The Pittsburgh Press (April 23, 1945)
Yanks deep in Bavaria
Defenses of redoubt in Alps collapse as Patton swerves south
…
Hitler also reported in Harz forest cave
WITH U.S. NINTH ARMY, Germany (UP) – U.S. Army officers said today there were unverified reports that Adolf Hitler, Hermann Goering and Heinrich Himmler were hiding in caves in the Harz forests. That area has been occupied by the Americans.
On the face of it, the reports credited to German civilians appeared unreliable since organized resistance in the Harz forests was declared ended Sunday.
Yet 8th Armored Division officers said reports from independent sources crosschecked in their details.
Dozens of Germans were reported as having said that high Nazi authorities had been hiding in the huge chain of caverns near Blankenburg. One chamber alone was reported to have a capacity of more than 1,000 persons.
A darkened and heavily-guarded train was said to have unloaded in the mountains between Blankenburg and Elbingerode, probably at Ruebeland, 14 to 18 days ago. That was before the Americans closed the ring around the Harz pocket.