The New York Times (May 3, 1945)
Goebbels and Fuehrer Died by Own Hands, Aide Says
By Cable to the New York Times
LONDON, Thursday, May 3 – A deposition by Joseph Goebbels’ chief assistant that both the German propaganda chief and Adolf Hitler had committed suicide in Berlin was given to the world early today by Red Army forces after they had occupied the capital of the crumbling Reich. Hans Fritsche, Goebbels’ deputy, was quoted in the Soviet communiqué as having reported also the suicide of General Krebs, who was disclosed to have been appointed Chief of the German General Staff in place of Field Marshal Gen. Wilhelm Keitel, lately believed to have been backing Heinrich Himmler’s peace bid to the Western Powers.
The statement of Fritsche, who was captured in Berlin with a large assortment of defense chiefs, added another version of the Fuehrer’s demise to two already given – that he had died in battle and that he had succumbed to cerebral hemorrhage.
Suicide seemed more in character for Goebbels, whose brilliant mind was as twisted as his club foot. Administrator for the defense of Berlin as well as Minister of Enlightenment and Propaganda, he had announced that he would remain in Berlin and kill himself rather than live in a Germany dominated by “Bolshevist terror.”
A cynical propagandist who set out without scruple to warp the mind of a whole nation, he was the great intellect of the Nazi party, a Catholic-bred, university-trained Rhinelander. A Nazi since he first heard Hitler speak in 1922, he was largely responsible for the hypnotic hold his party fastened on Germany. There had been none of his finesse and assurance in the recent German propaganda broadcasts.
Truman Believes Hitler Dead
Special to the New York Times
WASHINGTON, May 2 – President Truman announced at his press conference today that Adolf Hitler was dead.
This Government, the President said, has received information to this effect on the best authority possible. He added that he personally was convinced it was true.
The information, however, contained nothing concerning the manner of Hitler’s death or any details. Mr. Truman declined to give the source of the information.
The President’s announcement came unexpectedly, He was asked for comment on the death of Benito Mussolini and the reported death of Hitler.
It meant, of course, he replied, that the two principal war criminals would not have to come to trial, that this was now a fact.
“Does that mean that official confirmation has been received that Hitler is dead?” he was asked.
It was then that he made his announcement and said he was glad. He was next asked if Grand Admiral Karl Doenitz, who has proclaimed himself Hitler’s successor, was on the list of war criminals. The President replied in the negative. He did not discuss the matter further.
Cremation Report Predicted
WITH UNITED STATES FIRST ARMY, May 2 (UP) – A former high official of the German Foreign Office predicted today the Germans soon would announce that the body of Hitler had been cremated. He said he did not believe Hitler had died a hero’s death in Berlin.
The former official, who spent more than thirty years in the German Foreign Office, said he believed Hitler was dead, but that he probably died several days ago from a cerebral hemorrhage and was taken to Berlin for a “hero’s death.”
“You can be sure Hitler’s body will not be discovered,” the official said. “The Nazis will claim cremation to eliminate all trace. I believe he is dead. We of the Foreign Office all do. But admittedly there exists a possibility he is alive and attempting to disappear through feigning death.”
Paris Reports Assassination
LONDON, May 2 (AP) – The Paris radio broadcast a report today that Hitler was assassinated in his Berlin headquarters the night of April 21-22 after a quarrel with other leaders over continuation of the war. The broadcast quoted the newspaper Paris Presse, which attributed the report to “well informed quarters.”
On April 21, the broadcast said, Hitler presided over a war council attended by Field Marshals Albert Kesselring, Ernst von Busch and Ferdinand Schoerner and Col. Gen. Heinz Guderian and General Fitzler, as well as Heinrich Himmler, Hermann Goering and Joseph Goebbels.
“The atmosphere became so tense that when Kesselring, von Busch, Himmler and Goering were invited to return alone the next day they feared they would share the fate of those who opposed Hitler in July, 1944,” the broadcast said. “During the night, only a few hours before the second meeting was to have taken place, an explosion took place in Hitler’s private apartments. He and the entire guards corps there were killed.”
De Valera Proffers Sympathy to Reich
DUBLIN, May 2 (UP) – Prime Minister Eamon de Valera made a personal call at the German Legation today to express condolences for Adolf Hitler’s death.
He was accompanied by Joseph Walsh, Secretary of the Department of External Affairs, and was received by the German Minister, Dr. Eduard Hempel.
Hitler’s death was widely discussed throughout neutral Eire and received wide play in newspapers.
The Portuguese Government ordered two days of mourning for Hitler and flags will be flown at half-staff on “all public buildings,” the American Broadcasting Station in Europe said yesterday, according to the Office of War Information.
