New York World-Telegram (May 1, 1945)
Hamburg radio announces:
Hitler is dead
LONDON (UP) – The German radio at Hamburg tonight broadcast an announcement that Adolf Hitler was dead.
There was no immediate confirmation from any Allied source.
The broadcast said Adm. Karl Doenitz, commander of the German Fleet, was Hitler’s successor, the Associated Press said. The Hamburg radio said Hitler died this afternoon.
The German radio said that Hitler “fell fighting for Germany till his last breath.”
The Nazi announcement was broadcast as from “the Fuehrer’s headquarters.”
Adm. Doenitz himself announced the death of Hitler, the enemy broadcast said. The German radio said Adm. Doenitz, in announcing Hitler’s death, said he was taking over the leadership of the German people to “try to save them from annihilation.”
U.S. State Department (May 2, 1945)
740.0011 EW/5–245: Telegram
The Minister in Sweden to the Secretary of State
Stockholm, May 2, 1945 — 2 a.m.
[Received May 2 — 1:19 a.m.]
1626.
Legs 1610, April 30, 7 p.m. Sweden’s efforts to get German troops to evacuate into Sweden to be disarmed here and eventually to be turned over to the Allies are presently believed by high officials of the Swedish Foreign Office to have failed. One reason for this anticipated failure is said to be the leakage of information at San Francisco relative to Himmler’s offer of capitulation to the Western Allies. The leakage resulted in widespread radio publicity which discredited Himmler. Another given reason is the alleged death of Hitler with the succession of Dönitz and his stated determination to continue the war. Count Folke Bernadotte returned to Sweden today and advised me that he had delivered the President’s message (Legation’s 1575, April 27, 6 p.m.) and there had been no reply.
There have been countless rumors today to the effect that Dr. Best has turned the administration of Denmark over to the Danish authorities and that the German troops are evacuating the island of Zealand but neither Von Post who is in Denmark nor representatives of the Danish underground here have been able to confirm this information.
There were also rumors this morning that the German authorities in Norway had ordered the release of the prisoners at Grini. Late tonight word was received that this alleged order had been countermanded by reason of the developments in Germany.
In my opinion it is important that the contemplated staff talks (Legs 1606, April 30, 3 p.m.) take place at the earliest practicable date.
JOHNSON