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Home , 12th Army (Wehrmacht), Adolf Hitler, Eva Braun, Fritz Kolbe, Gerda Christian, Hans Krebs (SS general)

HITLER’S FINAL WORDS His Political Testament, Personal Will, and Marriage Certificate: From the in to the National Archives

BY GREG BRADSHER he documents featured in the National Archives Exhibit Hall in April 1946 were unlike any displayed there before. They were not pages from America’s distant past, pages that Americans make once-in-a-lifetime pilgrimages to TWashington to gaze upon, or documents with the signatures of our Founding Fathers. These documents had been created less than a year before and had been in German hands just four months earlier.

Visitors to the Archives beheld the tangible proof of the Nevertheless, Hitler knew that he soon would have to end of World II—the military surrender documents— commit suicide. Before doing so, he wished to marry his and the last documents signed by Hitler: his mar­ long-time mistress, , and write his final political riage certificate, political testament, and personal will. testament and personal will. The travels of the Hitler documents from deep in the As the evening progressed, Hitler received confirmation that fuehrer’s underground bunker in Berlin to the National , the head of the SS, was negotiating with Archives began in late April 1945, when Russian forces the Western Allies. In response, Hitler ordered Eva Braun’s were on the verge of capturing the city. brother-in-law, SS-Gruppenfuehrer Hermann Fegelein, On the evening of April 28, , ’s Himmler’s liaison to Hitler, executed for desertion and . and president, had a lot on his mind. News had arrived during the day that there had been an “Come along ,” he said, uprising in northern Italy; had been ar­ “I want to dictate something.” rested by the partisans; armistice negotiations were being Hitler’s secretary, 25-year-old Gertrude Junge, tried that initiated by some of Hitler’s military commanders in Italy; evening to sleep for an hour. Sometime after 11 p.m., she and there had been an attempted coup in . woke up. She washed, changed her clothes, and thought it Russian forces were only some 1,000 yards from the bun­ must be time to drink tea with Hitler, the other remaining ker, and the German Ninth Army, which had been ordered secretary (31-year-old Frau ), and Hitler’s veg­ to break through the Russian-encircled capital of the Reich etarian cook (25-year-old Fraulein Constanze Manzialy), as to rescue Hitler would most likely not to be able to accom­ had become a nightly occurrence. When she opened the door plish its mission. Still, Hitler held a slim hope that Gen. to Hitler’s study, Hitler came toward her, shook her hand, and Walther Wenck’s , heading toward and asked, “‘Have you had a nice little rest, child?’” Junge replied, Berlin, would succeed. “Yes, I have slept a little.” He said, “Come along, I want to dic­ tate something.” This was between 11:30 p.m. and midnight. They went into the little conference room near Hitler’s quarters. She was about to remove the cover from the type­ writer, as Hitler normally dictated directly to the typewrit­ er, when he said, “Take it down on the shorthand pad.” She sat down alone at the big table and waited. Hitler stood in his usual place by the broad side of the table, leaned both hands on it, and stared at the empty table top, no longer covered that day with maps. For several seconds Hitler did not say anything. Then, suddenly he began to speak the first words: “My political testament.”

