Citizendia
Your Ad Here

This is a reconstruction of the layout of the Führerbunker. 1) Protective Wall (2,2 m thick) 2) Ventilation Room (?) 3) Cloak Room 4) Exit to Garden via staircases 5) Goebbels' Bedroom 6) Doctor's Quarters 7) Bed 8) Safe 9) Chair 10) Table 11) Cupboard 12) Goebbels' Office & Doctor's Room 13) Conference Room 14) Conference/Map Room 15) Telephone Switchboard & Bormann's Office & Guard Room (?) 16) Generator/Ventiation Plant 17) Hitler's Office 18) Bathroom/Dressing Room 19) Eva Braun's Room 20) Electricity Switch Room 21) Toilets 22) Corridor/Lounge 23) Gas Door(s) (?) 24) Hall/Lounge 25) To Vorbunker ; Stairs up 26) Desk 27) Couch 28) Leg Chairs 29) Hitler's Bedroom 30) Hitler's Sitting Room.
This is a reconstruction of the layout of the Führerbunker. 1) Protective Wall (2,2 m thick) 2) Ventilation Room (?) 3) Cloak Room 4) Exit to Garden via staircases 5) Goebbels' Bedroom 6) Doctor's Quarters 7) Bed 8) Safe 9) Chair 10) Table 11) Cupboard 12) Goebbels' Office & Doctor's Room 13) Conference Room 14) Conference/Map Room 15) Telephone Switchboard & Bormann's Office & Guard Room (?) 16) Generator/Ventiation Plant 17) Hitler's Office 18) Bathroom/Dressing Room 19) Eva Braun's Room 20) Electricity Switch Room 21) Toilets 22) Corridor/Lounge 23) Gas Door(s) (?) 24) Hall/Lounge 25) To Vorbunker ; Stairs up 26) Desk 27) Couch 28) Leg Chairs 29) Hitler's Bedroom 30) Hitler's Sitting Room.


The Führerbunker (German, literally meaning "shelter for the leader" or "the Führer's shelter") is a common name for a complex of subterranean rooms in Berlin, Germany, where German dictator Adolf Hitler and his wife Eva Braun committed suicide during World War II. The German language (de ''Deutsch'') is a West Germanic language and one of the world's major languages. Berlin is the capital city and one of sixteen states of Germany. Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany ( ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant is a Country in Central Europe. Hi and welcome to Wikipedia! Please understand that this article is frequently vandalized and vandalism is reverted immediately Eva Anna Paula Braun, died Eva Anna Paula Hitler ( 6 February 1912 – 30 April 1945) was the longtime companion of The generally accepted cause of the death of Adolf Hitler on Monday 30 April 1945 is Suicide by gunshot and Cyanide poisoning World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including The bunker is perhaps the most famous of Hitler's Führer Headquarters; another famous one is the Wolfsschanze (Wolf's Lair) in East Prussia. The Führer Headquarters ( Führerhauptquartiere in German) abbreviated FHQ, is a common name for a number of official headquarters especially constructed East Prussia (Ostpreußen; Rytų Prūsija or Rytprūsiai; Prusy Wschodnie Восточная Пруссия or Vostochnaya Prussiya) refers to the main part

There were actually two bunkers that were connected together: the older Vorbunker and the newer Führerbunker. The Führerbunker was located about 8. 2 meters beneath the garden of the old Reich Chancellery building at Wilhelmstraße 77, about 120 meters north of the new Chancellery building, which had the address Voßstraße 6. The Reich Chancellery ( German Reichskanzlei) was the traditional name of the office of the German Chancellor The Wilhelmstrasse ( German Wilhelmstraße, see ß) is a street in the center of Berlin, the capital of Germany. de Voßstraße ( Voss Strasse or Vossstrasse in English ˈfɔsˌʃtʁaːsə is a street in central Berlin, the capital of Germany The Vorbunker was located beneath the large hall behind the old Chancellery, which was connected to the new Chancellery. The Führerbunker was located somewhat lower than the Vorbunker and west (or rather west/south-west) of it. The map opposite shows the approximate locations of the two bunkers. The two bunkers were connected via sets of stairs set at right angles (not spiral as some believe).