Hitler News Fails to Arouse Weimar
Buchenwald Prisoners Are Suspicious of Report, Suspecting Nazi Trick
By HAROLD DENNY
By Wireless to the New York Times
WEIMAR, Germany, May 2 – The report that Adolf Hitler was dead fell flat here in the heart of the country he ruled so long. A good many Germans do not believe it and others do not seem to care much.
On the streets of this little city, one sees no change from yesterday in the expressions on the people’s faces. There is no appearance of sorrow or of rejoicing. About the same proportion are smiling as on any other day.
“If he is dead,” said an elderly German, “well, everybody has to die some time.”
A noblewoman here, who hated Hitler and once publicly snubbed him, thought his death would not make much difference because he was finished anyhow.
The Wagnerian fanfare with which Hitler’s death was announced on the German radio did not seem to impress the German people here, at least at the moment. Many persons did not hear the broadcasts because the lack of electric current has silenced most radios. Also, the people have become skeptical of what they hear on the German radio.
A young laundress in the hotel where I am stopping had heard the news and said, amid sobs, “He died a hero’s death.”
For most of the population it is probably true that they have taken so many shocks in recent months that they do not react much anymore.
At the Buchenwald camp for political prisoners near Weimar, where one would have expected a celebration, there was similar indifference. German political prisoners whom I questioned generally discredited the report. They suspected a trick in the announcement. Hitler had been such a crook that some thought he was incapable even of dying honestly.
A Russian thought it a shame that Hitler had got off with a quick death when he had caused such suffering to millions. A Netherland prisoner said the end of Hitler was not important, that the evil he had done lived after him. He stressed that there still remained fascism, with which he had infected a generation and that must be fought all over the world.
No Hero’s Death, Says Eisenhower
General Contradicts Doenitz’s Announcement on Hitler – Himmler version given
By Wireless to the New York Times
PARIS, May 2 – Grand Admiral Karl Doenitz’s announcement that Adolf Hitler had died a hero’s death has been contradicted by a statement from Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower that reveals that Heinrich Himmler told Count Folke Bernadotte of Sweden at a meeting on April 24 that Germany was “finished” and that Hitler was dying.
General Schillenburg, another German present, said Hitler was suffering from a brain hemorrhage.
While the Supreme Commander revealed some details of the meeting between Count Bernadotte and Himmler, who was named as “Reich Fuehrer” in the Doenitz announcement, intelligence officers at his headquarters sought an answer to the mystery of the admiral’s sudden rise to command in Germany.
One theory is that Himmler has been killed or deposed and that the Supreme Command, composed of Admiral Doenitz for the navy, Field Marshal Gen. Wilhelm Keitel for the army and Air Field Marshal Erhard Milch for the air force, has assumed power in Germany.
The Supreme Headquarters announcement stressed that Admiral Doenitz’s attempt at last night’s address to drive a wedge between the United States and Britain and Russia “will be completely ineffective.”
Doenitz is contradicted
General Eisenhower’s statement refers first to Admiral Doenitz’s announcement that Hitler had died a hero’s death and that he had appointed Admiral Doenitz his successor as Reich Chancellor and Supreme Commander of the Wehrmacht and that by virtue of this the allegiance of the German army was transferred from Hitler to Admiral Doenitz.
In answer General Eisenhower’s statement said:
“A meeting took place at Luebeck at 1 A.M. on the morning of April 24 between Count Bernadotte of the International Red Cross and Reich Fuehrer Heinrich Himmler. At this meeting Himmler admitted Germany was finished. He told Count Bernadotte that Hitler was so ill that he might be already dead. At any rate, he could not live more than two days longer. General Schillenburg, who was also present, added that Hitler was suffering from a brain hemorrhage.
“Admiral Doenitz’s statement, therefore, that Hitler has met a hero’s death at his post is in contradiction with the facts given by Himmler and General Schillenburg.”
The statement ended by declaring that “constant contact” was being maintained “between this headquarters and the headquarters of the Soviet Army.”
High command rule seen
Although they are quick to admit the situation within the German Government is chaotic, senior officers at Supreme Headquarters here say Admiral Doenitz’s assumption of command indicated that the German High Command had beaten Himmler in the struggle for power and that generals and admirals were in command rather than the National Socialist party and Elite Guard forces. They point out that Admiral Doenitz, a member of the High Command, could hardly have assumed power without the assistance of the admirals and generals and that the dying German State had turned to the war lords, its old leaders, in the final phase.
However, it is suggested by some officers that the rise of these generals to power may be part of a plot to cover the withdrawal of Himmler and other party leaders for underground activity with the generals and admirals hoping, as France once hoped, for a soldiers’ peace to cover the retreat.
Most sources questioned today said they thought Hitler was more valuable to Germany dead than alive, stressing that if those now in power choose to continue the fight a “martyred Fuehrer” could be made the rallying point for popular resistance.