the remaining food reserves, ammunition and fuel were sent to this army, which caused damage to everyone else, and due to the confusion of the last days, it was already worth corrected. Cornelius Ryan wrote: "It was all here: from parts of airplanes, to butter. A few miles from a wreath on the Eastern Front Tanks Background of MandiFhel stopped due to the deficit of fuel, and wreath almost flooded with fuel. He reported to Berlin, but not It was taken any measures to take out surplus. No one has confirmed that he received his reports. "
Attempts to stop the environment of Berlin fell. Everything that the 12th Army remained is to help evacuation civilian population. Berlin residents left the city before the coming soviet army. The location of the 12th army wreath turned into a huge refugee camp. With the help of the army wreath to the West, it was possible to move about 250 thousand civilians. Together with refugees in American captivity, the soldiers of the army were also shipped. On May 7, by completing the crossing, Venk himself surrendered to the Americans.
Suicide Fuhrera
In the last month of life, Hitler did not leave his bunker, where he was still in relative security. But all his surroundings were already obvious that the war was played. It was probably understood this and Hitler himself, whose faith in the fact that the situation can still be changed, was rather an attempt to escape from reality into the world of illusions. The situation in April 1945 was very different from the situation of a four-year limit, when the German troops stood near Moscow. Then Moscow had a huge territory, abundant resources to replenish the army evacuated in the rear plants, and the war would not end with the taking of the Soviet capital and would last a long time. Now the situation was hopeless, allies came from the West, from the East - the Soviet Army. All of them had an overwhelming advantage over the Wehrmacht not only quantitatively, but also by armament. They had more tanks, artillery guns, airplanes, fuel, ammunition. The Germans lost their industry, the factories were either destroyed by bombing from the air, or captured as a result of the offensive. Division was some kind of replenishing - had to call on old men, patients and adolescents, even those who used to be released from service.
Hitler was waiting for a miracle, and it seemed to him, it happened. April 12, the American President Roosevelt died. Hitler perceived it as a "miracle of the Brandenburg House", when the Russian Empress Elizaveta Petrovna died during the seven-year war, and the new emperor Peter III I stopped a well-folding war and saved the Prussian King Friedrich from the defeat. However, with the death of Roosevelt, nothing happened, and the joy of Hitler after a few hours was overshadowed by a fall in Vienna.
On April 20, at his last birthday, Hitler was the last time left his bunker, rising to the Reichskancellery courtyard, where adolescents were awarded from Hitlergenda and picked up them. Hitler feverishly gives orders about the offensive, but they are not fulfilled, the army, with great difficulty holding defense, there are no resources for the offensive, but Hitler does not speak about it to finally not to bring it out of mental equilibrium.
Only on April 22, he finally admits that the war was played. The environment persuades the Fuhrer to move to Bavaria and turn it into the resistance center, but it categorically refuses. Strict discipline in the bunker drops. All smoke, not paying attention to Hitler, who hated tobacco smoke and always forbade smoking in his presence.
On the night of April 23, Hitler will receive a telegram from Gering from Bavaria, which he perceives as an attempt to remove from affairs and capture power. Hitler deprives Gering all awards, ranks and powers and orders to arrest.
On April 28, Hitler removes Himmler from all posts after Western media reports the secret attempts to Himmler to establish contacts for negotiations with Western allies.
On April 29, Hitler leaves the will, in which the list of new government, which should be saved Germany after the death of the Fuhrera. This government does not include Himmler and Gering. The Reich Supposition is appointed by Grosçadmiral Denitz, Reichskanzler - Goebbels, Minister of Party, Borman. On the same day, he performs the official marriage ceremony with Eve Brown.
The next day, after that, when Soviet troops were already a few kilometers from the bunker, Hitler committed suicide. After that, the closest entourage of Hitler - secretaries, cooks, adjutants - left the Fürterbunker and scattered in Berlin almost captured by the Soviet troops.
Cabinet Goebbels and Framing Attempts
Cabinet Goebbels, appointed by the Hitler's testa, existed only one day. A few hours after the death of Hitler, Goebbels took an attempt to negotiate with the upcoming Soviet troops and requested the cease-fire. The location of the 8th Soviet army was sent parliamentary - Head of the General Staff ground Forces General Hans Krebs.