Opposite: Part of the conference area in Hitler’s underground bunker. Left: Hitler ended his personal will by stating that he and his wife “choose death to escape the disgrace of being forced to resign or surrender.” The will is dated , 1945, and witnessed by Bormann, Goebbels, and Von Below. As Hitler began speaking, she had the typing up her shorthand notes of the two their apartment hand in hand and went into impression that he was in a hurry. “In tones documents, knowing that Hitler wanted her the conference room. Hitler’s face was ashen, of indifference, almost mechanically, the to finish as fast as possible. his gaze wandered restlessly. Eva Braun was Fuehrer,” Junge would later observe, “comes also pale from sleepless nights. Goebbels and out with the explanations, accusations and An Early Morning Ceremony , the head of the demands that I, the German people and the With Just a Few Friends and private secretary to Hitler, whole world know already.” The next item of business was the Hitler- were waiting for them in the antechamber. After finishing his political testament, ac­ Braun marriage. Once Junge departed the In the conference room, Hitler and Eva cording to Junge, Hitler paused a brief mo­ conference room, guests began entering to greeted the functionary who had taken up ment and then began dictating his private attend the wedding ceremony. In the mean­ his position at the table. Then they sat down will. Hitler’s personal will was shorter. It time, Hitler was in his sitting room with in the first two chairs, and Bormann and explained his marriage, disposed of his prop­ a few people, trying to get the wedding Goebbels went to their assigned places. The erty, and announced his impending death. ready in a dignified way, while the confer­ door was closed. The two parties declared that The dictation was completed. Hitler had ence room was turned into a registry office they were of pure descent and were free not made any corrections on either docu­ and set up for the ceremony. SS-Maj. Heinz from hereditary disease. In a few minutes the ment. He moved away from the table on Linge (Hitler’s valet since 1935) began get­ parties had given assent, the register had been which he had been leaning all this time ting things ready for the post-wedding cer­ signed, and the ceremony was over. When the and said, “Type that out for me at once in emony, including gathering up food and bride came to sign her name on the marriage triplicate and then bring it in to me.” Junge drink for Hitler’s inner circle. certificate, she began to write “Eva Braun” felt that there was something urgent in his Meanwhile, Goebbels, in his capacity of but quickly struck out the initial letter B voice, and thought about the most impor­ of Berlin, knew of someone autho­ and corrected it to “Eva Hitler, nee Braun.” tant, most crucial document written by rized to act as a registrar of marriage who was Bormann, Goebbels, and also signed Hitler going out into the world without any still in Berlin, fighting with the , the register as witnesses. The ceremony lasted corrections or thorough revision. She knew a last-ditch military organization established no longer than 10 minutes. that “Every letter of birthday wishes to some by the Nazi Party in October 1944. He was Bormann opened the door again when Gauleiter, artist, etc., was polished up, im­ a 50-year-old municipal councilor named Hitler and Eva were signing the license. Hitler proved, revised—but now Hitler had no . A group of SS men was dis­ then kissed Eva’s hand. They went into the time for any of that.” patched across the city to bring him back. conference passage, where they shook hands Junge took her notepad and typewriter Wagner appeared shortly before 1 a.m. on with those waiting. They then withdrew into across the hall to type up the political and April 29 in the uniform of the Nazi Party their private apartments for a wedding break­ personal wills. The room she used was next and the armband of the Volkssturm. The cer­ fast. Shortly afterward, Bormann, Goebbels, to Reichs Minister of Joseph emony took place probably at some point be­ , and the secretaries Christian Goebbels’s private room. There she began tween 1 a.m. and 2 a.m. Hitler and Braun left and Junge were invited into the private suite.

Left: Adolf Hitler and Eva Braun, ca. 1942. Right: A plan of Hitler’s underground bunker near the Reich Chancel­ lery in Berlin, Germany, shows Hitler’s study (A), anteroom (B), bedroom (C), and “map room” (D). Adapted from a plan of in Hugh Trevor-Roper’s of Hitler (6th ed., 1992).