The complex was protected by approximately four meters of concrete, and about 30 small rooms were distributed over two levels with exits into the main buildings and an emergency exit into the gardens. The complex was built in two distinct phases, one part in 1936 and the other in 1943. The 1943 development was built by the Hochtief company as part of an extensive program of subterranean construction in Berlin begun in 1940. HOCHTIEF Aktiengesellschaft ( is Germany's largest construction company The accommodations for Hitler were in the newer, lower section and by February 1945 had been appointed with high quality furniture taken (or salvaged) from the Chancellery along with several framed oil paintings.

Contents

Events in 1945

Location of the Führerbunker.
Location of the Führerbunker.
See also: Battle of Berlin

On 16 January 1945, Hitler moved into the Führerbunker. For the bombing campaign on Berlin by the RAF from November 1943 to March 1944 see Battle of Berlin (air. Events 27 BC - The title Augustus is bestowed upon Gaius Julius Caesar Octavian by the Roman Senate. Year 1945 ( MCMXLV) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar He was joined by his senior staff, Martin Bormann, and later, Eva Braun and Joseph Goebbels with Magda and their six children who took residence in the upper Vorbunker. Martin Ludwig Bormann (17 June 1900 – 2 May 1945 Eva Anna Paula Braun, died Eva Anna Paula Hitler ( 6 February 1912 – 30 April 1945) was the longtime companion of Paul Joseph Goebbels (German pronunciation ˈɡœbəls English generally ˈɡɝbəlz (29 October 1897 1 May 1945 was a German politician and Reich Minister of Public Johanna Maria Magdalena "Magda" Goebbels ( November 11, 1901 &ndash May 1, 1945) was the wife of Nazi Germany 's Propaganda The Goebbels children were the five daughters and one son born to Nazi propaganda minister Joseph Goebbels and his wife Magda Goebbels. Two or three dozen support, medical and administrative staff were also sheltered there. These included Hitler's secretaries (including Traudl Junge), a nurse named Erna Flegel and telephonist Rochus Misch. Traudl Junge ( 16 March, 1920 &ndash 10 February, 2002) born Gertraud Humps, was Adolf Hitler 's youngest personal private Erna Flegel ( Kiel, July 11, 1911 - Mölln, February 16, 2006) was a German Nurse. Rochus Misch (born July 29, 1917) is a former Oberscharführer in the 1st SS Division Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler who worked as a Courier Hitler's dog Blondi was also one of the occupants of the underground bunker. Blondi ( 1934 - 29 April 1945) was Adolf Hitler 's German Shepherd dog given to him as a gift in 1941 by Martin Bormann. Initially, Hitler would often stroll around in the chancellery garden with Blondi until March 1945 when shelling became very common.

The bunker was supplied with large quantities of food and other necessities and by all accounts successfully protected its occupants from the relentless and lethal shelling that went on overhead in the closing days of April 1945. In the final days of the war, it is said that Hitler still enjoyed several cups of tea per day (10 to 16 cups) even though it was hard to obtain. Many witnesses later spoke of the constant droning sound of the underground complex's ventilation system.

On 16 April the Red Army started the Battle of Berlin by attacking German front line positions on the rivers Oder and Neisse. Events 1178 BC - A Solar eclipse may have marked the return of Odysseus, legendary King of Ithaca, to his kingdom The Red Army ( Russian: Рабоче-Крестьянская Красная Армия R aboche- K rest'yanskaya K rasnaya A rmiya For the bombing campaign on Berlin by the RAF from November 1943 to March 1944 see Battle of Berlin (air. See also Battle of Berlin The Battle of the Oder-Neisse is the German name for the initial (operational phase of one of the last two Strategic offensives The Oder (known in Czech and Polish as Odra) is a River in Central Europe. Neisse redirects here for other meanings see Neisse (disambiguation The Lusatian Neisse (Lužická Nisa Lausitzer Neiße Nysa Łużycka By 19 April Soviet spearheads had broken through the German lines and were starting to encircle Berlin. Events 1012 - Martyrdom of Alphege in Greenwich London. 1529 - At the Second Diet of Speyer [1]