Before the war, Krebs served as an assistant to the military attache of Germany in the Soviet Union and learned Russian well. In addition, he personally knew many Soviet generals. For these two reasons, he was appointed by the parliamentant and the negotiators. Krebs told the commander of the Army Marshal Chuikov that Hitler had committed suicide and in Germany now a new leadership, which is ready to start peaceful negotiations. A truce offer was dictated by Goebbels themselves.
Chuikov reported on the German offer in the bet. From Stalin, a categorical answer came: There will be no negotiations, only unconditional capitulation. The German side was given a few hours on meditation, after which, in the event of a refusal, the offensive was resumed.
Having learned about the Soviet Ultimatum, Goebbels handed over his powers to Denitsa, after which, with the help of the Reichskancellery, Kuntsy kuntsy killed his six children and committed suicide with her wife. At the same time, the General Krebs committed with him.
Saw together who can
But far from all high-ranking Reich figures found courage to go to the bottom along with a sinking ship. Heinrich Himmler, who was once a second person in the state, but in the last days of Hitler's life, he caught in Opal, tried to get into the government of Denitz, hoping that it would soften his fate. But Denitz perfectly understood that the Himmler had long compromised himself so much that his inclusion in the composition albeit virtual, but the government would only worsen the situation.
Having received a refusal, Himmler Besle to the bottom. He got a university Officer's university and a passport in the name of Henrich Hitzinger, tied one eye by a bandage and a company with several people from the nearest environment tried to get into Denmark.
Three weeks they walked around in Germany, hiding from patrols until May 21 were arrested by Soviet soldiers. They did not even suspect that they were arrested by Himmler, they simply detained a group of German military with suspicious documents and sent them to the national camp to the British on the audit. Already in the camp, Himmler unexpectedly reported his real person. He began to be searched, but he managed to launch an ampoule with poison.
Martin Borman, appointed by Hitler's testament by the Minister of Party, in the evening of May 1, together with Hitler's pilot Bair, the head of Hitlergenda Aksman and the doctor Stamphegger left the bunker to break through from Berlin and go away in the direction of allies. Hiding behind the tank, they tried to move through the bridge through the spree, but the tank was bridged with artillery and the borman was injured. In the end, they managed to move and head to the railway station towards the station. On the way, Aksman lost Borman and Stampfegger from the species, but, stumbled upon the Soviet patrol, returned back and found that both of them are already dead.
However, the testimony of Axman did not believe in court, and the Nuremberg tribunal judged Borman in absentia. In the press, this and case reported sensational facts that Borman was seen in various Latin American countries. That matter, various conspiramic versions appeared: the Borman was helped by the British special services and he lives in Latin America, Borman turned out to be a Soviet agent and lives in Moscow. For information on the location of the Nazi functionar, award was appointed in the amount of 100 thousand brands.
At the beginning of the 60s, one resident of Berlin said that in early May 1945 he ordered soviet soldiers Participated in the disposal of several bodies found on the bridge through the spree, and one of the dead had documents for the name of Stampfegg. He even pointed out the burial place, but during the excavations there were nothing
Everyone considered him a hunter in five minutes of glory, but in a few years during construction work, literally a few meters from the excavation was really detected burial. According to several characteristic injuries, one of the skeletons was identified as a skeleton of Borman, but many did not believe in this and continued to build the theories of his wonderful salvation.
The end in this story was delivered only in the 90s, with the development of technologies. DNA test unequivocally confirmed that in this unnamed grave Borman was buried.
Goering for several days remained under house arrest after a gap with Hitler, but against the background of the universal collapse, the SS squad simply stopped guarding him. Goering did not shoot either to hide and calmly waited for the coming of Americans who surrendered.
Flensburg Government
May 2 Berlin Pal. The city was finally conquered by the Red Army. In some houses, the most fanatical of the Germans were still shooting, but the city was already under control, and the garrison capitulated. By this moment, under the control of Denitz, who became the new head of the Reich, there were scattered and cut off the blocks of territories that did not have messages with each other. In the town of Flensburg, located near the Danish border, there is a latter in the history of the Third Reich, the government is already virtual. It was called in the city, which was based on Flensburg. It was located in the building naval school. Denitz himself shaped him, having raised not to take active Nazi functionaries. The Chief Minister (analogue of the Prime Minister) was appointed Count Ludwig Schwerin von Crosig - the grand-nephew of the wife of Charles Marx.
Since there was nothing to manage and de facto government power extended only to Flensburg himself and its surroundings, it remained only to try to conclude as much as possible world or at least pull the time that parts of the Wehrmacht retreated into the western zone and surrendered to allies, and not Soviet army.
