Eva Braun, German wife of Adolf Hitler (d. 1945)

Eva Braun: The Private Life of Adolf Hitler's Companion

Eva Anna Paula Hitler (née Braun; 6 February 1912 – 30 April 1945) was a pivotal yet largely private figure in the inner circle of Nazi Germany, best known as the longtime companion and, for less than forty hours, the wife of Adolf Hitler. Born in Munich, Bavaria, into a middle-class family, her life became inextricably linked with one of history's most notorious dictators.

Early Encounters and the Evolving Relationship

The initial meeting between Eva Braun and Adolf Hitler occurred in October 1929 at the Munich studio of Heinrich Hoffmann, Hitler’s official photographer. At the time, Braun was merely 17 years old, working as an assistant and model for Hoffmann, who played a significant role in shaping Hitler's public image through photography. While Hitler was considerably older, aged 40, Braun's youthful presence and quiet demeanor soon caught his attention. Their relationship, however, did not immediately blossom into intimacy. It began to develop more formally and frequently about two years later, following the suicide of Hitler's niece, Geli Raubal, in September 1931, which reportedly left Hitler deeply affected. It was in the wake of this personal tragedy that Braun began to spend more consistent time with Hitler, evolving from a distant acquaintance to an increasingly central figure in his private life.

Eva Braun's Photographic Legacy

Beyond her role as Hitler's companion, Eva Braun was an amateur yet prolific photographer and cinematographer. She captured many of the most intimate and candid moments of Hitler’s private life, often at his Bavarian retreat, the Berghof. These surviving colour photographs and films offer a unique, if carefully curated, glimpse into a side of Hitler rarely seen by the public – away from political rallies and official duties. Her work primarily depicted Hitler interacting with his staff, guests, and pets, often in relaxed settings, which contrasted sharply with his public persona. These visual records, preserved to this day, are invaluable historical documents, providing rare insights into the lifestyle and relationships within Hitler's immediate entourage during the Nazi era.

Challenges and Secrecy in the Relationship

The nature of their relationship was complex and often challenging for Braun, marked by a profound secrecy imposed by Hitler, who wished to maintain an image of himself as a celibate national leader devoted entirely to Germany. This clandestine existence took a significant toll on Braun's mental well-being, leading to two documented suicide attempts during the early years of their relationship. The first occurred in August 1932, when she shot herself in the chest, reportedly with her father's pistol, after Hitler had seemingly neglected her. The second incident, in May 1935, involved an overdose of sleeping pills. Both attempts prompted Hitler to pay more attention to her, solidifying her position in his life and leading him to provide her with a house in Munich and later, a more permanent residence at the Berghof.

Life at the Berghof and Hitler's Inner Circle

By 1936, Eva Braun had become a permanent resident within Hitler's household at the Berghof, his luxurious mountain retreat located near Berchtesgaden, Bavaria, in southern Germany. This alpine residence served as a de facto second seat of power and a private sanctuary for Hitler. Here, Braun lived a largely isolated and sheltered life throughout World War II, far removed from the brutal realities of the conflict she occasionally captured on film. Her existence at the Berghof was carefully guarded from public knowledge, reinforcing Hitler's carefully crafted public image. Despite her discreet presence, Braun became a significant, albeit unofficial, figure within Hitler's intimate social circle. She served as the hostess for private gatherings, managed the household, and cultivated relationships with high-ranking Nazi officials and their families, though her influence on political matters remained minimal.

A Glimmer of Public Acknowledgment

For years, Eva Braun's relationship with Adolf Hitler was a closely guarded secret, particularly from the German public. She was never seen with him at official events, maintaining the illusion of a solitary, dedicated leader. This changed, albeit subtly, in mid-1944 when her younger sister, Margarete "Gretl" Braun, married SS-Gruppenführer Hermann Fegelein. Fegelein was a high-ranking SS officer and Heinrich Himmler's personal liaison officer on Hitler's staff, granting him significant status within the regime. This marriage provided a convenient, albeit indirect, justification for Eva Braun's more visible presence at certain semi-public gatherings, as she was now officially related by marriage to a prominent Nazi figure.