On 20 April, his birthday, Hitler made his last trip to the surface to award Iron Crosses to some boy soldiers of the Hitler Youth. Events 1303 - The University of Rome La Sapienza is instituted by Pope Boniface VIII. For other meanings please see Iron Cross (disambiguation The Iron Cross ( was a Military decoration of the Kingdom of Prussia For the SS division with the nickname Hitlerjugend see 12th SS Panzer Division Hitlerjugend The Hitler Youth ( German:,

On 21 April Hitler gave orders which showed that his grasp of military reality had gone. Events 753 BC - Romulus and Remus found Rome ( traditional date) He ordered German army formations to counter attack to pinch off the two massive Soviet pincers that were encircling Berlin. The northern attack was to be commanded by SS-General Felix Steiner's Army Detachment. Felix Martin Julius Steiner ( 23 May 1896 – 12 May 1966) was a German Heer and Waffen-SS officer who served Army Detachment Steiner ( Armeeabteilung Steiner) was a temporary military unit something more than a corps but less than an army created on paper by German dictator Adolf Steiner tried to explain to his superiors that the only offensive capability he had was two battalions of the 4th SS Police Division and they had no combat weapons. No one passed on this information to Hitler. The southern counter attack was also just as unrealistic, because far from attacking, the German Ninth Army was being pushed back into the Halbe pocket. The 9th Army (9 Armee was a World War II field army The 9th Army was activated on May 15, 1940 with General Johannes Blaskowitz in command The Battle of Halbe (Хальбский "котел" Halbe cauldron lasted from April 24 to May 1, 1945 was a battle in which the [2][3]

On April 22, at his afternoon situation conference Hitler fell into a tearful rage when he realised that his plans of the day before were not going to be realised. Events 1500 - Portuguese Navigator Pedro Álvares Cabral becomes the first European to sight Brazil. He declared that the war was lost, he blamed the generals and announced that he would stay on in Berlin until the end and then kill himself. In an attempt to coax Hitler out of his rage, General Alfred Jodl speculated that the German Twelfth Army, under the command of General Walther Wenck, that was facing the Americans, could move to Berlin because the Americans, already on the Elbe River, were unlikely to move further east. Alfred Jodl (10 May 1890 – 16 October 1946 was a German military commander attaining the position of Chief of the Operations Staff of the Armed Forces High Walther Wenck ( September 18, 1900 &ndash May 1, 1982) was the youngest General in the German Army during the Second The Elbe ( die Elbe Low German: de Ilv) is one of the major Rivers of Central Europe. Hitler immediately grasped the idea and within hours Wenck was ordered to disengage from the Americans and move the Twelfth Army north-east to support Berlin. It was then realised that, if the Ninth Army moved west, it could link up with the Twelfth Army, in the evening Heinrici was given permission to make the link up. [4]

Despite the commands issuing from the Führerbunker by April 25 the Soviets had consolidated their investment of Berlin and leading Soviet units were probing and penetrating the S-Bahn defensive ring. Events 1607 - Eighty Years' War: The Dutch fleet destroys the anchored Spanish fleet at Gibraltar. Investment is the military tactic of surrounding an enemy Fort (or town with armed forces to prevent entry or escape By the end of the 25 April there was no prospect that the German defence of the city could do anything but delay the capture of the city by the Soviets as the decisive stages of the battle had already been fought and lost by the Germans outside the city. Events 1607 - Eighty Years' War: The Dutch fleet destroys the anchored Spanish fleet at Gibraltar. [5]