A C

B D Junge would not come right away as she was her shorthand notes, Goebbels or Bormann letter to Doenitz stated: “Dear Grand , typing across the hall. At some point during came in alternately to give her the names of Since all divisions have failed to arrive, and our the party, Junge walked across the corridor to the ministers of the future government, a pro­ position seems hopeless, the Fuehrer dictated express her congratulations to the newlyweds cess that lasted until she had finished typing. last night the attached political Testament. and wish them luck. She stayed for less than Toward 5 a.m., Junge typed the last of the Heil Hitler.—Yours, Bormann.” 15 minutes and then returned to her typing. three copies each of the political testament and Lorenz received his package from For part of the time, of Infantry personal will. They were timed at 4 a.m., as that Goebbels, but it is unclear where Goebbels , Lt. Gen. , was when she had begun typing the first copy told him to take the documents. It seems that and Lt. Col. Nicholaus von Below (Hitler’s of the political testament. Just as she finished, he was to take them to Doenitz if possible, adjutant) joined the party, as did Goebbels came to her for the documents, al­ or to the nearest German High Command. Werner Naumann (state secretary in the most tearing the last piece of paper from the If all else failed, he was to publish the wills Ministry of Propaganda), Arthur Axmann typewriter. She gave them to him without hav­ for historical purposes and ultimately store (Reich youth leader), Ambassador Walter ing a chance to review the final product. She them at the party archives in Munich. Hewel (permanent representative of Foreign asked Goebbels whether they still wanted her, Hitler told Johannmeier that this testa­ Ministry to Hitler at Fuehrer headquarters), and he said, “no, lie down and have a rest.” The ment must be brought out of Berlin at any Hitler’s valet Linge, SS-Maj. Otto Guensche wedding party was ending, and Goebbels took price, that Schoerner must receive it, and (personal adjutant to Hitler), and Manzialy, the copies of the documents to Hitler. that he believed Johannmeier would succeed the cook. They sat for hours, drinking cham­ The documents were ready to be signed. in the task. Hitler spoke very cordially and pagne and tea, eating sandwiches, and talking. First Hitler signed the personal will, followed shook his hand. They both realized that they Hitler spoke again of his plans of suicide and by the witnesses Bormann, Goebbels, and would not see each other again. expressed his belief that National von Below. Hitler and witnesses Goebbels, was finished and would never revive (or would Bormann, Burgdorf, and Krebs then signed Hitler Commits Suicide; not be resurrected soon), and that death the political testament. Allies Capture Documents would be a relief to him now that he had been At around 6 a.m. on April 29, Russian artil­ The Russian attack drew relentlessly near deceived and betrayed by his best friends. lery began its regular intense bombardment of the bunker. At about 9 a.m., the artillery fire the government district and the area around suddenly stopped, and runners reported to The Party Goes On the . The front line was now the bunker that the Russians were advancing As the Russians Near only about 450 yards from the chancellery. with and infantry. It grew silent in the Hitler left the party three times to ask how During those early morning hours, Hitler bunker, and there was great tension among Junge had gotten in her typing. According planned for the three copies of his personal its occupants. to Junge, Hitler would look in and say “Are testament and personal will to be taken out Later on that morning Junge went back to you ready?” and she said, “No my Fuehrer, I of Berlin and delivered to Admiral Doenitz Hitler’s bunker. She noted that Hitler was un­ am not ready yet.” Bormann and Goebbels and Field Ferdinand Schoerner, easy and walked from one room to another. also kept coming to see if she was finished. commander of the Army Group Center in Hitler told her he would wait until the couri­ These comings and goings made Junge ner­ Bohemia (and, by way of Hitler’s political ers had arrived at their destinations with the vous and delayed the process, increasing her testament, newly appointed commander-in­ testaments and then would commit suicide. distress about the whole situation, and she chief of the army). At noon, with the Russians closing in made several typographical errors. Those Three couriers set out from Berlin to cross on the bunker, Hitler held a situation con­ were later crossed out in ink. enemy lines, each carrying a copy of the po­ ference with Bormann, Krebs, Burgdorf, Also complicating her task was the need litical testament and personal will. Maj. Willy Goebbels, and a few others. At the same to add to the political testament the names Johannmeier was Hitler’s army adjutant; SS time, the three couriers joined by Cpl. of some appointments of the new govern­ Col. , an aide representing Heinz Hummerich (a clerk in the adjutancy ment under Adm. Karl Doenitz. During the Bormann; and , an official of the of the fuehrer headquarters), left the bunker course of the wedding party, Hitler discussed Propaganda Ministry representing Goebbels. and headed west. and negotiated the matter with Bormann Johannmeier was sent to Schoerner; Zander The following afternoon, Hitler and Eva and Goebbels. While Junge was typing the to Doenitz, carrying the marriage certificate as Braun committed suicide in the bunker in clean copies of the political testament from well as the testament and will. Bormann’s cover Berlin. On at 2:46 p.m., Goebbels