On the night for the second of May, Denitz performed with the challenge to the Germans, in which the Führer died heroically and bequeathed the Germans to fight for the sake of salvation in Germany. Denitz himself, meanwhile, sent Admiral Friedeburg to the location of the Allies with a proposal for the world. Denitz believed that they would be more conspirasive than the Soviet representatives. As a result, Friedeburg signed the capitulation of all German parts in Holland, Denmark and North-West Germany.
Eisenhuer, however, quickly solved the tricky plan of German negotiating, under various pretexts with a total surrender and surrendered in parts: pull the time so that as much as possible parts of the Wehrmacht surrendered to the Western allies. Not wanting to listen to reproaches from the highest bosses, Eisenhower announced the German side that if they immediately do not sign a unconditional surrender, he closes the West Front and allied troops will no longer take the Germans in captivity and take refugees.
On May 7, an act of unconditional surrender was signed at the allied headquarters. However, these actions caused resentment from Stalin, although they took place in the presence of the Soviet representative. It turned out that the Germans were not capitulated before the scent and seized Berlin by the Soviet army, but before the Americans. And the USSR is like not what. So, passed by. In addition, the capitulation was adopted by headquarters headquarters, and not by the Supreme Command, which deprived her solemnity.
Therefore, Stalin demanded a reconciliation of surrender in Berlin. Allies went to meet him. Western reporters were forbidden to report on May 7 of the capitulation, and the news already surrendered in the news agency was announced by erroneous. The signing of the surrender was announced by the "preliminary act", which will be confirmed in Berlin the next day.
On May 8, now in Soviet territory in Berlin, a German capitulation was again signed, which became official. Because it happened late in the evening, Moscow time due to the difference of time zones was already on May 9, which was the official day of Victory.
The Flensburg Government continued to exist in the inertia for several days, although in fact it did not manage anything. Neither allies nor the Soviet side after signing unconditionally surrenders were recognized for the government no authority. On May 23, Eisenhower announced the dissolution of the government and the arrest of his members. The German state has ceased to exist for several years.
We all celebrate the Day of Victory on May 9, but most absolutely not thinking about this date established by the decree of the USSR Supreme Soviet of May 8:
It turned out such due to the difference between Moscow and the Middle Eastern time, but we will not run forward.
Already at the end of April, Reich's days were considered, the Soviet troops took Berlin and all who in the head remained something except fanatism only about how to surrender to surrender. In principle, you can choose almost any date of commencement of the end of the fascist empire, but the best way For this, fits on April 28, 1945.
On this day, the Italian partisans shot Mussolini, and Himmler:
"Mounted Communication with the head of the Swedish Red Cross Society by Count Folk Bernadott for negotiations with Western powers about the Separate world. Himmler informed Count Bernadott that the Führer was blocked in Berlin and also suffers from brain violations." (C)
Reported the British news agency Raiter. With Hitler's head, at that time, it was really so-so, until Henrich Himmler, he could not get and shot his representative in the stake - his own mother-in-law of the Mr. German FEGELYIN.
Fegelyn was in love with Eve Brown, although he was married to her younger sister, on the night of April 28, he offered her to flee from the departed Berlin, but she refused. The next day, FEGELYIN was arrested in his apartment and there was some "red-haired woman" in her, Eva Brown learned about it and immediately told Hitler about the night conversation. FEGELYIN was shot in the garden of the Imperial Office. A few days later, his legitimate wife, Grethel Brown gave birth to a girl, which was ironically called Eveva.
This "insanely romantic story" would not have a big historical value if it had not been deprived of Himmler's deprivation of all powers and a "political will" signed by Hitler on April 29, at four o'clock in the morning. Hitler appointed Dr. Paul Josef Goebbels with his successor as Chancellor of Germany.
On May 1, Göbbels decided to enter into negotiations with the Soviet troops, which were already 200 meters away from him and suggested them ... a truce. The USSR demanded not a "truce", but a "complete unconditional surrender". Göbbels abandoned this and committed suicide, grabbing his wife and six children to the light. At 18.00, Soviet troops continued to the assault and on May 2, "unconditional surrender" was obtained, it was signed at 6 o'clock in the morning, the Vaidling Artillery General.