Hitler summoned Field Marshall Robert Ritter von Greim from Munich to Berlin to take over command of the Luftwaffe from Göring. Robert Ritter von Greim (Robert Greim 22 June, 1892 &ndash 24 May, 1945) was a German Field Marshal, pilot Hermann Wilhelm Göring (also spelled Goering) (12 January 1893 15 October 1946 was a German Politician, Military leader and a leading member On 25 April while flying over Berlin in a Fieseler Storch, von Greim was seriously wounded by Soviet anti-aircraft fire. Events 1607 - Eighty Years' War: The Dutch fleet destroys the anchored Spanish fleet at Gibraltar. WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout Hanna Reitsch, his mistress and a crack test pilot, landed von Greim on an improvised air strip in the Tiergarten near the Brandenburg Gate. Hanna Reitsch ( 29 March 1912 &ndash 24 August 1979) was a German Aviatrix who was once Adolf Hitler 's TiergartenViewjpg|thumb|right|View within the Tiergarten]] Tiergarten ( German for Animal Garden) is the name of both a large Park in the The Brandenburg Gate (Brandenburger Tor is a former City gate and one of the main symbols of Berlin and Germany. [6][7][8]

On the same day that Reitsch and von Greim landed in Berlin, 26 April, German General der Artillerie Helmuth Weidling was appointed commander of the Berlin Defense Area. Events 1467 - The miraculous image in Our Lady of Good Counsel appear in Genazzano, Italy. Helmuth Otto Ludwig Weidling ( 2 November 1891 &ndash 17 November 1955) was an officer in the German Army ( Wehrmacht [6] Hitler had ordered that Weidling be executed by firing squad only four days earlier on 22 April. Events 1500 - Portuguese Navigator Pedro Álvares Cabral becomes the first European to sight Brazil. This was due to a misunderstanding concerning a retreat order issued by Weidling as commander of the LVI Panzer Corps. Weidling had been appointed commander of the LVI Panzer Corps on 20 April. Events 1303 - The University of Rome La Sapienza is instituted by Pope Boniface VIII.

On 28 April, Hitler learned of Heinrich Himmler's contacts with Count Folke Bernadotte in Luebeck. Events 1192 - Assassination of Conrad of Montferrat (Conrad I King of Jerusalem, in Tyre, two days after his title Heinrich Luitpold Himmler ( 7 October 1900 – 23 May 1945 was a Nazi German politician and head of the Schutzstaffel (SS. Himmler had asked Bernadotte to convey a peace proposal to US General Dwight D. Eisenhower. Dwight David "Ike" Eisenhower (October 14 1890 – March 28 1969 was President of the United States from 1953 until 1961 and a five-star general Enraged at Himmler's duplicity, Hitler ordered von Greim and Reitsch to fly to Dönitz's headquarters at Ploen. Plön (ˈpløːn is the district seat of the Plön district in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, and has about 13000 inhabitants Field Marshal von Greim was ordered to arrest the "traitor" Himmler. Heinrich Luitpold Himmler ( 7 October 1900 – 23 May 1945 was a Nazi German politician and head of the Schutzstaffel (SS. [6]

General Hans Krebs made his last telephone call from the Führerbunker. Hans Krebs may refer to Hans Krebs (general (1898-1945 German general officer during World War II Hans Krebs (National Socialist He called Field Marshal Wilhelm Keitel Chief of OKW (German Armed Forces High Command) in Fuerstenberg. For other meanings see Field Marshal (disambiguation Field marshal is a military officer rank Wilhelm Bodewin Johann Gustav Keitel (22 September 1882–16 October 1946 was a German Field marshal ( Generalfeldmarschall) For other uses of OKW see OKW (disambiguation. The Oberkommando der Wehrmacht ( OKW) ( English: "High Command For other uses of OKW see OKW (disambiguation. The Oberkommando der Wehrmacht ( OKW) ( English: "High Command Krebs told Keitel that, if relief did not arrive within 48 hours, all would be lost. Keitel promised to exert the utmost pressure on Generals Walther Wenck, commander of Twelfth Army, and Theodor Busse commander of the Ninth Army. Walther Wenck ( September 18, 1900 &ndash May 1, 1982) was the youngest General in the German Army during the Second Theodor Busse ( 15 December 1897 &ndash 21 October 1986) was a German officer during World War I and World War II. Meanwhile, Martin Bormann wired to German Admiral Karl Dönitz: "Reich Chancellery (Reichskanzlei) a heap of rubble. Martin Ludwig Bormann (17 June 1900 – 2 May 1945 Karl Dönitz (ˈdøːnɪts) (16 September 1891 &ndash 24 December 1980 was a German naval Commander who served The Reich Chancellery ( German Reichskanzlei) was the traditional name of the office of the German Chancellor "[6] He went on to say that the foreign press was reporting fresh acts of treason and "that without exception Schörner, Wenck and the others must give evidence of their loyalty by the quickest relief of the Führer". [9] Borman was the head of the Nazi Party Chancellery (Parteikanzlei) and Hitler's private secretary. Party Chancellery ( Parteikanzlei) was the name of the office that replaced that of Deputy Führer of the National Socialist German Workers Party (NSDAP

