Marburger Zeitung (May 2, 1945)
Unser Führer für Deutschland gefallen
Führerhauptquartier, 1. Mai.
Aus dem Führerhauptquartier wird gemeldet, daß unser Führer Adolf Hitler heute nachmittag in seinem Befehlsstand in der Reichskanzlei, bis zum letzten Atemzuge gegen den Bolschewismus kämpfend, für Deutschland gefallen ist.
Am 30. April hat der Führer den Großadmiral Dönitz zu seinem Nachfolger ernannt.
Der Großadmiral und Nachfolger des Führers spricht zum deutschen Volk:
Deutsche Männer und Frauen!
Soldaten der deutschen Wehrmacht!
Der Führer Adolf Hitler ist gefallen. In tiefster Trauer und Ehrfurcht neigt sich das deutsche Volk. Frühzeitig hatte er die furchtbare Gefahr des Bolschewismus erkannt und diesem Ringen fein Dasein geweiht. Am Ende dieses seines Kampfes und seines unbeirrbaren geraden Lebensweges steht sein Heldentod in der Hauptstadt des Deutschen Reiches. Sein Leben war ein einziger Dienst für Deutschland. Sein Einsatz im Kampf gegen die bolschewistische Sturmflut galt darüber hinaus Europa und der gesamten Kulturwelt.
Der Führer hat mich zu seinem Nachfolger bestimmt. Im Bewußtsein der Verantwortung übernehme ich die Führung des deutschen Volkes in dieser schicksalsschweren Stunde. Meine erste Aufgabe ist es, deutsche Menschen vor der Vernichtung durch den vordrängenden bolschewistischen Feind zu retten. Nur für dieses Ziel geht der militärische Kampf weiter. Soweit und solange die Erreichung dieses Zieles durch die Briten und Amerikaner behindert wird, werden wir uns auch gegen sie weiter verteidigen und weiterkämpfen müssen. Die Anglo-Amerikaner setzen dann den Krieg nicht mehr für ihre eigenen Völker, sondern allein für die Ausbreitung des Bolschewismus in Europa fort.
Was das deutsche Volk in dem Ringen dieses Krieges kämpfend vollbrachte und in der Heimat ertragen hat, ist geschichtlich einmalig. In der kommenden Notzeit unseres Volkes werde ich bestrebt sein, unseren tapferen Frauen, Männern und Kindern, soweit dies in meiner Macht steht, erträgliche Lebensbedingungen zu schaffen. Zu all dem brauche ich Eure Hilfe. Schenkt mir Euer Vertrauen! Denn Euer Weg ist auch mein Weg. Haltet Ordnung und Disziplin in Stadt und Land aufrecht! Tue jeder an seiner Stelle seine Pflicht!
Nur so werden wir die Leiden, die die kommende Zeit jedem einzelnen von uns bringen wird, mildern und den Zusammenbruch verhindern können. Wenn wir tun, was in unseren Kräften steht, wird auch der Herrgott nach soviel Leid und Opfer uns nicht verlassen.
Tagesbefehl von Großadmiral Dönitz
Deutsche Wehrmacht! Meine Kameraden!
Der Führer ist gefallen! Getreu seiner großen Idee, die Voelker Europas vor dem Bolschewismus zu bewahren, hat er sein Leben eingesetzt und den Heldentod gefunden. Mit ihm ist einer der größten Helden deutscher Geschichte dahingegangen.
In stolzer Ehrfurcht und Trauer senken wir vor ihm die Fahnen.
Der Führer hat mich zu seinem Nachfolger als Staatsoberhaupt und als Obersten Befehlshaber der Wehrmacht bestimmt. Ich übernehme den Oberbefehl über alle Teile der deutschen Wehrmacht mit dem Willen, den Kampf gegen due Bolschewisten solange fortzusetzen, bis die kämpfende Truppe und bis die Hunderttausende von Familien des deutschen Ostraumes vor der Versklavung oder Vernichtung gerettet sind. Gegen Engländer und Amerikaner muß ich den Kampf soweit und solange fortsetzen, wie sie mich an der Durchführung den Kampfes gegen die Bolschewisten hindern.
