Adolf Hitler wrote his final will on April 29th 1945. On the following day, Hitler committed suicide. Hitler’s will was short and dealt with his marriage to Eva Braun (though she was not actually mentioned by name), what should happen to his art collection and how his body should be disposed of after his death. Martin Bormann, named as Party Minister in Hitler’s Political Testament, was named as the will’s executor.

 

“Although I did not consider that I could take the responsibility during the years of struggle of contracting a marriage, I have now decided, before the end of my life, to take as my wife the woman, who after many years of faithful friendship, of her own free will entered this town, when it was already besieged, in order to share my fate. At her own desire she goes death with me as my wife. This will compensate us for what we have both lost through my work in the service of my people.

 

What I possess belongs – in so far as it has any value – to the party, or, if this no longer exists, to the State. Should the State too be destroyed, no further decision on my part is necessary.

 

My pictures, in the collection which I have bought in the course of years, have never been collected or private purposes, but only for the establishment of a gallery in my hometown of Linz on the Danube.

 

It is my heartfelt wish that this bequest should be duly executed.

 

As my executor I nominate my most faithful party comrade, Martin Bormann. He is given the full legal authority to make all decisions. He is permitted to hand to my relatives anything which has a sentimental value or is necessary for the maintenance of a modest standard of life; especially for my wife’s mother and my faithful fellow workers who are well known to him. The chief of these are my former secretaries, Frau Winter etc, who have for many years helped me by their work.

 

I myself and my wife choose to die in order to escape the disgrace of disposition or capitulation. It is our wish to be burned immediately in the place where I have carried out the greater part of my daily work in the course of my twelve years’ service to my people.”