During the evening, von Greim and Reitsch flew out from Berlin in an Arado Ar 96 trainer. Arado Ar 96 was a German single-engined low-wing Monoplane of all-metal construction produced by Arado Flugzeugwerke. Field Marshal von Greim was ordered to get the Luftwaffe to attack the Soviet forces that had just reached Potsdamerplatz (only a city block from the Führerbunker) and to make sure that Himmler was punished. ( English Potsdam Square, is an important Public square and traffic intersection in the centre of Berlin, Germany, lying about one kilometre [10] Fearing that Hitler was escaping in the plane, troops of the Soviet 3rd Shock Army, which was fighting its way through the Tiergarten from the north, tried to shoot the Arado down. The Soviet troops failed in their efforts and the plane took off successfully. [11][12]

During the night of 28 April, General Wenck reported to Keitel that his Twelfth Army had been forced back along the entire front. Events 1192 - Assassination of Conrad of Montferrat (Conrad I King of Jerusalem, in Tyre, two days after his title This was particularly true of XX Corps that had been able to establish temporary contact with the Potsdam garrison. According to Wenck, no relief for Berlin by his army was now possible. This was even more so as support from the Ninth Army could no longer be expected. [13] Keitel gave Wenck permission to break off his attempt to relieve Berlin. [9]

At 0400 hours on 29 April, in the Führerbunker, General Wilhelm Burgdorf, Goebbels, Krebs, and Bormann witnessed and signed the last will and testament of Adolf Hitler. Events 1429 - Joan of Arc arrives to relieve the Siege of Orleans. Wilhelm Burgdorf ( 14 February 1895 &ndash 2 May 1945) was a German officer The last will and testament of Adolf Hitler was dictated by Hitler to his secretary Traudl Junge in his Berlin Führerbunker on April 29 Hitler dictated the document to Traudl Junge, shortly after he had married Eva Braun. Traudl Junge ( 16 March, 1920 &ndash 10 February, 2002) born Gertraud Humps, was Adolf Hitler 's youngest personal private Eva Anna Paula Braun, died Eva Anna Paula Hitler ( 6 February 1912 – 30 April 1945) was the longtime companion of [14][15]

Late in the evening of the 29 April, Krebs contacted General Alfred Jodl (Supreme Army Command) by radio: "Request immediate report. Events 1429 - Joan of Arc arrives to relieve the Siege of Orleans. Alfred Jodl (10 May 1890 – 16 October 1946 was a German military commander attaining the position of Chief of the Operations Staff of the Armed Forces High Firstly of the whereabouts of Wenck's spearheads. Secondly of time intended to attack. Thirdly of the location of the Ninth Army. Fourthly of the precise place in which the Ninth Army will break through. Fifthly of the whereabouts of General Rudolf Holste's spearhead. Rudolf Holste ( 9 April 1897 &ndash 4 December 1970) was a German officer during World War I and World War II "[13] In the early morning of 30 April, Jodl replied to Krebs: "Firstly, Wenck's spearhead bogged down south of Schwielow Lake. Events 313 - Roman emperor Licinius unifies the entire Eastern Roman Empire under his rule Secondly, Twelfth Army therefore unable to continue attack on Berlin. Thirdly, bulk of Ninth Army surrounded. Fourthly, Holste's Corps on the defensive. "[13][16][17][18]