Die Lage erfordert von Euch, die Ihr schon so große geschichtliche taten vollbracht habt und die Ihr jetzt das Ende des Krieges herbeisehnt, weiteren besingungslosen Einsatz.
Ich verlange Disziplin und Gehorsam. Nur durch vorbehaltlose Ausführung meiner Befehle wird Chaos und Untergang vermieden. Ein Feigling und Verräter ist, wer sich gerade jetzt seiner Pflicht entzieht und damit deutschen Frauen und Kindern Tod oder Versklavung bringt.
Der dem Führer von Euch geleistete Treueeid gilt nunmehr für jeden einzelnen von Euch ohne weiteres mir als dem vom Führer eingesetzten Nachfolger.
Deutsche Soldaten! Tut Eure Pflicht! Es gilt das Leben unseres Volkes!
Funkspruch des Gauleiters an Großadmiral Dönitz
Herr Großadmiral! Der Gau Steiermark steht in unbedingter Gefolgschaftstreue hinter Ihnen als dem vom Führer ernannten Nachfolger.
Heil Hitler!
Uiberreither
Tagesbefehl des Oberbefehlshabers unserer Heeresgruppe
Wir stehen zutiefst erschüttert vor der Tatsache, daß der Führer und Oberste Befehlshaber der Wehrmacht tot ist. Er fiel als Soldat im Kampf um Deutschland auf seinem Gefechtsstand. Er bestimmte zu seinem Nachfolger den Großadmiral Dönitz. Gleichzeitig befahl der Führer, daß die ihm im Fahneneid geschworene Treue auf seinen Nachfolger überzugehen habe. Er befahl weiter, daß der Kampf gegen den Bolschewismus fortzuführen und den Westgegnern der Widerstand zu leisten sei, der zur Verteidigung notwendig ist.
Ich erwarte, daß jeder Soldat der Heeresgruppe in dieser für das Schicksal des deutschen Volkes entscheidenden Stunde sich der Größe seiner Aufgabe bewußt ist. Wir müssen dem neuen Führer ermöglichen, nach der ihm vom Schicksal zugefallenen Verantwortung für Volk und Reich zu handeln.
Rendalle
Generaloberst
Die Armee hält ihre Stellungen
Unser Führer hat getreu seinem Eide in Großdeutschlands Freiheitkampf den Heldentod erlitten. Er hat Großadmiral von Dönitz zu seinem Nachfolger ernannt, auf den der von uns geleistete Eid übergeht. Die tödliche Gefahr Europas ist und bleibt der Bolschewismus, dem unser Kampf bis aufs Messer auch weiterhin gilt. Die Armee hält zum Schutz der Heimat, zum Schutz von Frau und Kind, ihre derzeitigen Stellungen. Bewahrt Disziplin und Vertrauen der militärischen Führung! Vernichtet die Banditen und Saboteure! Es lebe Deutschland!
M. de Angelis
General der Artillerie und Oberbefehlshaber unserer Armee
G-2 Section, Seventh Army (May 2, 1945)
Daily Radio Monitoring Report
By PWB, G-2, SEVENTH ARMY
Bulletin No. 192
May 2, 1945
THE GERMANS SAY ADOLF HITLER IS DEAD
The Fuehrer is dead; at least, the Nazis say so. This Monitoring Station, in its permanent watch on the German radio, heard at 2130 hours the announcer say, first in English and then in German, that “an important and grave announcement for the German people” would be made soon. There followed long passages from Wagner’s “Goetterdaemmerung” and the slow movement from Hans von Bruckner’s Seventh Symphony, punctuated by the above-mentioned statement. Finally, at 2226, the chief announcer of the Greater German network came to the microphone and made the following announcement, preceded by a triple roll of muffled drums:
“It is reported from the Fuehrer’s Headquarters that the Fuehrer, Adolf Hitler, fell at his post of command in the Chancellery this afternoon after fighting against Bolshevism to the very end. On April 30th the Fuehrer appointed Grand Admiral Doenitz as his successor. The Grand Admiral, successor to the Fuehrer, has issued the following proclamation to the German people:
“‘German men and women! Soldiers of the German Armed Forces:
‘Our Fuehrer, Adolf Hitler, has fallen. The German people bow their heads in deepest sorrow and reverence; the Fuehrer realized the dreadful danger of Bolshevism at an early stage and devoted his life to combating this menace. At the end of this his struggle and the unerring prosecution of his life’s mission, he died a hero’s death in the Reich’s capital. His life was one of devoted service to Germany. His struggle against the tidal wave of Bolshevism was waged on behalf of Europe and the entire civilized world. The Fuehrer has appointed me as his successor.
