Eva Braun

April 28, 1945. American troops took Munich, Germany, where Hitler had a private residence. There, a soldier found a photograph of a woman he had never seen before.

"Eva seemed to know she would marry that day. In the underground hall of the Reich Chancellery, a table was set upset up to serve as a wedding altar."

R. Misch, former radio operator at Führer headquarters: "Suddenly an unfamiliar man came in and said: I'm the registrar. I was told the Führer is getting married. We had heard nothing about it."

Eva's cousin G. Weisker: “As far as marriage was concerned, Hitler had always been married to Germany. But once that Germany ceased to exist, he had no reason left to refuse marriage to Eva. That was it.”

American troops began investigating Hitler’s mountain residence. Its underground shelters and passages extended for five kilometers. This was Eva Braun’s refuge room. The American soldiers entering it knew nothing of her existence. Eva rarely came into this room. Berchtesgaden never became a battlefield.

Young Eva wanted to be noticed and liked. She dreamed of fame.

Eva's cousin G. Weisker: "Eva said she did not need to be a star, but wanted to be the center of attention."

Eva's childhood friend A. Hiendlmeier: “There is a saying children often use: if you stay away from bad men, your prince is sure to appear.”

In 1929, seventeen-year-old Eva graduated from a convent school. She was mischievous and not particularly devout. She went on to work for Heinrich Hoffmann, Hitler's personal photographer.

Eva’s cousin G. Weisker: ‘Hitler had power, and he exercised it. Perhaps Eva wanted that, too.’

W. Mittelstrasser, Eva's former driver: "Eva did not care about politics. She wanted Hitler to love her. She loved him."

She contemplated suicide again.

But when Maria sought love, Hitler rebuffedrebuffed her. He wanted only to be loved, not to love. Heartbroken, Maria attempted suicide but was stopped by her parents.

Even when Hitler was away campaigning, Geli was not free.Yet Hitler would not genuinely commit himself to her. In despair, Geli took her own life in Hitler's apartment. He was devastated by the incident.

Hitler's former attendant H. Döring: “His niece Geli took her own life, and Eva attempted suicide twice before finally getting Hitler's attention. Even then, Hitler would not make his relationship with Eva a definite commitment.”

Braun family lawyer O. Gritschneder: “Her father, Fritz Braun, strongly opposed such an improper relationship and demanded that his daughter be left alone. But it had no effect.”

Former Hitler attendant H. Döring: ‘Eva was very elegant. She was slender and cared about fashion. With plenty of time and money, she changed clothes two or three times a day. …Eva was attractive.’

Hitler's former adjutant R.Reinhard Spitzy: "Eva Braun was simply a woman who offered Hitler bourgeois comfort over tea and cakes, and nothing more."

In public, Eva was merely a photographer, not a lover. Without a camera, she could not even approach Hitler. He liked inviting beautiful women to his mountain residence. Eva struggled desperately to suppress her jealousy.

Those around Eva did not take her seriously.

H. Döring, Hitler's former attendant: “I once took Eva to an exclusive nightclub in Salzburg. That was where we became close. She liked dancing the tango. Her dancing was passionate, yet delicate.”

Eva’s former driver W. Mittelstrasser: ‘Hitler and Eva had a sexual relationship. They lived in adjoining rooms, after all. It would be stranger to think nothing happened.’

Their relationship was kept secret.

Eva's former attendant M. Mittelstrasser: “They certainly lived as husband and wife. When a visit from Hitler coincided with her expected period, Eva took medicine to delay it. My job was to collect the medicine from a doctor named Brandt. Surely that is firm evidence that their relationship was like that of a married couple.”

H. Döring, Hitler's former attendant: “Eva had no particular feelings about the annexation of Austria. She was simply pleased that it was easier to go to Salzburg, where she could find the clothes and shoes she liked.”

O. Gritschneder, the Braun family's lawyer: "Eva had absolutely no involvement in the issues affecting Hitler or in those on which Hitler himself exerted influence."

H. Döring, Hitler's former attendant: “As war approached, Hitler grew distant from those who had previously been close to him—especially Eva, her sisters, and her friends. Since they were of little use in war, they might as well not have existed. Hitler's mind was filled with nothing but war.”

Hitler's former attendant H. Döring: “Eva always wanted lots of oranges, not to eat but to squeeze into juice. She also liked turtle soup and often wanted it in the middle of the night. It was an impossible request, and when I refused, she became bad-tempered.”