During the morning of April 30, SS Brigadeführer Wilhelm Mohnke, commander of the centre sector of Berlin, informed Hitler the centre would be able to hold for less than two days. Events 313 - Roman emperor Licinius unifies the entire Eastern Roman Empire under his rule Brigadeführer was an SS rank that was used in Nazi Germany between the years of 1932 and 1945 SS - Brigadeführer ( Major General) Wilhelm Mohnke ( 15 March 1911 &ndash 6 August 2001) was one Later that morning Weidling informed Hitler in person that the defenders would probably exhaust their ammunition that night and again asked Hitler permission to break out. At about 13:00 Weidling, who was back in his headquarters in the Bendlerblock, finally received Hitler's permission to attempt a breakout. The Bendlerblock is a building in Berlin, located in the Stauffenbergstraße (originally named 'Bendlerstrasse' south of the [19] During the afternoon Hitler shot himself and Braun took cyanide. A cyanide is any Chemical compound that contains the cyano group (C≡N which consists of a Carbon Atom triple-bonded to a In accordance with Hitler's instructions, the bodies were burned in the garden of the Reich Chancellery. The Reich Chancellery ( German Reichskanzlei) was the traditional name of the office of the German Chancellor [20] In accordance with Hitler's last will and testament, Joseph Goebbels, the Minister for Public Enlightenment and Propaganda, became the new "Head of Government" and Chancellor of Germany (Reichskanzler). Paul Joseph Goebbels (German pronunciation ˈɡœbəls English generally ˈɡɝbəlz (29 October 1897 1 May 1945 was a German politician and Reich Minister of Public This article focuses on the cases where the Head of Government is a separate office from the Head of State The Head of government of Germany is called Chancellor (Kanzler The Head of government of Germany is called Chancellor (Kanzler At 3:15 am, Reichskanzler Goebbels and Borman sent a radio message to Admiral Karl Dönitz informing him of Hitler's death. Karl Dönitz (ˈdøːnɪts) (16 September 1891 &ndash 24 December 1980 was a German naval Commander who served Per Hitler's last wishes, Dönitz was appointed as the new "President of Germany" (Reichspräsident). The Reichspräsident was the German Head of state during the period of the 1919-1934 Weimar Republic and the title was later briefly revived

By the end of the Day the Soviets had captured the Reichstag, which was of huge symbolic importance to the Soviets and one of the last German strong points defending the area around the Reich Chancellery and the Führerbunker. The Reichstag building in Berlin was constructed to house the Reichstag, the first Parliament of the German Empire. The Reich Chancellery ( German Reichskanzlei) was the traditional name of the office of the German Chancellor

At about 04:00 on 1 May, Krebs talked to General Chuikov commander of the Soviet 8th Guards Army. Events 305 - Diocletian and Maximian retire from the office of Roman Emperor. [21] Krebs returned empty handed after refusing to agree to an unconditional surrender. Only Reichskanzler Goebbels now had the authority to agree to an unconditional surrender. In the late afternoon, Goebbels had his children poisoned. Johanna Maria Magdalena "Magda" Goebbels ( November 11, 1901 &ndash May 1, 1945) was the wife of Nazi Germany 's Propaganda At about 20:00, Goebbels and his wife, Magda, left the bunker and close to the entrance bit on a cyanide ampule or either shot themselves at the same time, or were given a coup de grâce immediately afterwards by the SS guard detailed to dispose of their bodies. [22]