At the same time, since April 30, the actual leader of Reich became Karl Dönits-Commander-in-Chief of the Sea Fleet. Dönitsa on May 2 published "appealing to the German people":
German men and women, the soldiers of the German Wehrmacht! Our Führer Adolf Hitler died. In the deepest grief and respect the German people tends. He learned the terrible danger of Bolshevism in advance and dedicated his life to this struggle. At the end of this struggle and his unshakable straight life path His heroic death in the capital Hermann Empire. His life was the only service for Germany. Moreover, his participation in the fight against the Bolshevik storm tide concerned Europe and the entire cultural world.
Führer defined me as his successor. In awareness of responsibility, I accept the leadership of the German people in this fatal hour. My first task is the salvation of the Germans from the destruction of the Bolshevik enemy moving forward. The armed struggle will continue only for this purpose. If until the achievement of this goal is hampered by the British and Americans, we will have to continue to defend and fight also against them. The Anglo-Americans in this case continue to war more not for their own peoples, but only to spread Bolshevism in Europe.
The fact that the German people fighting, committed in the battles of this war and suffered homeless, has no analogues in history. In the days of the upcoming disasters of our people, I will strive to create our brave women, men and children, as far as it will be in my power, acceptable living conditions.
For all this I need your help! Remit me your trust, as your way is also my way! Maintain order and discipline in the thorough and village! Let everyone in its place performs his duty! Only, we will soften the suffering that will bring every of us the coming years, and we can prevent collapse. If we do what in our power, the Lord God will also not leave us after such a big grief and victims.
Gross Admiral Dönitsa.
Berlin, 1945.
Fuhrer headquarters
("Kiel newspaper", Wednesday, May 2, 1945)
Himmler tried to enter the Government of the Mennie, but he was sent far and for a long time, after which he fled to Denmark, where he gave up and poisoned.
On May 4, Admiral Fleet Hans-Georg Friedeburg, newly appointed by the Commander-in-Chief of the German Navy, signed an act of the surrender of all German Armed Forces in Holland, Denmark, Schleswig-Holstein and North-West Germany in front of the 21st group of Army Feldmarshal B. Montgomery.
On May 5, in front of the American General D. Demis capitulated General of the infantry general F. Schulz, who commanded the group of the army "G", operating in Bavaria and Western Austria.
The representative of Dyñnie Alfred Yoodel signed on May 7 in Reims "Act of Capitulation of Germany", and on May 8, at the request of the USSR, his representative Field Marshal Keitel re-signed the "act of unconditional surrender". Both documents entered into force in 23.01 in the Middle Easternative time on May 8, 1945. This is 1.01 May 9, 1945 in Moscow. That is why we celebrate the Victory Day on May 9th.
The fate of all surviving participants of these events has developed in different ways: Yoodel and Kaitel hung at the sentence of the Nurenberg Tribunal, Dönitsa served 10 years and died by his death aged 89 years.
With the signing of acts to surrender war on the Eastern Front ended on paper, but after that, some parts of the Wehrmacht and SS continued to resist. Read more I will talk about it in the next post.
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Preface
Ten years have passed since the book was written. During this time, the fog scattered over the second world war over the Secrets of the Second World War, and the others became more thick. New books and articles in which old judgments changed or challenged were written. But no new revelation has changed the history of the last ten days of Hitler's life, the story in the form, in which she was reconstructed me in 1945 and published in 1947. For this reason, I do not see any reason to correct the text of the book in this new edition, except, of course, minor corrections, inevitable with any reprint. Undoubtedly, I could insert some additions to different places of text, but because there are no errors to be able to unconditional correction in the book, and there are no spaces that would have to be filled, I decided to follow the wise example of Pontius Pilate: what I wrote, I wrote.
I considered that any book, worthy of reissue, should carry an imprint of time to which she was written. All new comments that came to my head, I posted in substitution notes and in this preface. In this preface, I will try to make two things. First, I will describe my research in detail, which led to the writing of the book. Secondly, summoning some data that appeared after the release of the first edition, the data that, without changing the essence of the whole history, can shed light into some circumstances and the facts of the last days of Hitler.
