Hitler wanted to avoid Austrian military service so he moved to Munich in May 1913. But once World War I began, he volunteered to serve in the German army. Little the world knew what's coming onto them in the next world war.
During World War I, Hitler was awarded two Iron Crosses for bravery. He was furious the way Germany had given up and surrendered. He expressed his anger to friends saying Germany was stabbed in the back by its leaders. At that point of time, he decided to enter politics.
In November 1923, Hitler attempted to oust German government with violent measure. He failed and was jailed. He came out from jail after nine months and decided to take over the German government using legal means. In July 1932 his Nazi Party obtained 37.3% vote in the election and formed the government. In 1938, Hitler was named ‘Man of the Year’ by the Time magazine.
But Hitler was never meant to be a politician had his passion was recognaised in the early years. Throughout his youth, Hitler dreamed of becoming an artist. He applied twice to the Vienna Academy of Art in 1907 and 1908 but was denied entrance both times. The rejection was proven costly because six million people died when this potential artist became a maniac and dictator.Why he hated Jews is still debatable; some say Hitler was furious at a Jewish doctor who let his mother die, some say he picked up a hatred for Jews while living on the streets of Vienna when the overall vibe was against the Jews.
Hitler used to operate from a bunker in last months of the war. Fifty-five feet under the Reich Chancellery (Hitler’s headquarters), the shelter contained 18 small rooms and was fully self-sufficient, with its own water and electrical supply. The bunker’s occupants maintained access to the outside world via telephone and telegraph lines. In the last months of the war, his generals were apparently lying to him about the situation of the war. Hitler thought he is winning the war but in reality Russian military was closing in.When Russians came close to the bunker, he decided to end his life. Before committing suicide, he blamed betrayals of his once loyal people and inefficiency of his generals for the defeat. His ruling period lasted 12 years though he promised before the war it would last 1,000 years.
On 23 April, Hitler realized the end is nearer when his most trusted accompanies Göring and Himmler left him. Escaping from the bunker and running towards his hideaway in the Alps was an option but Hitler did not want to risk of being caught. By 27 April, the Russians completely surrounded Berlin. Hitler did not want to escape; he did not want to be caught. So one option was left – to commit suicide.
Hitler asked his personal physician, Dr. Werner Haase, on 29 April to test the cyanide capsules he had with him. Ironically test subject was Hitler’s beloved Alsatian dog, Blondi. Blondi was killed along with her five puppies at the Reich Chancellery garden. The cyanide test was declared successful.Hitler ordered his personal adjunct, Otto Gunsche, on 30 April that his body along with his newlywed wife Eva Braun, should be burnt after they commit suicide. Hitler did not want to face the humiliation Mussolini faced a little earlier. Mussolini was caught in Italy and his body was hung upside down in a square in Milan.
Soon after giving instructions of what to do with his dead body, Hitler and Eva Braun entered their room. It was 3:30 P.M. One shot was heard by Hitler's remaining loyal people who were sitting outside the room. They entered the room and saw the couple had died swallowing cyanide while sitting together on a couch. As an added measure, Hitler also shot himself in the head with his personal pistol.
Hitler's personal adjunct Otto Gunsche and Artur Axmann wrapped the two bodies in a blanket and carried it to the Reich Chancellery garden. The bodies were then drenched in petrol and set afire. There burnt body of a furious dictator who thought the Third Reich would reign for 1,000 years but it lasted only 12.Hitler’s death was publicly announced on 1 May. Russian military, otherwise known as the Red Army, reached the bunker on 2 May. They wanted Hitler dead or alive because they knew Stalin is eagerly waiting in Moscow. They searched the whole bunker, nothing was found. On 4 May, a Russian soldier saw a tiny portion of a grey blanket at the bottom of a shell crater at the Reich Chancellery garden. He reported to his authority. The crater was dug and bodies of Hitler and his wife was found along with bodies of the dictator’s beloved dog Blondi. Thorough dental checks confirmed it was the body of Hitler.
With precise cautiousness and secrecy, Hitler and Eva Braun's dead bodies were taken to Moscow and latter buried beneath an army parade ground in Magdeburg. In 1970, Russian government photographed the remains before burning them again. Then they were dumped into a river. The water of the river was kind enough to take the ashes of the dictator who never gave a damn to tear drops of millions of people he tortured and killed.
Comments