Hitler's Final Words Prologue 19 sent Doenitz a message that Hitler had died documents in a bottle in the back garden. to that effect. “If I had the documents, it would at 3:30 p.m. on , and that his testa­ Lorenz ended up in Luxembourg and found be senseless to withhold them now, but what I ment of April 29: work as a journalist under an assumed name. have not I cannot deliver. I cannot even prove appoints you as Reich President, Lorenz and the documents he was carry­ that I have not got them?” His otherwise un­ Reich Minister Dr. Goebbels as Reich ing were seized by the British Army, in the accountable persistence in this story, by which Chancellor, Bormann as British Zone of Occupation of Germany, in he was condemning himself to imprisonment Party Minister, Reich Minister Seyss- . The Americans captured for no conceivable advantage to anyone, and Inquart as Foreign Minister. By order Zander and his documents (including the by the ingenuousness of his protestations, of the Fuehrer, the Testament has been original marriage license of Hitler and Braun, Johannmeier had almost persuaded Trevor- sent out of Berlin to you, to Field- and the handwritten transmittal letter from Roper that there must after all be some flaw Marshal Schoerner, and for preservation Bormann to Doenitz) with the assistance of in the evidence against him, some element of and publication. Reichsleiter Bormann British intelligence officer Maj. Hugh Trevor- truth in his improbable but unshakeable story. intends to go to you today and to in­ Roper, in on December 28. They were alone in the headquarters; every­ form you of the situation. Time and After Zander’s arrest, interest switched to one else had left for the holiday. Trevor-Roper form of announcement to the Press and Johannmeier, who had been living quietly had nowhere to put Johannmeier. He decided to the troops is left to you. Confirm with his parents in Iserlohn, in the British that he must admit failure and summon a receipt.—Goebbels. Zone of Occupation. Trevor-Roper had him truck to take him away. But when he left the Six hours later, Goebbels killed himself. detained and interrogated on . room for two hours for a long-distance phone At 10:26 p.m. May 1, Doenitz, over Johannmeier maintained that he had no call, Johannmeier had leisure to think. Radio, announced Hitler’s death documents but had just escorted Zander When Trevor-Roper returned and began and his own succession. and Lorenz out of Berlin. Trevor-Roper met the mechanical questioning again, he became As Berlin surrendered, the three cou­ with Johannmeier on January 1, 1946, and aware of a change in Johannmeier’s attitude. riers made their way to Potsdam and explained to him that Zander and Lorenz Johannmeier, according to Trevor-Roper, Brandenburg. On May 11 they crossed were both in Allied hands and that in view seemed to have already resolved his mental the at Parey, between and of their independent but unanimous testi­ doubts, and after a little preliminary and pre­ Genthin, and under the guise of foreign mony, it was impossible to accept his state­ cautionary fencing, in which he sought as­ workers, passed into the area of the Western ment that he had been merely an escort. He surance that he would not be penalized if he Allies, transported by American trucks. By nevertheless maintained his story. He agreed revealed his secret about the documents, he this time was over, and Zander and that the evidence was against him but insist­ declared, “I have the papers.” He stated that Lorenz lost heart and easily convinced them­ ed that his story was true. he had buried them in a garden of his home selves that their mission now had no purpose Asked if he could name any witness whose in Iserlohn, in a glass bottle, and he agreed to or possibility of fulfillment. Johannmeier al­ testimony might offset that of Zander and lead Trevor-Roper to the spot. lowed himself to be influenced by them, al­ Lorenz, he stated that he had spoken to no though he still believed he would have been one about his mission, and that the only Allies Debate Fate able to complete his mission. man who knew the details was the man who Of Hitler’s Papers After abandoning their mission, the had given it to him—Lt. Gen. Wilhelm On the long drive back to Iserlohn, men split up. Zander and Lorenz went to Burgdorf. When told that Burgdorf was Johannmeier spoke freely on various topics. the house of Zander’s relatives in Hanover. missing and believed dead, Johannmeier ex­ When they stopped for a meal, Trevor-Roper From there, Zander proceeded south until claimed, “Then my last hope is gone.” asked him why he had decided to reveal the he reached Munich, where he stayed with The position was put sympathetically to truth. Johannmeier said he had reflected his wife, and then continued to Tegernsee. Johannmeier: that he must realize that the that if Zander and Lorenz had so easily con­ At Tegernsee, Zander hid his documents in documents were already in Allied hands, and sented to betray the trust reposed in them, a trunk. He changed his name, identity, sta­ another revelation could add nothing to their it would be quixotic for him, who was not tus, and began a new life under the name knowledge, and continued resistance to the a member of the party or connected with of Friedrich Wilhelm Paustin. Johannmeier evidence would entail his imprisonment. But but merely carrying the documents meanwhile went to his family’s home in still Johannmeier insisted that his story was the in obedience to a military order, to endure Iserlohn in Westphalia, and buried his truth. He agreed to sign a written declaration further hardship to no practical purpose.

20 Prologue Spring 2015 Left: The identification page from the marriage certificate for Hitler and Eva Braun (English translation) quickly completed in the bunker the day before their suicide as Russian forces closed in. Right: The marriage certificate’s signature page bears the signatures of Hitler, Braun, Goebbels, and Bormann.

