Last Days of Hitler, The - H. R. Trevor-Roper.pdf

One of the many vivid scenes from

THE LAST DAYS OF HITLER It was five o'clock when the tea-party began, and the whole court assembled in the Fuehrer's headquarters. Conversation was naturally about the Fuehrer's escape, but it quickly deteriorated into recrimination .... Hitler and Mussolini sat quiet and reserved, as if mere spectators of the scene, while Graziani told them of his African adventures. Then, quite suddenly, someone mentioned that other famous "pht" in Nazi history-the Roehm plot of 30th June 1934.... Immediately Hitler leapt up in a fit of frenzy, with foam on his lips, and shouted that he would be revenged on all traitors. Providence had just shown him once again, he screamed, that he had been chosen to make world history; and he ranted wildly about terrible punishments for women and children- all of them would be thrown into concentration camps-none should be spared who set himself against divine Providence. The court fell silent as the Fuehrer raged for a full half-hour; the visitors thought he must be mad .... Mussolini looked embarrassed, and said nothing; Graziani sought feebly to break the spell by beginning a technical discussion with Keitel; and all the time footmen, dressed in white, circulated with their tea-pots among the gaping worshippers. This scene was interrupted by a call from Berlin, where order had not yet been restored. Hitler seized the telephone and shouted his o::ders into the mouthpiece, giving full orders to shoot anyone and everyone. Why hadn't Himmler arrived yet? Then came the portentous statement of the megalomaniac: "I'm beginning to doubt whether the German people is worthy of my great ideals." These words broke the spell of silence. At once the entire court competed to speak, each protesting his loyalty. In grovelling terms Doenitz sang the pr�ises of the Gerrnan Navy. Goering began a violentquarrel with Ribbentrop and made a pass at him with his field­ mashai's baton ; and the voice of Ribbentrop was heard above the tumult protesting, "I am still Foreign Minister and my name is von Ribbentrop." Only Hitler was silent now. The parts in the comic

opera had bt•en reversed, and the prima donna ceased while the chorus

discordantly sang. He sat still; in his hand he had a tube of brightly coloured pastilles which he continually sucked; only at intervals, like a still spluttering volcano, would he utter some savage phrase, the residue of his unexpended emotion, about blood, and Providence, and concentration camps.

IS HITLER DEAD?

In September, 1945, when the whole world was wondering il Hitler was dead, H. R. Trevor­ Roper was ordered to find the truth about the Gotterdammerung of the Fuehrer and his fantastic followers. In The Last Days of Hitler Trevor-Roper tells for the first time fully and completely what he learned from interviews with those who witnessed the in­ credible events, and from hitherto secret documents. The appalling (and tremen­ dously interesting) story Trevor­ Roper relates is enacted against a grotesque background-an under­ ground bunker in the heart of Berlin. Here we see the last days of the man who had thrown Europe into bloodshed, with his court of toadies, quack doctors, and astrologers. The narrative culminates in the suicides and ritual burning of Hitler and Eva Braun, and the dispersal of the rest of the court in a vain attempt to break through the Russian lines. This book sheds light on many problems besides the original question of Hitler's death: the Plot of July 20, 1944; Hitler's routine, health, and character; his relations with the generals; Goebbels' program of universal destruction; Rimmler's fantastic cha r a ct e r a n d m a n e u v e rs; Goering's fall, and Bormann's intrigues.

H. R. TREVOR-ROPER was a British Intelligence Officer at the time he was sent, under official orders, to collect the mate­ rial he now uses in The Last Days of Hitler. In his Foreword to this book, Lord Tedder, Marshal of the R.A.F., says: "Mr. Trevor-Roper ...has produced a piece of history which is as living as it is accurate. and as monumental as the scale of events he recalls. Although Hitler is dead, the agonies he brought on mankind are still alive, and how­ ever much mystery he attempted to weave around his personal activities, they have been laid bare by the flood of living testimony and documentary material which has become available since Ger­ many's capitulation. There is no possibility of distortion in this case. Mr. Trevor-Roper's story sets the seal on Nuremberg." A historian before the war, he now teaches at Christ Church. Oxford.

l,l'inted in U.S.Aw

THE LAST DAYS OF HITLER

HITLER AND HIMMLER

(Captured photograph from S.S. Hauptamt)

THJE LAST DAYS OF HITLJER

by H. R. TREVOR-ROPER

New York THE MACMILLAN COMPANY 1947

H. All

rights

Copsrigilt,

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1947, by

TR !"'OR-ROPER

reserved-no

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reproduced in any form without permission in writing

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First printiH-g.

PRINTF..D JN TilE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

BY TBE

HADDON

CRAFTSMEN, SCRANTON, PA.

A UTHOR'S

PREF ACE

SINCE the completion of the original investigation into the circumstances of Hitler's death, I have been indebted to many friends, both British and American, who have helped me in the composition of this book, and whom I would here like to thank for their assistance; but since some of them are still serving,

I am sure that the others will forgive me for including

all alike in this general and impersonal acknowledgment, and for mentioning only one name, already familiar to most of them. My friend Dick White was brigadier commanding the Intelligence Bureau at the time when Hitler's death was still a mystery. He conceived the idea of this enquiry; and in Bad Oeynhausen in September 1945, he invited me to carry it out.

Since then he has encouraged me to write this narrative, and has given me continual help in every problem (and there have been many) which I have referred to him. He is thus both the first parent and the ultimate midwife of this book; and dedicate it to him.

H. R. T.-R. Christ Church, Oxford.

25th October 1946

I

CONTENTS FOREWORD by �I:ushal of the R.A.F., Lord Tedder

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Chapter One HITLER AND HIS COURT True nature of Nazi government and of Nazism-The Eastern policy-Party and Army-Growth of the court-Struggle for the succession-The flight of Hess-Bormann-Goering-Goebbels­ Himmler-The rise· of Himmler-Schellenberg and his ambitions­ German intelligence-The Plot of zoth July 1944 and its effects­ Decline of Himmler and rise of Bormann-Bormann and Goeb­ bels-Hitlcr remains undisputed master of all

Chapter Two HITLER IN DEFEAT The break-through at Avranehes-Policy of Nazi leaders in face of defeat-Collapse of organisation and discipline-"Resistance movements"-The "\Verewolves"-The intervention of Goebbels -Ideological nihilism-Hitler after the Plot-Hitler's "Diary"­ Change in Hitler's habits: he becomes a neurotic recluse-Hitler's doctors - Professor Morell and his drugs - Decline in Hitler's health-Crisis among the doctors-Dismissal of Morell's rivals­ Appointment of Dr. Stumpfegger-Hitler's hypnotism and blood­ lust

Chapter Three THE COURT IN DEFEAT

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Albert Speer and nihilism-The technocratic philosophy and its limitations-Speer's detachment from Hitler-Himmler and Schel­ lenberg-Schellenberg saps Himmler's loyalty to Hitler-Schellen­ berg proposes liquidation of Hitler-Indecision of I-Iimmler­ Hitler despairs of the succession-Hitler in Berlin-Eva Braun­ Count Schwerin von Krosigk and his diary-Carlyle and astrol­ ogy in the Bunker-Death of Roosevelt-The fools' paradise of Nazism-Ribbentrop-Schellenberg, Schwerin von Krosigk, and Rimmler-Schellenberg's self-deception

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CONTENTS

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Chapter Four CRISIS

AND DECISION (zom-24TH APRIL)

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Hider's 56th birthuay-The Bunker-The birthday receptions and conference-Hider stays in Berlin-Goering leaves for the south-Speer's pbns an