In September 1945, the circumstances of the death or disappearance of Hitler for five months were shrouded in impenetrable darkness of mystery. The great set of versions of his death or his escape was made public. Some argued that he was killed in the battle, others said that he was killed by German officers in Tirgar'an. Many believed that he ran - on the plane or on a submarine - and settled either on a foggy island in the Baltic Sea, or in the mountain fortress in Rhineland; According to other information, he disappeared or in the Spanish monastery, or on the South American ranch. There were people who thought that Hitler was hidden in the mountains of Albania, among friendly robbers. Russians who have had the most reliable information about the fate of Hitler, preferred to pump uncertainty. At first they declared Hitler dead, then this statement was refuted. Later, the Russians announced the discovery of Hitler's bodies and Eva Brown, identified by teeth. After that, the Russians accused the British in the fact that they hid Eva Brown, and possibly Hitler in his occupation zone. It is after this that the management of British intelligence in Germany, finding that all this hoax creates unnecessary difficulties, decided to collect all the data and finally find out the truth if it turns out possible. The fulfillment of this task was entrusted to me. In the British zone, I was provided with all the necessary powers, and the American authorities in Frankfurt were provided with all the materials on this issue at my disposal at my disposal. I was allowed to interrogate the prisoners, and, moreover, the Americans provided me with support from their counterintelligence.
What was the condition of the case at that time? The only authoritative testimony of Hitler's death was the speech on the radio Admiral Mennie, with whom he turned to the German people in the evening on May 1, 1945. In his speech, Dönitz announced that Hitler died in Berlin during the day of May 1, fighting at the head of the troops faithful to him. At that time, the statement was found reliable in purely practical considerations. The guitler's death note was printed in Times the next day. Mr. De Valera visited the German ambassador in Dublin and expressed his condolences, and Hitler's name (unlike the name of Bormann, who did not have any statements about the fate of whose fate) was dealt with the list of war criminals who had to appear before the court in Nuremberg. On the other hand, to believe the message of the maiden was by no more reason than some other allegations. Dynetni's statement was confirmed by a certain Dr. Karl Heinen Spet from Stuttgart, who, while at that time in Illertissen (Bavaria), showed under the oath, which personally examined Hitler due to the injury of the chest, which he received in Berlin during the artillery shelling, and He stated his death in the bunker near the zoo. It happened alleged on May 1. However, at the same time, in Hamburg, the Swiss journalist Carmen Mori showed that Hitler, according to irrefutable information, was in one Bavarian estate, along with Eve Brown, her sister Gretle and her husband Gretle Hermann Feregeeline. Carmen Mori Same suggested to investigate this fact, using her own connections (it was sent to a German concentration camp for espionage and had a good agent network). Mori, however, warned the British authorities that an attempt to find Hitler and the others could end in failure without her participation, because, noticing the approach of people in foreign military uniform, all four will immediately end with them. Both of these stories from the very beginning did not cause any trust, as well as many other oral and written testimony.
Anyone who conducts investigations of this kind, soon faces one an important fact: You can not believe such evidence. Any historian has a shame with one thought about how much in history is based on the grounds as doubtful as the statements of Admiral Dinet, Dr. Shpet or Carmen Mori. If such statements were made regarding some unclear circumstances of the death of the Russian king Alexander I, then many historians would probably be treated with all seriousness. Fortunately, in this case, these were the approval of contemporaries, and they could be checked.
English Historian James Spadeing said that every colleague, facing a statement about any fact, should ask himself a question: who was the first to say and whether this person had the opportunity to know this? Many historical evidence are scattered in the dust if they subjected them to this test. Waning up Dr. Charles Heinz Shpet, I went on the address in Stuttgart himself. It turned out, however, that this is not a residential building, but a building of technical school. No one in the school knew who the doctor was sleeper. Moreover, I could not detect this name in any city directory. It became clear that he introduced himself as a fictional name and published a fictional address. Since his testimony turned out to be false, it became clear that this man could not be trusted in other matters where ignorance could be an apology. As for the testimony of Carmen Mori, it did not even stand even a light criticism. She never saw Hitler and never talked to people who could know the facts. The facts that she presented were obvious fakes, and those arguments with which she connected these facts was absolutely devoid of logic. The statements of Mori, as well as the approval of Dr. Shpet, were the purest fantasy.
But why are these people false witness? To interpret human motives - an ungrateful occupation, but sometimes they can be guess. Carmen Mori, hitting the concentration camp, became the Gestapo agent that beat the victims to the murders and criminal medical experiments. The prisoners knew about it, and when the allies captured the camp and freed the prisoners, the accusation of Mori in cooperation with the Nazis was only a matter of time. Probably, Mori thought that, writing this story she herself and wanted to investigate, she would be able to pull out the retribution and enlist the support of the British occupying authorities. If it was so, Mori was wrong: her help was not required to the British, and she was soon arrested soon, tried and sentenced to death. On the eve of the execution of Mori managed to commit suicide.
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