In Iserlohn they left the car some distance (the officer in charge of the Documents answered that they had put out only a gen­ away at Johannmeier’s request—he did not Control Center at ) had brought eral release about the papers. Sibert said that want the neighbors to see a British staff car to him that day (January 2, 1946), copies of the British had been making statements outside his parents’ home. It was now night Hitler’s will and marriage license. to the effect that they would soon publish and the ground had frozen hard. Together Beam observed that they were highly in­ them and wondered what had happened to they walked out to the back corner of his teresting documents and seemed altogether the original translations of these documents. garden. Johannmeier found the place, broke authentic. He indicated that G-2 was send­ May informed him that they were at the frozen surface of the ground with an axe, and ing the original documents to Washington, Executive Branch, G-2, Third Army. Sibert dug up the glass bottle. Then he smashed the where they might be deposited with the requested that G-2 keep the contents secret. bottle, drew out the documents, and handed Library of Congress. This action was being In a January 4 cable to the State Department, them over to Trevor-Roper. They were the taken, he noted, to forestall any demands Murphy reported the circumstances of the third copy of Hitler’s private will and per­ from other countries for custody of the capture of the will and other documents as sonal testament plus a cover letter from documents. Beam reported that photostatic related to his office by G-2 USFET. Murphy Burgdorf to Schoerner. copies had been made and that Murphy’s of­ added that Zander was last reported to be in The Allies now had the three sets of docu­ fice was to be furnished with two. custody in Munich and that G-2 accepted the ments that had been carried out of the bun­ On January 3, 1946, Brig. Gen. Edwin L. authenticity of the documents. He indicated ker in April. Sibert, G-2, U.S. Forces European Theater that with his concurrence, the original docu­ Early in the new year, Foreign Service (USFET) telephoned Lt. Col. Harold H. ments were being forwarded shortly to the Officer J. D. Beam wrote Ambassador May, intelligence chief of G-2, Third U.S. War Department for possible later custody Robert Murphy, U.S. political adviser for Army, to ask if they had published the re­ by the Library of Congress and that it was Germany, that Col. S. Frederick Gronich cently discovered Hitler documents. May understood that photostatic copies would be

Hitler's Final Words Prologue 21 Left: Hitler composed his political testament in his last hours (English translation shown) with a transfer of power to those officers he still trusted. He designated Doenitz as Reichs President, Goebbels as Reichs Chancellor, and Bormann as Party Minister. Right: A January 11, 1946, letter from G2, Third U.S. Army, to the U.S. Chief of Counsel, International Military Tribunal at transmitted photocopies of the Hitler documents and a summary of how British and American officers recovered them from Wilhelm Zander, an adjutant to Martin Bormann. given to other interested Allied nations and 11 from G-2, Third U.S. Army, to the Office embassy then raised the question of the dis­ that he was to receive a copy, which he would of the U.S. Chief of Counsel, International posal of the original documents, two sets of send to the State Department. Military Tribunal at Nuremberg. This dis­ which were in British hands and one set in Four days later, Beam sent a dispatch to the patch included a complete set of photocopies American hands: State Department that included a copy of a of documents and photographs discovered It is possible that these might in time report received by G-2 USFET regarding the by the 303rd Counterintelligence Corps become objects of great sentimental discovery of Hitler’s political testament and (CIC) Detachment, Third U.S. Army, on and political value to many Germanys. other documents found with Zander. Beam December 28, 1945. [Ernest Bevin, the principal secretary reported that the original documents were of state for foreign affairs] is consider­ on their way to the War Department. He British Oppose Publicity; ing whether it would not be wise to added that there were probably three signed The Americans Agree destroy these sets. This could be done originals of Hitler’s wills, including the one The British also had their concerns about at any time but meanwhile he intends found in Bavaria with Zander. The British the Hitler documents. The British embassy that the British sets should be removed discovered the other two copies. The dis­ in Washington on January 9, 1946, prepared from Germany and safely interred in patch enclosed translations and photostats an aide memoire for the State Department the British official archives. . . . Mr. of letters of transmittal, the marriage license, stating that while the complete texts of Bevin hopes that the State Department the private will, and the personal testament. Hitler’s political and personal testaments will take similar steps and will also agree Beam surmised that the documents captured had been published in the press, the less that the number of microfilm copies by the United States authorities in Bavaria public notice the documents received in should be very strictly limited as well. contained the single original of Hitler’s mar­ Germany or elsewhere the better. Even facsimiles might become objects riage certificate. Further, the British government intended of veneration and these could be mul­ Another letter tracking the whereabouts of to avoid any mention of the documents in tiplied in Germany if a single facsimile the Hitler’s documents was sent on January its propaganda to Germany or . The copy got into the wrong hands.