The Final Act: Loyalty in the Führerbunker

As Nazi Germany faced its inevitable collapse in April 1945, with Allied and Soviet forces closing in, Eva Braun demonstrated unwavering loyalty to Adolf Hitler. Defying Hitler's orders to stay safe, she traveled from Munich to the besieged city of Berlin to be by his side in the heavily reinforced Führerbunker. This underground complex, located beneath the garden of the Reich Chancellery, served as Hitler's last command post and ultimate refuge during the Battle of Berlin. Amidst the chaos and destruction, with Red Army troops fiercely fighting their way into the central government district, Braun chose to share Hitler’s final hours, a testament to her deep, albeit tragically misguided, devotion.

The Marriage and Last Hours

In a surreal ceremony conducted amidst the sounds of artillery fire and the final throes of the Third Reich, Eva Braun married Adolf Hitler in a brief civil ceremony within the Führerbunker on 29 April 1945. The proceedings, overseen by a local municipal councillor, took place in the bunker's map room. Key witnesses to this extraordinary event included Joseph Goebbels and Martin Bormann, two of Hitler's most loyal lieutenants. At the time of their marriage, Eva Braun was 33 years old, and Adolf Hitler was 56. This union, formalized less than two days before their deaths, was also part of Hitler's final political testament, in which he legitimized Braun's position and designated her as his wife.

A Joint Suicide and Posthumous Revelation

Less than forty hours after their marriage, on the afternoon of 30 April 1945, Eva Hitler and Adolf Hitler committed suicide together in a sitting room within the Führerbunker. Eva Braun died by biting into and swallowing a capsule of cyanide, a fast-acting poison, while Adolf Hitler simultaneously shot himself in the head with his pistol. Their bodies were subsequently carried by loyal aides into the Chancellery garden, doused with petrol, and set alight, in accordance with Hitler's instructions, to prevent them from falling into enemy hands. For the vast majority of the German public, the existence and nature of Eva Braun's long-standing relationship with Hitler remained completely unknown until after their deaths, a secret carefully guarded to maintain Hitler’s public image as a detached, ascetic leader solely dedicated to the nation.

Frequently Asked Questions about Eva Braun

• Who was Eva Braun?

  Eva Anna Paula Hitler (née Braun) was a German photographer and, most notably, the longtime companion and briefly the wife of Nazi Germany's leader, Adolf Hitler. She lived a private life largely hidden from the public during their relationship.

• When and how did Eva Braun meet Adolf Hitler?

  Eva Braun first met Adolf Hitler in October 1929 in Munich. She was 17 years old and working as an assistant and model for Heinrich Hoffmann, Hitler's personal photographer. Their relationship deepened approximately two years later.

• What was Eva Braun's role beyond being Hitler's companion?

  Eva Braun was an amateur photographer and cinematographer. She took many of the surviving candid colour photographs and films of Adolf Hitler's private life, particularly at his Berghof retreat, offering unique insights into his personal interactions.

• Where did Eva Braun live during World War II?

  From 1936 onwards, Eva Braun primarily lived a sheltered life within Adolf Hitler's household at the Berghof, his luxurious mountain retreat near Berchtesgaden, Bavaria, in Germany. She also maintained a residence in Munich.

• When did Eva Braun marry Adolf Hitler?

  Eva Braun married Adolf Hitler in a brief civil ceremony within the Führerbunker in Berlin on 29 April 1945, less than 40 hours before their joint suicide. She was 33, and he was 56.

• How did Eva Braun die?

  Eva Braun died by suicide on 30 April 1945, alongside Adolf Hitler, in the Führerbunker. She ingested a capsule of cyanide. Their bodies were then burned outside the bunker.