‘Conscious of the responsibility involved I assume the leadership of the German nation at this fateful hour. My first task is to save the German people from the advancing Bolshevist enemy. The battle continues for this aim alone. In so far and for as long as the British and Americans hinder the achievement of this aim we shall continue to resist them also and to fight on. The Anglo-Americans would then no longer continue the war in the interests of their own peoples but solely for the extension of Bolshevism throughout Europe.
‘The German achievements in battle and the burdens borne by the homeland in the course of this war are unique in history. In the coming period of stress I will endeavor, so far as lies in my power, to make life as bearable as possible for our courageous women, children and men. In order to accomplish this I need your help. Give me your confidence, since your path is also my path. Preserve order and discipline in town and countryside. Each one of you must do his duty at his post. Only in this way can we alleviate the suffering which the future holds in store for each one of us and prevent a collapse. If we do all this that is in our power the Lord will not forsake us after so much suffering and so many sacrifices’.”
Signed: Doenitz, Grand Admiral.
In his capacity as Supreme Command of the German armed forces Grand Admiral Doenitz has issued the following order of the day to the armed forces:
“German Wehrmacht! My Comrades!
“The Fuehrer has fallen. Faithful to the great idea of preserving the peoples of Europe from Bolshevism he has consecrated his life and died a hero’s death. One of the greatest heroes in German history has passed away. we lower our flags in proud reverence and sorrow.
“The Fuehrer has appointed me to succeed him as Chief of State and Supreme Commander of the Wehrmacht. I take over command of all branches of the German Wehrmacht in the determination to continue the struggle against Bolshevism until the fighting troops and the hundreds of thousands of families in eastern Germany have been preserved from enslavement or destruction. I must continue to wage war on the British and Americans insofar and for as long as they hinder me in the prosecution of the fight against Bolshevism.
“The situation demands of you who have already accomplished such great historical feats and now long for the end of the war further unconditional service. I demand discipline and obedience. Only by the unquestioning execution of my orders can chaos and the downfall of Germany be avoided. He who now shirks his duty, thus bringing death and enslavement upon German women and children, is a coward and a traitor. The oath pledged by you to the Fuehrer now applies for each one of you to me as the successor appointed by the Fuehrer.
“German Soldiers! Do your duty! The life of our nation is at stake.”
Signed: Doenitz, Grand Admiral and Supreme Commander of the German Wehrmacht.
The Stars and Stripes, Paris (May 2, 1945)
German radio reports:
HITLER DEAD
Adolf Hitler at his height
The German radio announced last night that Adolf Hitler had died yesterday afternoon, and that Adm. Doenitz, former commander-in-chief of the German Navy, had succeeded him as ruler of the Reich.
Doenitz, speaking later over the German radio, Reuter said, declared that “Hitler has fallen at his command post.”
“My first task,” Doenitz said, “is to save the German people from destruction by Bolshevism. If only for this task, the struggle will continue.”
The announcement preceding the proclamation by Doenitz said: “It is reported from the Fuehrer’s headquarters that our Fuehrer, Adolf Hitler, has fallen this afternoon at his command post in the Reich Chancellery, fighting to the last breath against Bolshevism and for his country. On April 30, the Fuehrer appointed Grand Adm. Doenitz as his successor. The new Fuehrer will speak to the German people.”
The talk by Doenitz then followed, Reuter said, Doenitz said: “German men and women, soldiers of the German Wehrmacht, our Fuehrer, Adolf Hitler, has fallen. German people are in deepest mourning and veneration.”
“Adolf Hitler recognized beforehand the terrible danger of Bolshevism,” Doenitz said, “and devoted his life to fighting it. At the end of this, his battle, and of his unswerving straight path of life, stands his death as a hero in the capital of the Reich.
“All his life meant service for the German people. His battle against the Bolshevik flood benefited not only Europe but the whole world. The Fuehrer has appointed me as his successor. Fully conscious of the responsibility, I take over the leadership of the German people at this fateful hour.”