22 Prologue Spring 2015 Within a short time of receiving the aide aide memoire regarding the disposition of original documents, which had been evacu­ memoire, Dean Acheson, the acting secre­ the original texts and microfilm copies of ated from Germany. MIS recommended tary of state, informed Ambassador Murphy Hitler’s political and personal testaments. that he authorize putting both the original of the British government’s intended plans The memorandum indicated that the State documents and translations in a protective for the Hitler documents. While the State Department agreed with the British Foreign folder suitable for presentation, forward all Department, Acheson wrote, was not im­ Office “that the less public notice the docu­ the materials to the chief of staff for pre­ pressed by the British argument in view ments receive in Germany or outside the sentation to the President, and recommend of publication of texts, he asked Murphy better” and that it had no present intention that the President permit the documents to whether photostatic copies mentioned in his of mentioning these documents in broad­ be placed in a public display in the Library January 4 cable had actually been given to casts to or in press releases for Germany. The of Congress. Bissel should also have photo­ other interested Allied nations and whether State Department indicated that it had been static copies of the documents passed on to the original set had been forwarded to the informed that the original signed texts of the State Department for presentation to the War Department. the documents that were in U.S. hands had Allied governments of , France, and On January 22 Beam wrote Col. W. D. been transmitted to the War Department Great Britain. Bissell approved the plan and Hohenthal, chief of the intelligence branch, and that Murphy reported that the U.S. mil­ recommended that the transmittal to foreign Office of the Director of Political Affairs, itary authorities arranged to furnish copies governments be done on the secretary of war Office of Military Government (U.S.) that of these documents to the British, Russian, to secretary of state level. Hitler’s political and personal testaments in and French military officials, and also to give U.S. hands had been dispatched to the War photostatic copies to representatives of the Gen. Eisenhower Asks FBI Department, that copies had been furnished American press. Concluding, the memoran­ To Authenticate Documents to the British and French, and that arrange­ dum stated that: Another month passed before MIS act­ ments were made to provide photostats to The Department recognizes that ed. In accordance with instructions, a let­ news representatives. it would be undesirable to have fac­ ter from the chief of staff to the President On January 24 Murphy wrote the secretary similes of these documents distributed had been drafted for transmittal of Hitler’s of state, passing on information in Beam’s throughout Germany. It should be pos­ personal documents. The State Department report regarding the Hitler documents. sible to prevent such distribution dur­ had been contacted to determine how many Murphy reported that the U.S. Army recov­ ing the period of Allied control over photostatic copies of the documents were re­ ery included the only originals of Hitler’s publications, publishing establishments quired for their purposes and for forwarding marriage certificate and Bormann’s letter of and printing presses in Germany, in to Allied governments. MIS indicated that transmittal to Doenitz, indicating that this set view of the release of photostatic cop­ their office retained negative photostats of was the one intended for despatch to Doenitz ies that has already taken place, the the documents and recommended that an by special courier. The British find, he added, Department does not see what steps attached summary sheet to the chief of staff included a memorandum by Goebbels and a could be taken at this time to prevent be signed and dispatched. letter from a German general in Berlin. He facsimiles from falling into German MIS sent G-2 the originals of Hitler’s cer­ reported that photostatic copies of the above hands at some future date. tificate of marriage, will, and testament, to­ documents were being exchanged with the In a January 25 communication, the chief gether with Bormann’s letter of transmittal British to complete respective sets and that of the Military Intelligence Service (MIS) to Doenitz, mounted in a protective binder G-2 had not yet received an interrogation re­ sent photostatic copies of Hitler’s marriage together with translations of the documents. port on Zander. certificate, personal will, political testament Later that day, according to a pencil nota­ With the above information, the State and allied papers to Maj. Gen. Clayton tion on the retained copy, the documents Department crafted a memorandum ac­ Bissell, the assistant chief of staff, G-2. Bissell were hand-carried to the Office of the Chief knowledging receipt of the British embassy’s was informed that MIS had possession of the of Staff.

To learn more about • The full text of Hitler’s marriage certificate, private will, and political testament, go to http://research.archives.gov/description/6883511. • Art that had been looted by the Nazis and what happened after the war, go to www.archives.gov/publications/prologue/2002/summer/nazi- looted-art-1.html and www.archives.gov/publications/prologue/2013/summer/monuments-men.pdf. • The Nazi of the , go to www.archives.gov/publications/prologue/2010/winter/nuremberg.html.

