Otto Günsche
Otto Günsche | |
|---|---|
 Günsche in 1935 | |
| Born | 24 September 1917 |
| Died | 2 October 2003 (aged 86) Lohmar, Germany |
Burial place | North Sea (ashes scattered) |
| Children | 3 |
| Military career | |
| Allegiance | Germany |
Branch | Waffen-SS |
Service years | 1933–1945 |
Rank | SS-Sturmbannführer |
| Units |
|
| Known for | Being Adolf Hitler's personal adjutant and being present during Hitler's suicide on 30 April 1945 |
Conflicts | |
Otto Günsche (24 September 1917 – 2 October 2003) was a mid-ranking officer of the Waffen-SS during World War II. He was a member of the SS Division Leibstandarte before he became Adolf Hitler's personal adjutant. During the Battle of Berlin, Günsche was present in the Führerbunker during Hitler's suicide on 30 April 1945 and was captured by the Red Army as a prisoner of war two days later.
While in custody at various labour camps and prisons across the Soviet Union, Günsche was tortured and interrogated for information on the circumstances of Hitler's death and the purported possibility of his escape. Günsche was transferred to a prison in East Germany in 1955 and released on 2 May 1956. He was again questioned and brought to court by the Western Allies to provide sworn key testimony about Hitler's death.
Life and career
[edit]Otto Günsche was born in Jena in Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach. After leaving secondary school at the age of 16, he volunteered for the Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler and joined the Nazi Party on 1 July 1934.[1] He first met Adolf Hitler in 1936. He was Hitler's SS adjutant from 1940 to 1941. From 1 January 1941 to 30 April 1942, he attended the SS officers' academy.[1] He then had front-line combat service as a Panzer Grenadier company commander with the LSSAH. On 12 January 1943, Günsche became a personal adjutant for Hitler.[1] From August 1943 to 5 February 1944, Günsche served on the Eastern Front and in France.[1] In March 1944 he was again appointed a personal adjutant for Hitler.[2] As a personal SS adjutant (Persönlicher Adjutant) to Hitler, Günsche was also a member of the Führerbegleitkommando, which provided security for Hitler.[3] During the war, one or two were always present with Hitler during the military situation conferences.[4] He was present at the 20 July 1944 attempt to kill Hitler by use of a bomb at the Wolf's Lair in Rastenburg. The explosion burst Günsche's eardrums and caused him to receive a number of contusions.[5]
With the collapse of Nazi Germany imminent, on 30 April 1945 Hitler tasked Günsche with ensuring the cremation of his body after his death.[6] That afternoon, Günsche stood guard outside the room in the Führerbunker where Hitler and Eva Braun committed suicide.[7] After waiting a short time, Hitler's valet, Heinz Linge, opened the study door with Martin Bormann at his side.[8] The two men entered the study with Günsche right behind them. Günsche then left the study and announced that Hitler was dead to a group in the briefing room, which included Joseph Goebbels, General Hans Krebs, and General Wilhelm Burgdorf.[9] Günsche had the table and chairs in the study moved out of the way and blankets were laid out on the floor. Hitler and Braun's lifeless bodies were then wrapped in blankets.[10] In accordance with Hitler's prior written and verbal instructions, his and Braun's bodies were carried up the stairs and through the bunker's emergency exit to the garden behind the