“It is my first task to save the German people from destruction by the Bolshevists,” Doenitz continued, harping on Hitler’s old theme of the Red “menace.” He declared that “it is only to achieve this that the fight continues.”
“As long as the British and Americans hamper us from reaching this end, we shall fight and defend ourselves against them as well,” Doenitz said. “The British and Americans do not fight for the interests of their own people but for the spreading of Bolshevism.
“What the German people have achieve and suffered is unique in history. In the coming times of distress of our people, I shall do my utmost to make life bearable for our brave women, men and children.
“To achieve all this I need your help.
“Trust me. Keep order and discipline in towns and countryside. Let everybody do his duty and only thus shall we be able to alleviate the sufferings which the future will bring to each of us and to avoid collapse.
“If we do all that is in our power to do the Lord will not abandon us.”
FUEHRER FELL AT CP, GERMAN RADIO SAYS DOENITZ AT HELM, VOWS WAR WILL CONTINUE
The Stars and Stripes, Germany (May 2, 1945)
HITLER DEAD
Adolf Hitler, for 12 years the master of Germany and the man who set out to conquer the world, died yesterday afternoon, the German radio at Hamburg announced last night.
Declaring that Grand Adm. Karl Doenitz, commander-in-chief of the German Navy, was Hitler’s successor, the radio stated:
“It is reported from Der Fuehrer’s headquarters that Der Fuehrer, Adolf Hitler, has fallen this afternoon at his command post in the Reich Chancellery, fighting to the last breath against Bolshevism and for Germany.”
Death is not explained
The announcement did not explain how Hitler, who was 56 years old 12 days ago, had “fallen.” Russian forces in recent days have been battling toward the massive Chancellery that Hitler built in the Wilhelmstrasse, in the center of Berlin.
The broadcast reported that on April 13, Hitler named Doenitz as his successor. Then Doenitz came on the program with a fiery promise to keep up what he termed “the struggle against Bolshevism.” He said the German would fight American and British forces to the extent that they hindered his fight against Russia.
There was no indication as to the whereabouts of Heinrich Himmler, Gestapo chief and leader of the German home defense forces, who has been reported offering to surrender. Neither was there any word of Propaganda Minister Paul Joseph Goebbels or other Hitler henchmen.
The announcement of Hitler’s death was preceded by the playing of solemn Wagnerian music, including “Twilight of the Gods.” The southern German radio kept up a program of light music all through the program from the north, indicating that communication is broken down between the two German pockets.
Doenitz came on the air immediately after the brief announcement of Hitler’s death, saying:
“German men and women, soldiers of the German Wehrmacht:
“Our Fuehrer, Adolf Hitler, has fallen. The German people bow in deepest mourning and veneration.
“My first task is to save the German people from destruction by Bolshevism. If only for this task, the struggle will continue.
“Adolf Hitler recognized beforehand the terrible danger of Bolshevism and devoted his life to fighting it. At the end of this, his battle, he stands as a hero in the battle of the capital of the Reich.
‘We shall fight’
“The Fuehrer has appointed me as his successor. Fully conscious of the responsibility, I take over the leadership of the German people at this fateful hour.
“It is my first task to save the German people from destruction by Bolshevists, and it is only to achieve this that the fight continues.
“As long as the British and the Americans hamper us from reaching this end, we shall fight to defend ourselves against them as well. The British and Americans are not fighting for their own interests, but for the spreading of Bolshevism.”
Doenitz, whose appointment came as a surprise, called on the German people to help him to the utmost and urged them to keep order and discipline. Only by complete fulfillment of every German’s duty, he said, could the country avoid collapse.
Issues order to troops
Doenitz also issued an order of the day to the Reich’s armed forces in which he repeated the same determination to “save” the Germans from Bolshevism. Assuming supreme command of all the armed forces, he said Germany would continue the fight to save “hundreds of thousands of German families from slavery and destruction.”
“The situation,” he added, “demands from you who have already accomplished such momentous deeds – and who are now wishing for the end of the war – unconditional exertions.” The latter was an obvious answer to the Allied demand for unconditional surrender.