Hitler's Final Words Prologue 23 Left: With FBI certification of the authenticity of the Hitler documents, Gen. Dwight Eisenhower transmitted the original copies to the Secretary of War suggesting that he advise the President to display them at the Library of Congress or “in some other appropriate public institution.” Right: After General Eisenhower’s recommendation, Secretary of War Robert P. Patterson wrote the President that the documents “vividly illustrate the closing hours of the Nazi regime” and thus merited public display.

Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower decided that Since removal could possibly endanger the Documents’ Long Journey before sending the Hitler documents to the specimens, they extracted only pages 1 and Ends at National Archives President, they should be authenticated by 2 of the marriage certificate (the most ques­ On , Eisenhower sent Secretary the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). tionable) and the last (signature) pages of of War Robert P. Patterson a draft memoran­ MIS sent the FBI the documents bound the private will and the political testament. dum to the President, transmitting Hitler’s in a book titled “Adolf Hitler Certificate One or two of the covers of other pages were marriage certificate, personal will, political of Marriage, Private Will and Political lifted to gain access to the paper, but oth­ testament, and Bormann’s letter of transmit­ Testament.” The original document ap­ erwise the mounts were not disturbed. The tal to Admiral Doenitz. Eisenhower wrote peared on the left page, and the English laboratory reported that rubber cement had that the documents were apparently authen­ translation appeared on the right. been used at the top and corners to fasten the tic, as indicated by a very comprehensive MIS cautioned the FBI to keep secret the original papers to the cardboard. In replac­ laboratory test made by the Federal Bureau fact that the Army had what appeared to be ing the removed sheets, the laboratory did of Investigation, which he was attaching. “I Hitler’s marriage certificate, private will, and not add any adhesive or place anything on recommend,” Eisenhower wrote, “that you public testament until the President made it the papers. The report suggested alternatives transmit these historic documents to the known publicly. The memorandum accom­ for permanent retention and display, citing President, suggesting that they be exhibited panying the book noted that the original methods used by the National Archives and in the Library of Congress or in some other documents could be removed by releasing Library of Congress. appropriate public institution.” certain sections of Scotch tape, which held MIS was highly satisfied with the report. The next day, Secretary of War Patterson the documents in place. At the bottom of The FBI laboratory had provided detailed wrote to President Truman: the memorandum was J. Edgar Hoover’s information on the physical material of the Our Military Intelligence personnel, blue-inked “OK. H.” documents, their condition, typewriting, and through information furnished by the The FBI laboratory transmitted its report handwriting. While not providing a definitive British Intelligence Service, recovered to the bureau hierarchy on March 13. The rendering, the report provided enough infor­ Adolf Hitler’s personal and political report stated that several pages had been re­ mation to allow the reader to conclude the wills, his marriage certificate, and a moved in order to conduct the examination. documents were authentic in all respects. letter transmitting these documents

