Today in the Second World War

Welcome to today’s edition of the Hidden History Newsletter! On this day in 1945, the war in Europe was in its final stages, with Germany on the brink of collapse. The previous day, on April 30, Adolf Hitler had committed suicide in his bunker in Berlin, marking the end of the Nazi regime and setting the stage for the eventual surrender of Germany. Today, we'll explore the impact of Hitler's death on the war's final days, and highlight other significant events that took place on May 1 during the war years.

“A lie told once remains a lie but a lie told a thousand times becomes the truth.” - Joseph Goebbels

Auschwitz First Commandant

Rudolf Höss was born in Baden-Baden, Germany, in 1901. He joined the Nazi Party in 1922 and became a member of the SS in 1934. Höss was appointed Commandant of Auschwitz May 1, 1940, and he immediately set about expanding the camp to accommodate the growing number of prisoners being sent there.

During his tenure as Commandant of Auschwitz, Höss oversaw the killing of over a million people, the majority of whom were Jewish. The camp also held political prisoners, Roma, disabled individuals, and others who were considered "undesirable" by the Nazi regime. Many of the prisoners at Auschwitz were subjected to forced labor, medical experiments, and other forms of torture and abuse.

Under Höss's leadership, Auschwitz became a symbol of the Holocaust and the brutality of the Nazi regime. The camp was the site of several infamous events, including the selection process, in which SS doctors determined which prisoners were fit for work and which would be sent to the gas chambers. It was also the site of the infamous medical experiments conducted by Josef Mengele and others, in which prisoners were subjected to horrific tests and procedures without their consent.

Höss was known for his strict adherence to orders and his loyalty to Adolf Hitler. He believed that the extermination of Jews and other groups was necessary for the survival of the German race and the success of the Nazi project. In his autobiography, he described himself as a "fanatical National Socialist" and defended his actions at Auschwitz as necessary for the war effort.

After his capture, Höss was tried by the Polish government and sentenced to death. He expressed remorse for his actions and begged for forgiveness from the Jewish people, but his plea was not enough to spare his life. He was executed by hanging in front of the Auschwitz gas chambers, the site of his most heinous crimes.

Today, Auschwitz-Birkenau is a museum and memorial to the victims of the Holocaust, and it serves as a powerful reminder of the horrors of Nazi Germany and the importance of fighting against hate and intolerance.

The Destruction of the Goebbel’s Family

Joseph Goebbels and his wife, Magda, were both devoted supporters of Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party. They were both deeply involved in the propaganda efforts of the regime and were considered to be among the most fanatical of Hitler's followers.

As the Allies closed in on Berlin in the spring of 1945, Goebbels and his wife remained in the city, even as many other high-ranking officials fled. They moved into the bunker complex beneath the Chancellery, where Hitler had been living for several months.

On April 30th, 1945, Hitler committed suicide in his bunker, and Goebbels was appointed Chancellor of Germany by Hitler's successor, Admiral Karl Dönitz. However, Goebbels knew that the end was near and that the Allies would soon take control of Berlin.

In the early hours of May 1st, 1945, Goebbels and his wife gathered their six children in the bunker and gave them lethal injections of morphine. The children were then given cyanide to kill them. After their children were dead, Goebbels and his wife went up to the garden of the Chancellery and committed suicide by gunshot.

The Goebbels family's murder-suicide was not an isolated incident, but rather part of a broader trend of high-ranking Nazi officials committing suicide in the final days of World War II. Many of these officials chose to end their lives rather than face the consequences of their actions or be captured by Allied forces.

For Goebbels and his wife, the decision to kill their children was a particularly disturbing act of desperation. Magda Goebbels was known for her extreme devotion to Hitler and his vision of a Nazi-dominated Europe, and she believed that her children would be better off dead than living in a world without the Nazi regime.

The Goebbels children - Helga, Hilde, Helmut, Holdine, Hedwig, and Heidrun - ranged in age from four to twelve at the time of their deaths. Their murders were carried out in a brutal and clinical manner, with the children being given lethal injections before being poisoned with cyanide. The children were buried in the garden of the Chancellery, along with their parents.

The Goebbels family's deaths were widely publicized at the time, and the news was met with shock and horror around the world. The incident served as a potent symbol of the brutality and fanaticism of the Nazi regime, and it was widely seen as a sign of the regime's final collapse.

Today, the Goebbels family's story is often studied as an example of the dangers of extremist ideology and propaganda. The murders of the Goebbels children are also a reminder of the tragic human cost of war and conflict, and a powerful reminder of the importance of compassion and understanding in times of crisis.

News of Hitler’s Suicide

Hans Krebs, who informed Vasily Chuikov of Adolf Hitler's suicide, was one of the few high-ranking German officers who remained loyal to Hitler until the very end. Krebs had been appointed as Chief of the General Staff of the German Army in April 1945 and was involved in negotiations with the Soviet forces in an attempt to secure a ceasefire.

On April 30, 1945, Hitler committed suicide in his bunker in Berlin, and Krebs was sent to the Soviet lines to negotiate the ceasefire. It was during these negotiations on May 1st that Krebs informed Chuikov of Hitler's death.

The news of Hitler's suicide was met with mixed reactions among the Soviet forces. Many of the soldiers were relieved that the war was coming to an end, but there was also a sense of sorrow and mourning for the countless lives that had been lost on both sides.

For Chuikov, the news of Hitler's death was a significant moment in his military career. As the commander of the Soviet forces that had surrounded Berlin, Chuikov was responsible for the final push that led to the eventual surrender of Germany. His role in receiving the news of Hitler's death and maintaining his composure during negotiations with the Germans is often seen as a testament to his leadership and professionalism as a military commander.

The news of Hitler's death was also significant in its impact on the course of the war. With Hitler dead, the Nazi regime was in disarray, and the German forces were left without clear leadership. This ultimately led to the rapid collapse of the German army and the end of the war in Europe.

Today, the news of Hitler's suicide is remembered as a critical moment in the history of World War II. Chuikov's role in receiving the news and maintaining his composure during negotiations is seen as a testament to the bravery and professionalism of the Soviet forces, and the impact of Hitler's death on the course of the war is widely studied and remembered.

Photo of the Day

Russian troops fighting in Berlin, Germany, circa Apr-May 1945; note Mosin-Nagant M1944 Carbine and Degtyaryov Pekhotny 'DP' light machine gun.

That's all for today's edition of the Hidden History newsletter. We hope you found today's insights and historical developments informative and insightful. May 1, 1945, marked a turning point in the war, as the death of Hitler paved the way for the end of the Nazi regime and the eventual surrender of Germany. As we reflect on the events of this day in history, let us honor the bravery and sacrifice of those who fought in World War II, and never forget the lessons we can learn from their struggles and triumphs. Join us again tomorrow for more highlights and insights from the war's history.

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Have a great week :)

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