1945: Hitler dead; war goes on

LONDON (May 1): The death of Adolf Hitler, Fuhrer and dictator of Germany, was announced by the German Home Service to-day. The announcement said: "Our Fuhrer fell at his battle post in the Reich Chancellery in Berlin, fighting to his last breath against Bolshevism".

The radio stated that the day before Hitler had appointed as his successor Grand-admiral Karl Doenitz.

Before the announcement warning had been given that grave and important news would be read. Solemn music, including a funeral march, was played.

Grand-admiral Doenitz, the commander of the German Navy, speaking over the Hamburg radio, said Hitler had fallen in action at his command post. "My first task," he said, "is to save the German people from destruction by Bolshevism. If only for this task, the struggle will continue. So long as the achievement of this aim is impeded by Britain and America we will carry on the fight against them as well."

Reading an order of the day to the German armed forces, he declared that Hitler had appointed him to succeed as Reich Fuhrer, and added that the loyalty which Germans formerly owed to Hitler they now owed to him.

May 4: Goebbels's deputy, Dr Hans Fritsche, who was captured in Berlin, told the Russians that Hitler, Goebbels, and General Krebs (newly appointed Chief of the German General Staff) all committed suicide.

 

 

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