Never-before-seen documents relating to Adolf Hitler’s final days at his underground bunker have been revealed more than 70-years later, after being kept as a memento by a French soldier.
Paul Villatoux and Xavier Aiolfi, historians, have scanned through dozens of documents sent from Berlin’s bunker during Soviet forces’ invasion of the German capital in the days leading up to Hitler’s suicide in April 1945.
The letters, telegrams, personal effects, and letters include the last futile military order of the Nazi dictator – which directed his forces across Europe in order to rescue Berlin, despite them being cut off or destroyed – as also an announcement of his death.
In one telegram, Hitler’s private secretary Martin Bormann admits that ‘Things Are Screwed Here’. In another, Herman Goring (head of the Gestapo & Nazi armed forces) attempts to take advantage and control the Third Reich. Goring was later branded a “traitor” and placed under house arrest.
A copy Goring’s infamous Telegram was never seen before it was given to Mr Aiolfi. The son of Captain Michel Leroy, a French soldier who broke in to the bunker at end of Second World War, had the papers until his passing.
Captain Leroy, a German soldier stationed in Berlin at the time, discovered the 70 papers among a pile of furniture and broken objects in Bormann’s office in November 1945.
These documents, which were scorch-marked, barely escaped being lost as the Nazis burned everything that could be seized and used in war crimes trials.
The letters, telegrams, personal effects, and letters include Adolf Hitler’s last futile military order, as well as an announcement of his decision for suicide. (Pictured below: Handwritten telegrams in fire damaged by Martin Bormann after Herman Goring, Nazi armed forces leader, attempted to take control over the Third Reich amid the chaos following the war’s end.
Captain Michel Leroy, a French soldier stationed at Berlin, found the 70 papers in a pile of furniture and broken objects in Bormann’s office in November 1945. (Pictured, Hitler’s last military order commanding the remaining German army across Europe to rescue Berlin despite the fact that most of them had been cut off or eliminated)
Eike Bormann’s beautiful drawing of colourful insects and flowers by her daughter was also saved (pictured). Bormann’s wife and ten kids, all of whom survived the war, sought refuge in Obersalzberg in Bavaria, a mountainside retreat. His daughter, who was trapped in the bunker with her father, drew the picture from this place. Mr Aolfie described this painting as a “colourful paradox” – a little of life in the kingdoms of near-death.
Paul Villatoux and Xavier Aiolfi, historians, have scanned through dozens of papers from the Berlin bunker during Soviet forces’ invasion of the German capital in April 1945. (Photo: Adolf Hitler).
To shed light on the last days of the Third Reich, historians relied on post-war testimony and documents from other parts of Germany.
Now, Mr Aiolfi and his colleague, who are experts in military findings from World War Two have presented the documents in their book, The Final Archives of the Fuhrerbunker. They want to retell the story of Hitler’s demise.
Official communications from the collection show the paranoia and hopelessness of Hitler’s entourage during Germany’s impending defeat.
These are stark contrasts to the poignant drawings of colourful insects and flowers by Bormann’s little girl, Eike. This was also saved.
Bormann sent one telegram after Hitler went into a panic and said he would rather flee the city than kill himself.
It says, “Things have gone wrong here.” Chief will not be moved. The mood is clear.”
One telegram that Hitler’s private secretary Martin Bormann (pictured), sent after the Fuhrer declared that he would rather die than flee from the city, is especially chilling. It reads: “Things have been screwed here. Chief will not be moved. The mood is clear.”
To shed light on the last days of the Third Reich in the bunker, historians used to rely on testimonies from the war and documents from Germany. (Pictured: Hitler’s bunker in Berlin’s Chancellery)
Sightseers wander among the ruins Hitler’s air raid shelter. Sometimes called Hitler’s “tombstone”, after a Russian Army engineer detachment blew it up.
It was followed five days later by Bormann’s final military command from the Fuhrer, which he gave on April 25, just five day before his death.
He ordered the remnants of Germany’s army in Norway, Denmark, Latvia to surrender and deliver a victory in the Battle of Berlin.
The plan was thwarted when the military units were destroyed or taken out by the enemy.
They included an army force in Courland (Latvia), which was completely surrounded by Soviet troops up until the end.
Mr Aiolfi described these documents as’real witnesses in history’.
He stated, “They are exceptional because almost every bunker was burnt so it would not fall into Soviet hands.”
“More Than 75 years after the events, these people still smell of moisture and have traces from burns. They are true witnesses.
They are significant in political significance because they belonged Martin Bormann, an indispensable executor of Hitler’s plans.
“He was a servile, brute character, thirsty after personal power, and determined to be near the Fuhrer.
“The telegram in Hitler’s last orders for Berlin defense is the most iconic document.
“He maneuvered units that were not available or unable to reach the city, but he was convinced Providence would save him army.
“It is evident from these orders, that he still believed that he could win Battle of Berlin and defeat Soviets.
“He believed that this would put him in a position to negotiate a peace deal and turn the Allies towards Russia.”
Official communications from the collection reveal the paranoia and hopelessness of Hitler’s entourage as Germany’s impending defeat became apparent (Pictured : Alleged body Adolf Hitler, after he shot himself in March 1945).
These documents were never seen before author Xavier Aiolfi was given them by Captain Michel Leroy’s son. He took them from the bunker, and kept them as souvenirs until his passing.
Bormann, also known as Hitler’s Bull, hid under the Chancellery Building in Berlin until the Fuhrer shot him.
Bormann committed suicide on May 2, 1945. He was just a few steps away from being captured as he tried to flee Berlin.
The Russians never claimed to have found his body. Rumours that he escaped to South America and survived continued until 1972, when his remains were discovered in Berlin.
His wife and ten children, all of whom survived the war, sought refuge in Obersalzberg in Bavaria, a mountainside retreat.
It was here that his daughter, trapped in the bunker, drew the picture that she would later send her father.
Mr Aolfie described this painting as a “colourful paradox” – a little bit life in the kingdoms of near-death.
Bormann’s office also saved an unpublished copy of a notorious telegram sent in by Goring, the Nazi commander of the armed forces.
Goring was shocked to hear that Hitler had committed suicide. He asked Goring to take over the leadership of Third Reich.
‘If I don’t hear from you before 22:00, I will assume that your are not available to act.
“May God bless you and allow you quickly to rejoin us.”
Bormann, a bitter rival of Goring insisted that this was an effort to seize power, and accused Goring betraying him.
He sent telegrams to Hitler, ordering the arrests of Goring loyalists and seeking further evidence of his so called ‘high treason.
Paul Villatoux and Mr Aiolfi have presented the documents to Hitler for the first times in their book, The Final Archives of the Fuhrerbunker. This book retells the story of Hitler’s death.
One he wrote to Hitler’s security force, the SS: ‘Arrest Goring’s entourage immediately.
Goring was spared execution, but he was stripped off his titles and placed in house arrest.
Hitler finally accepted the bitter reality that Berlin was being saved by Hitler on April 29, 1945.
He married Eva Braun and signed the last will and testament.
It stated that they had chosen death to capitulation. Hitler was then shot beside Eva, who swallowed the cyanide.
The bodies of the pair were found next to each other, and they were set ablaze in the garden outside the bunker following Hitler’s instructions.
Hitler’s chief propagandist Joseph Goebbels poisoned six of his children and shot his wife before committing suicide.
Boremann, along with the others who remained inside the bunker, attempted to escape but he was shot and killed at a bridge over the River Spree in central Berlin.
The Final Archives of the Fuhrerbunker is published by Casemate and costs £22.50.