Photographer's son R. B. Schicht: “My father photographed Eva. They were private photographs, but he made them publicopenly available. As a result, he was suddenly sent to the front toward the end of 1941.”

Eva's former valet A. Bleyme: “Orders came to donate fur coats to the military. The women at the mountain retreat had magnificent furs. Eva said, ‘I won't wear this coat again, but I cannot send such an expensive coat to the front.’”

Former headquarters telephone operator A. Schulz: “The conversations I overheard between Hitler and Eva were strange. Eva was a charming woman. She sounded very happy as she talked and thanked Hitler. You could tell she really loved him. Hitler's tone, on the other hand, was stiff. When Eva thanked him for a gift—which had actually been arranged by his aide Bormann—Hitler said: ‘If you liked it, good, good.’”

Former Hitler attendant H. Döring: ‘The chambermaid’s brothers were bomber pilots. They were risking their lives fighting for their country. And yet Bormann—told us to throw her out. I could not do it.’ (Note)

L. Hartenstein, a former soldier at the mountain retreat: "There were guards at the entrance, but they knew Eva well and did not ask for identification. They simply let her in. Eva reported this to Hitler: 'Security at the retreat is inadequate. The guards let me through without checking me. Can you call that a guarantee of safety?' She probably just wanted to display her power."

Former Hitler attendant H. Döring: ‘Eva was a very curious woman. I often told her about conditions at the front and the latest news. Learning the situation depressed her terribly. Then she would ask, “Will things improve? Do you think Germany will win?” I did not give her a definite answer. I could not. I only said that things ought to work out.’

Former Third Reich film archivist H. Barkhausen: “We obtained the first Soviet film about Stalingrad through Sweden. But Hitler did not want to see it. It showed nothing but the German army's disastrous condition.”

H. Döring, Hitler's former attendant: “You may find it hard to believe, but the people working at the mountain residence heard nothing... absolutely nothing, about the terrible events.”

T. Junge, Hitler's former secretary: "A woman named Henriette von Schirach suddenly addressed Hitler: 'At the station in Vienna, I saw a train carrying Jews. They were being treated terribly. Does the Führer know about this?' Apparently Hitler stood up, told her to stop being sentimental and not to interfere in matters she knew nothing about, and left. Everything planned for that evening was canceled. From then on, Mrs. von Schirach was never invited to the mountain retreat again."

Eva’s cousin G. Weisker: ‘For Eva, it was humiliating. Her younger sister was getting properly married, while Eva’s existence was still unacknowledged, her position as girlfriend or mistress as unclear as ever.’

W. Mittelstrasser, Eva's former driver: "A man came to tell us something terrible had happened. When I asked what, he said there had been an attempt to assassinate the Führer."

Hitler was not waiting for Eva. He said the assassination’s failure was divine providence. Even so, Eva headed to Berlin, hoping that he needed her.

Eva's cousin G. Weisker: "Eva brought out necklaces and bracelets and said: I'll give these to you. I no longer need them. She, who had always dressed so elegantly, was saying she needed them no more. I think she had already decided to die."

Former Hitler attendant H. Döring: ‘Eva arrived in war-torn Berlin by special train. Hitler was surprised to see her and immediately tried to send her back. But she remained in Berlin.’

Former Führer headquarters radio operator R. Misch: ‘Eva begged Hitler to spare Fegelein. She seemed utterly desperate. But her plea was not granted.’

Psychologist M. Mitscherlich: “For Eva, marrying Hitler was the greatest joy, even if the ring was too large. But I cannot understand holding a wedding amid rubble where so many people were dying. And apparently it was a thoroughly petty-bourgeois ceremony, observing all the conventions.”

Hitler wrote in his testament: 'My wife and I have chosen death to escape the disgrace of submission or surrender—.' Poison had been prepared.

Former Hitler Youth leader A. Axmann: “I saw Eva Braun. She appeared to be sitting on the sofa beside Hitler. Her eyes were closed. To look at her, she was no different from when she was alive. She had taken poison, but she seemed merely asleep.”

Hitler's former secretary T. Junge: “Eva Braun spent most of her life in Hitler's shadow and had little chance to change her situation. But she had an ambition: to leave her name in history as a hero's mistress, as the Führer's wife. I think that was her purpose in life and what gave her strength.”