Günther Schwägermann
Günther Schwägermann (born 24 July 1915)[1] was born in Uelzen and served in the Nazi government of German dictator Adolf Hitler. From approximately late 1941, Schwägermann served as the adjutant for Dr. Joseph Goebbels. He reached the rank of SS-Hauptsturmführer (Captain). Schwägermann survived World War II and was held in American captivity from 25 June 1945 until 24 April 1947.[2]
Biography
He joined the 1st SS Division Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler on 8 April 1937. Schwägermann was sent to the SS-Junkerschule Bad Tölz for officers' training from October 1938 until September 1939. He served with the 4th SS Polizei Division in France and Russia. After being wounded on the Eastern front, Schwägermann became the adjutant for Dr. Joseph Goebbels. He was promoted to the rank of SS-Hauptsturmführer on 29 November 1944.[2] In January 1945, Goebbels sent Schwägermann to his villa at Lanke, ordering him to bring his wife, Magda, and their children to stay at an air raid shelter on Schwanenwerder.
By 22 April 1945, the Soviets were attacking Berlin and Joseph and Magda Goebbels brought their children to the Vorbunker. Schwägermann came with them. Adolf Hitler had already taken up residence in the lower Führerbunker in January 1945.[3] It was in that protected bunker complex below the Reich Chancellery garden of Berlin that Hitler and a few loyal personnel were gathered to direct the city's final defence.[3]
On 1 May 1945, during the final days of the Battle for Berlin, Goebbels and his wife, Magda, left the bunker complex and went up to the garden of the Reich Chancellery. There are several different accounts on what followed. According to one account, Goebbels shot his wife and then himself. Another account was that they each bit on a cyanide ampule and were given a coup de grâce immediately afterwards by Schwägermann.[3] Afterwards, Schwägermann doused their bodies with petrol, but the remains were only partially burned and not buried.[4]
Schwägermann survived the war.[5] Schwägermann successfully escaped out of Berlin to West Germany. He was held in American captivity from 25 June 1945 until 24 April 1947. Schwägermann later lived in northern Germany.[2]
References
- ↑ http://books.google.com/books?id=ie1FsnzQkfUC&pg=PA212&dq=Schwagermann&hl=en&ei=cesSTaiGIYOB8ga1gNn0DQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CCIQ6AEwADgU#v=onepage&q=Schwagermann&f=false
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Anton Joachimstaler (1999) [1995]. The Last Days of Hitler: The Legends, The Evidence, The Truth. Brockhampton Press. p. 292. ISBN 1-86019-902-X.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Beevor, Antony (2002). Berlin: The Downfall 1945. Viking-Penguin Books. pp. 380, 381. ISBN 0-670-03041-4.
- ↑ http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=TTgpAAAAIBAJ&sjid=V4UDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5503,1057632&dq=gunther-schwagermann&hl=en
- ↑ http://books.google.com/books?id=Snn_vEqP5xQC&pg=PA144&dq=Schwagermann&hl=en&ei=xuoSTYfcOIet8Abo-unoDQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=9&ved=0CEMQ6AEwCA#v=onepage&q=Schwagermann&f=false
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