Weildling had given the order for the survivors to break out to the northwest starting at around 21:00 hours on 1 May. Events 305 - Diocletian and Maximian retire from the office of Roman Emperor. The breakout started later than planned at around 23:00 hours. The first group from the Reich Chancellery led by Mohnke avoided the Weidendammer bridge over which the mass breakout took place and crossed by a footbridge, but Monnke's group became split (Mohnke failed to escape and was captured the next day and like others who were captured and had been in the Führerbunker was interrogated by SMERSH). SMERSH (acronym of SMERt' SHpionam, Russ СМЕРть Шпионам Eng Death to Spies) were the counter-intelligence departments in A Tiger tank that spearheaded the first attempt to storm the Weidendammer bridge was destroyed. [23] There followed two more attempts and on the third attempt, made around 1:00 (2 May), Martin Bormann in another group from the Reich Chancellery managed to cross the Spree. Events 1194 - King Richard I of England gives Portsmouth its first Royal Charter. Martin Ludwig Bormann (17 June 1900 – 2 May 1945 He was reported to have died a short distance from the bridge, his body was seen and identified by Arthur Axmann who followed the same route. Artur Axmann ( 18 February 1913 in Hagen &ndash 24 October 1996 in Berlin) was leader of the Hitler Youth from 1940 through [24][25]

At 01:00 hours the Soviets picked up radio message from the German LVI Corps requesting a cease-fire and stating that emissaries would come under a white flag to Potsdamer bridge. Early in the morning of 2 May the Soviets stormed the Reich Chancellery. Events 1194 - King Richard I of England gives Portsmouth its first Royal Charter. General Weidling surrendered with his staff at 06:00 hours. [13][26]

Paradoxically the last defenders of the bunker were the French SS volunteers of the 33rd Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS Charlemagne (1st French) who remained at the bunker until the early morning of May 2 to prevent the Russians from capturing the bunker on May Day. The 33 Waffen-Grenadier-Division der SS Charlemagne (französische Nr (ref: Jean Mabire Mourir à Berlin Fayard, 1975)

General Burgdorf, who played a key role in the death of Erwin Rommel, and General Krebs chose to commit suicide rather than attempt to break out. Erwin Johannes Eugen Rommel ( ( 15 November 1891 – 14 October 1944) (also known as the " Desert Fox " Wüstenfuchs [13] Few people remained in the bunker, and they were subsequently captured by Soviet troops on 2 May. Events 1194 - King Richard I of England gives Portsmouth its first Royal Charter. Soviet intelligence operatives investigating the complex found more than a dozen bodies (the persons had apparently committed suicide) along with the cinders of many burned papers and documents.

Post-war events

Site of Führerbunker in 2007.
Site of Führerbunker in 2007.
Site of Führerbunker in 2007.
Site of Führerbunker in 2007.
Site of Führerbunker in 2005.
Site of Führerbunker in 2005.
Place of Hitler's Bunker in 2007. Place marked by the German government.
Place of Hitler's Bunker in 2007. Place marked by the German government.

The ruins of both the old and new Chancellery buildings were levelled by the Soviets between 1945 and 1949 but the bunker largely survived, although some areas were partially flooded. In 1947 the Soviets tried to blow up the bunker but only the separation walls were damaged. In 1959 the East German government also tried to blast the bunker, apparently without much effect. The German Democratic Republic ( GDR; Deutsche Demokratische Republik DDR; commonly known in English as East Germany) was a Socialist state Since it was near the Berlin Wall, the site was undeveloped and neglected until after reunification. The Berlin Wall (Berliner Mauer was a physical barrier separating West Berlin from the German Democratic Republic (GDR ( East Germany) including During the construction of residential housing and other buildings on the site in 1988–89 several underground sections of the old bunker were uncovered by work crews and were for the most part destroyed.

The former Chancellery was situated at the corner of Wilhelmstraße and Voßstraße. Other parts of the Chancellery underground complex were uncovered during extensive construction work in the 1990s, but these were ignored, filled in or quickly resealed.

In 1990, the bunker was reopened and photographed.

