Early on the morning on April 29, 1945, with Germany lying in
ruins after six devastating years of war, and with defeat imminent, Adolf
Hitler married his mistress of many years, Eva Braun, in a civil
ceremony in his bunker.
Then he hastily dictated his last will and a Political Testament
to his secretary, Frau Gertrud Junge. The documents
were little different from many speeches and articles he had written before.
After causing the destruction of huge areas of Europe, demanding the sacrifice
of millions of lives in pursuit of his political ambitions, and ordering the
murder of millions of others, Adolf Hitler showed no remorse in his Political
Testament. Instead, he blamed the Jews for the war he himself had
started.
In his will, he stated specifically who was to be the
executor of his will, what he wanted done with his body, and who was to receive
his possessions.
The Last Will
As I did not consider that I could take responsibility,
during the years of struggle, of contracting a marriage, I have now decided,
before the closing of my earthly career, to take as my wife that girl who,
after many years of faithful friendship, entered, of her own free will, the
practically besieged town in order to share her destiny with me. At her own
desire she goes as my wife with me into death. It will compensate us for what
we both lost through my work in the service of my people.
What I possess belongs - in so far as it has any value - to the
Party. Should this no longer exist, to the State; should the State also be
destroyed, no further decision of mine is necessary.
My pictures, in the collections which I have bought in the course
of years, have never been collected for private purposes, but only for the
extension of a gallery in my home town of Linz on Donau.
It is my most sincere wish that this bequest may be duly
executed.
I nominate as my Executor my most faithful
Party comrade,Martin Bormann. He is given full legal authority to make all decisions. He is
permitted to take out everything that has a sentimental value or is necessary
for the maintenance of a modest simple life, for my brothers and sisters, also
above all for the mother of my wife and my faithful co-workers who are well
known to him, principally my old Secretaries Frau Winter etc. who have for many
years aided me by their work.
I myself and my wife - in order to escape the disgrace of
deposition or capitulation - choose death. It is our wish to be burnt
immediately on the spot where I have carried out the greatest part of my daily
work in the course of a twelve years' service to my people.
Given in Berlin, 29th April 1945, 4:00 a.m.
Signed:
A. Hitler
Signed as witnesses:
Dr.
Joseph Goebbels
Martin Bormann
Colonel Nicholaus von
Below
ruins after six devastating years of war, and with defeat imminent, Adolf
Hitler married his mistress of many years, Eva Braun, in a civil
ceremony in his bunker.
Then he hastily dictated his last will and a Political Testament
to his secretary, Frau Gertrud Junge. The documents
were little different from many speeches and articles he had written before.
After causing the destruction of huge areas of Europe, demanding the sacrifice
of millions of lives in pursuit of his political ambitions, and ordering the
murder of millions of others, Adolf Hitler showed no remorse in his Political
Testament. Instead, he blamed the Jews for the war he himself had
started.
In his will, he stated specifically who was to be the
executor of his will, what he wanted done with his body, and who was to receive
his possessions.
The Last Will
As I did not consider that I could take responsibility,
during the years of struggle, of contracting a marriage, I have now decided,
before the closing of my earthly career, to take as my wife that girl who,
after many years of faithful friendship, entered, of her own free will, the
practically besieged town in order to share her destiny with me. At her own
desire she goes as my wife with me into death. It will compensate us for what
we both lost through my work in the service of my people.
What I possess belongs - in so far as it has any value - to the
Party. Should this no longer exist, to the State; should the State also be
destroyed, no further decision of mine is necessary.
My pictures, in the collections which I have bought in the course
of years, have never been collected for private purposes, but only for the
extension of a gallery in my home town of Linz on Donau.
It is my most sincere wish that this bequest may be duly
executed.
I nominate as my Executor my most faithful
Party comrade,Martin Bormann. He is given full legal authority to make all decisions. He is
permitted to take out everything that has a sentimental value or is necessary
for the maintenance of a modest simple life, for my brothers and sisters, also
above all for the mother of my wife and my faithful co-workers who are well
known to him, principally my old Secretaries Frau Winter etc. who have for many
years aided me by their work.
I myself and my wife - in order to escape the disgrace of
deposition or capitulation - choose death. It is our wish to be burnt
immediately on the spot where I have carried out the greatest part of my daily
work in the course of a twelve years' service to my people.
Given in Berlin, 29th April 1945, 4:00 a.m.
Signed:
A. Hitler
Signed as witnesses:
Dr.
Joseph Goebbels
Martin Bormann
Colonel Nicholaus von
Below