24 Prologue Spring 2015 to Admiral Doenitz, signed Martin creation, discovery, and history of the docu­ Author Bormann. The unique character of ments now in their possession. Greg Bradsher’s previous contribu­ these papers and their historic signifi­ MIS prepared a response for the tions to Prologue have included articles cance prompt me to forward them to National Archives, providing the back­ on the discovery of Nazi in the you as a matter of personal interest. A ground information about the seizure of Merkers Mine (Spring 1999); the sto­ laboratory test by the Federal Bureau of the documents and a copy of the FBI’s ry of Fritz Kolbe, 1900–1943 (Spring 2002); ’s secret Investigation indicates that these docu­ laboratory report. “This information,” the “Z Plan” in 1944 (Fall 2005); Founding Father Elbridge Gerry (Spring 2006); the third Archivist of the United ments are authentic. National Archives noted in reply, “will be States, Wayne Grover (Winter 2009); Operation Blissful, Hitler’s final anti-Semitic tirade, his very helpful to us in preparing an exhibit a II diversionary attack on an island in the frantic attempt to maintain a semblance of these documents.” Pacific (Fall 2010); the (Winter 2010); of German government, and what The Hitler documents went on exhibit at the Homestead Act of 1862 (Winter 2012); Monuments amounts to a suicide pact between him­ the National Archives on April 26, 1946, Men and Nazi Treasures (Summer 2013); and World self and Eva Braun vividly illustrate the less than a year after the documents had War II archivist, Fred W. Shipman (Summer 2014). Dr. closing hours of the Nazi regime. These been created in the bunker in Berlin. P Bradsher is a senior archivist at the National Archives. are matters of great public interest. Might I suggest that these documents be placed Note on Sources on display in the Library of Congress or The National Archives has custody of scores of ending February 27, 1946, Part II—General documents relating to the creation and disposition of Intelligence, “The Discovery of Hitler’s Wills,” other suitable establishment. the documents discussed in this article. Among the File: Combined Weekly Intelligence Summary, In reply, the President thanked him for more useful documents regarding the events in the Allied Force Headquarters, Publications (“P”) the Hitler material and indicated that he was bunker in April 1945 are the interrogation reports Files, 1946–1951, Document Library Branch, pleased to have looked at them before they produced by both American military personnel and Administrative Division, Assistant Chief of Staff went to the National Archives, the reposi­ by British intelligence officer Hugh Trevor-Roper. (G-2), Intelligence, Records of the Army Staff, They can be found in the Personal Name Files, RG 319; Memorandum from Col. Edward M. tory chosen by Truman. Security Classified Intelligence and Investigative Fickett, Assistant Chief of Staff, G-2, Third On the morning of March 26, Brig. Dossiers, 1939–1976, Records of the Investigative to Office of the U.S. Chief of Gen. Harry H. Vaughn, military aide to the Records Repository, Records of the Office of the Counsel, International Military Tribunal, Subject: President brought the Hitler documents to Assistant Chief of Staff, G-2, Intelligence, Records Circumstances of Discovery of Hitler’s Wills, Archivist of the United States Solon J. Buck. of the Army Staff, Record Group (RG) 319; the January 11, 1946, Hitler’s Private Testament and file Trevor-Roper Interrogations, Reports Political Testament, April 29, 1945, File: 3569­ It was Buck’s understanding that the docu­ Relating to POW Interrogations, 1943–1945, PS, United States Evidence Files, 1945–1946, ments were to be added to the holdings of Captured Personnel and Material Branch, Records National Archives Collection of World War II the National Archives, and they were to be of the War Department General and Special Staff, War Crimes Records, RG 238; Memorandum, available for consultation, exhibition, or RG 165; and Interrogation Summary No.1, “The 1st Lt. Allen Fial, 303 CIC Det, Headquarters, Last Days in Hitler’s Air Raid Shelter,” October Third United States Army to Assistant Chief of publication under the President’s direction. 8, 1945, File: Interrogation Summary U.S. Forces Staff, G-2, Third United States Army, Subject: After receiving the documents, Buck called in in Austria, Publications (“P”) Files, 1946–1951, Documents in Luggage of Wilhelm Zander, Elizabeth E. Hamer, chief of the Exhibits and Document Library Branch, Administrative Alias Friedrich Wilhelm Paustin, December Publications Staff, and Thad Page, adminis­ Division, Assistant Chief of Staff (G-2), Intelligence, 28, 1945, File: 370.2 1945, Classified Decimal trative secretary of the National Archives and Records of the Army Staff, RG 319. Files Regarding Captured Documents, 1945, Quotations by Gertrude Junge regarding the Records of Headquarters, European Theater of Chief of the Legislative Archives Division, night of April 28–29 are from , Until the Operations, United States Army (World War and turned the items over to them. Final Hour: Hitler’s Last Secretary, edited by Melissa II), RG 498; File: 314.4, Personal Documents The next day, Hamer took the volume of Mueller and translated by Anthea Bell (: of Adolph [sic] Hitler, Army-AG Decimal documents to the Cleaning and Rehabilitation Phoenix, 2004). Also useful are the Interrogations of File 1946–1948, Records of the Office of the Hitler Associates, Musmanno Collection, Gumberg Adjutant General, RG 407; File: 65-53615, Staff and discussed removing them from Library Digital Collections, Duquesne University, Classification 65, Classified Subject Files, FBI the book and their subsequent rehabilita­ and Trevor-Roper’s 1947 book, The Last Days of HQ; Investigative Records, Released Under the tion. The staff removed the documents from Hitler (London: Macmillan & Co.). Nazi & Disclosure Acts, the book, and Hamer talked to Page about Among the most useful records relating to the Records of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, when they could put the documents on dis­ discovery and voyages of the Hitler documents RG 65; and Exhibits and Publications Daily from the Berlin bunker to the National Archives Diary, File: Diary, Fiscal Year 1946, Daily Diary play. At Hamer’s request, Page asked the War are Allied Force Headquarters, Combined of Activities, 1945–1951, Records of the National Department for more information about the Weekly Intelligence Summary No. 60, For week Archives and Records Administration, RG 64.

Hitler's Final Words Prologue 25