“Only by executing my orders without reserve,” he told his decimated Wehrmacht, Luftwaffe and navy, “can chaos and annihilation be avoided. The coward and traitor is he who just now shirks his duty – and who thus brings death or slavery upon German women and children.
“The oath of allegiance which you have given the Fuehrer is now for every one of you immediately due to me as the successor whom the Fuehrer appointed.
“German soldiers, do your duty! The very lives of our people are at stake!”
The 50-year-old Doenitz, regarded as the Nazis’ top man in the navy, has always been held high in Hitler’s esteem and has been classified as a fervent party man from the outset of the Nazi movement. He led the Atlantic submarine wolfpacks before he became navy chief two years ago. He was confined in an insane asylum in Manchester, England, during the first World War.
The Stars and Stripes, Mediterranean (May 2, 1946)
Hitler dead, Nazis report; Doenitz becomes ‘Fuehrer,’ declares war will go on
Nazi radio reports Der Fuehrer’s death
Adolf Hitler, architect of more evil than the world has ever known, is dead. The announcement of the death of the most hated man on earth was made by Grand Adm. Karl Doenitz, described as Hitler’s successor.
Hitler died, according to the German radio, “at his command post in the Reich Chancellery” in Berlin yesterday afternoon. He died, according to this broadcast, fighting to the last breath against Bolshevism and for Germany.”
Doenitz immediately issued a proclamation in which he declared that “my first task is to save the German people from destruction by Bolshevism,” he promised that the “struggle will continue.”
The news of Hitler’s death, since it came only from German sources, was taken with reserve in United Nations capitals. It was believed likely that Der Schoene Adolf was, at long last, dead. But it was believed entirely possible that even now the Nazis might be up to skullduggery.
May be dodge
The announcement of Hitler’s death could be a dodge to give world criminal No. 1 a chance to assume some sort of disguise and escape. It could be an effort to remove Hitler’s name from the world scene so that peace negotiations could be pursued with better chance of success. It could be any one of a number of dodges. It could even be true. The German radio did not give details of how he died. One report indicated that death came after a stroke.
There have been reports of his death for the past few days. It might be that he died some days ago that the announcement was saved until last night. In any case, his death came when his Third Reich had reached its lowest ebb, with Berlin all but conquered by the Red Army, with most of Germany overrun and with virtually all of Hitler’s conquests wrested from him and his Nazi state by the avenging might of the United Nations.
His death came – if, in fact, he is dead – just three days after the execution of his former director buddy, Benito Mussolini, by the Partisans of northern Italy. It came on the eve of Nazi Germany’s total defeat.
These two deaths were like the ending of a Gargantuan Shakespearean tragedy with two of the most villainous actors perishing in the ashes of their own monstrous pretentions.
The assumption of power by Adm. Doenitz – if, in fact, he has assumed power, as he and the German radio claimed – came as a surprise Doenitz said that Hitler named him to the succession on April 30, the day before his death.
No mention was made of Heinrich Himmler, who had been acting as Hitler’s right hand man. Nor did German sources say anything of Paul Joseph Goebbels, who is supposedly in the ruins of Berlin.
Doenitz sounded, according to the German radio and according to a broadcast of what was purported to be his voice, as if he were taking full command. He issued an Order of the Day to the German Army – or what is left of it – which said:
“My comrades: The Fuehrer has fallen, true to his great idea to save the peoples of Europe from Bolshevism, he has risked his life and met with a hero’s death. The greatest hero of German history has left the stage. We dip our colors before him.”
Same script writer
Even the oration sounded as if Doenitz had the same script writer as Hitler – it could have been Goebbels.
“To achieve all this, I need your help. Trust me. Keep order and discipline in towns and countryside. Everybody do his duty, only then shall we be able to alleviate the suffering which the future will bring to each of us and to avoid collapse. If we do all that is in our power to do, the Lord will not abandon us.”
The first indication of Hitler’s death was provided by the Hamburg radio. At 10:43, Italian time, last night it broadcast a warning to stand by for “a grave and important announcement to the German people.” The warning was repeated three times.
The announcement was preceded by the playing of solemn Wagnerian music, including an excerpt from “The Twilight of the Gods.”
While the broadcast of this funeral music and of the news of Hitler’s death was on the air from the Hamburg station, the southern German radio network, still in Nazi control, went on broadcasting light music.
