| |
N0KFQ > TODAY 30.04.14 16:42l 54 Lines 2443 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
BID : 19153_N0KFQ
Read: GUEST
Subj: Today in History - Apr 30
Path: IZ3LSV<IK2XDE<DB0RES<DB0ANF<CX2SA<GB7CIP<GB7YEW<N9PMO<N3XPD<KQ0I<
N0KFQ
Sent: 140430/1435Z 19153@N0KFQ.#SWMO.MO.USA.NA BPQK1.4.60
Apr 30, 1945:
Adolf Hitler commits suicide
On this day in 1945, holed up in a bunker under his headquarters
in Berlin, Adolf Hitler commits suicide by swallowing a cyanide
capsule and shooting himself in the head. Soon after, Germany
unconditionally surrendered to the Allied forces, ending Hitler's
dreams of a "1,000-year" Reich.
Since at least 1943, it was becoming increasingly clear that
Germany would fold under the pressure of the Allied forces. In
February of that year, the German 6th Army, lured deep into the
Soviet Union, was annihilated at the Battle of Stalingrad, and
German hopes for a sustained offensive on both fronts evaporated.
Then, in June 1944, the Western Allied armies landed at Normandy,
France, and began systematically to push the Germans back toward
Berlin. By July 1944, several German military commanders
acknowledged their imminent defeat and plotted to remove Hitler
from power so as to negotiate a more favorable peace. Their
attempts to assassinate Hitler failed, however, and in his
reprisals, Hitler executed over 4,000 fellow countrymen.
In January 1945, facing a siege of Berlin by the Soviets, Hitler
withdrew to his bunker to live out his final days. Located 55
feet under the chancellery, the shelter contained 18 rooms and
was fully self-sufficient, with its own water and electrical
supply. Though he was growing increasingly mad, Hitler continued
to give orders and meet with such close subordinates as Hermann
Goering, Heinrich Himmler and Josef Goebbels. He also married his
long-time mistress Eva Braun just two days before his suicide.
In his last will and testament, Hitler appointed Admiral Karl
Donitz as head of state and Goebbels as chancellor. He then
retired to his private quarters with Braun, where he and Braun
poisoned themselves and their dogs, before Hitler then also shot
himself with his service pistol.
Hitler and Braun's bodies were hastily cremated in the
chancellery garden, as Soviet forces closed in on the building.
When the Soviets reached the chancellery, they removed Hitler's
ashes, continually changing their location so as to prevent
Hitler devotees from creating a memorial at his final resting
place. Only eight days later, on May 8, 1945, the German forces
issued an unconditional surrender, leaving Germany to be carved
up by the four Allied powers.
73, K.O. n0kfq
N0KFQ @ N0KFQ.#SWMO.MO.USA.NA
E-mail: kohiggs@gmail.com
Using Outpost Ver 2.8.0 c42
Read previous mail | Read next mail
| |