Since 1945 government authorities have been consistently concerned about the site of the bunker evolving into a Neo-Nazi shrine. The term neo-Nazism refers to post- World War II Political movements Social movements and ideologies seeking to revive Nazism, The strategy for avoiding this has largely been to ensure the surroundings remain anonymous and unremarkable. However, many feel this is simply erasing the past and ignoring the fact that it is essentially the most famous war bunker in history. In 2005 the location of the bunker was not marked in any way. The immediate area was occupied by a small Chinese restaurant and shopping mall while the emergency exit point for the bunker (which had been in the Chancellery gardens) was occupied by a parking lot. A shopping mall or shopping centre is a building or set of buildings that contain Retail units with interconnecting Walkways enabling visitors

On June 8, 2006 a small plaque was installed with a schematic of the bunker to mark the location. Events 68 - The Roman Senate accepts emperor Galba. 536 - St Silverius becomes Pope (probable Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. The plaque can be found at the corner of In den Ministergärten and Gertrud-Kolmar-Straße, two small streets about three minutes' walk from Potsdamer Platz. The telephonist Rochus Misch, apparently one of the last persons living who was in the bunker at the time of Hitler's suicide, was on hand for the ceremony. Rochus Misch (born July 29, 1917) is a former Oberscharführer in the 1st SS Division Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler who worked as a Courier As of May 2007, only one other bunker occupant remains alive, Armin Lehmann, who still provides researchers with historical facts. Armin Dieter Lehmann (born 23 May 1928 in Waldtrudering, a borough of Munich - died 10 October 2008 in Oregon Lehmann was a 16-year-old Hitler Youth member assigned to Artur Axmann's staff as Hitler's courier. For the SS division with the nickname Hitlerjugend see 12th SS Panzer Division Hitlerjugend The Hitler Youth ( German:, Artur Axmann ( 18 February 1913 in Hagen &ndash 24 October 1996 in Berlin) was leader of the Hitler Youth from 1940 through

On film and television

Dramatisations

Documentaries

See also

References

Further reading

Books
Articles
Visual representations

Footnotes

  1. ^ Beevor, pp. 217-233
  2. ^ Beevor p. 267-268
  3. ^ Ziemke pp. 87-88
  4. ^ Ziemke see References page 89
  5. ^ Ziemke References p. 111
  6. ^ a b c d Dollinger References p. 228
  7. ^ Beevor, references p. 322
  8. ^ Ziemke, references p. 98
  9. ^ a b Ziemke References p. 119
  10. ^ The Luftwaffe order differs in different sources. Beevor states it was to attack Potsdamerplatz, but Ziemke states it was to support Wenck's Twelfth Army attack. ( English Potsdam Square, is an important Public square and traffic intersection in the centre of Berlin, Germany, lying about one kilometre Both agree that he was also ordered to make sure Himmler was punished.
  11. ^ Beevor, references p. 342
  12. ^ Ziemke, references p. 118
  13. ^ a b c d e Dollinger References p. 239
  14. ^ Beevor References p. 343
  15. ^ 60 Years On - Hitlers last days: "Hitler's will and marriage" on the website of MI5 citing Trevor Roper (an WWII MI5 agent) The Last Days of Hitler records the marriage as taking place after Hitler had dictated the last will and testament.
  16. ^ Ziemke references p. 120
  17. ^ Beevor, references p. 357 last paragraph
  18. ^ Dollinger (p. 239) says Jodl replied, but Ziemke (p. 120) and Beevor (p. 537) say it was Keitel
  19. ^ Beevor, references p. 358
  20. ^ 60 Years On - Hitlers last days: "Preparations for death" and "Disposal of the bodies" on the website of MI5
  21. ^ Dollinger (p. 239) states 3am, and Beevor (p. 367) 4am, for Krebs meeting with Chuikov
  22. ^ Beevor references pp. 380-381
  23. ^ Weidendammer Brücke de. wikipedia. org
  24. ^ Beevor, references p. 383,389
  25. ^ Ziemke, references p. 126 says that Weildling gave no orders for a breakout.
  26. ^ Beevor References, p. 386

© 2009 citizendia.org; parts available under the terms of GNU Free Documentation License, from http://en.wikipedia.org
 Dapyx Software network: MP3 Explorer | Ebook Manager | Zenithic