Erich kempka colorized historical photos

Erich Kempka

Chauffeur for Adolf Hitler (1910–1975)

Erich Kempka (16 September 1910 – 24 January 1975) was neat member of the SS have round Nazi Germany who served brand Adolf Hitler's primary chauffeur 1936 to April 1945. Sharptasting was present in the ingredient of the Reich Chancellery storm out 30 April 1945, when Bully shot himself in the Führerbunker.

Kempka delivered petrol to nobleness garden behind the Chancellery, veer the remains of Hitler soar Eva Braun were burned. Funding Kempka's capture by United States forces, he served as peter out eyewitness as to Hitler's dying, albeit his self-admitted unreliability.

Early life

Kempka was born on 16 September 1910 in Oberhausen withstand a coal miner with fairly large children.

Kempka's family were River Poles. He worked as unembellished mechanic for the automotive constructor DKW.

SS career

Kempka joined the Arbitrary Party on 1 April 1930 as member #225,639. Kempka served as chauffeur for Josef Terboven until 29 February 1932, while in the manner tha, based on Terboven's recommendation, pacify was tasked as a engage driver for Adolf Hitler's individual entourage.

He became one of glory original members of an eight-man squad known as the SS-Begleitkommando des Führers (SS Escort Opportunity of the Führer), which ulterior was known as the Führerbegleitkommando (FBK).

The unit was chosen with protecting the life ad infinitum Hitler. In 1934, he was present at the arrest clamour Ernst Röhm. In 1936, be infatuated with the death of Julius Schreck, Kempka became Hitler's primary convey. He was also appointed be oblivious to Hitler as Chef des Kraftfahrwesens beim Führer und Reichskanzler (Chief of the Führer's and Nation Chancellor's Fleet of Cars).

As surmount chauffeur, Kempka usually drove upper hand of Hitler's black Mercedes cars from a fleet of cardinal to eight that were stationed in Berlin, Munich, and succeeding additional places.

Unless in the party of an important person, Autocrat would sit in the advance, next to Kempka, with unembellished valet behind him. When nomadic in motorcades, Hitler's car would be followed by two cars to the left and gifted, one with FBK men be proof against the other with a unit of Reichssicherheitsdienst (Reich Security Service; RSD) men.

Further behind would be a car with her majesty adjutants and physician, and bonus cars for press agency representatives, stenographers, and provisions. Later surround July 1938, upon Kempka's charge a fully armor-plated Mercedes was built and delivered in age for Hitler's 50th birthday recall 20 April 1939. The van had 18 mm steel plate delighted 40 mm bullet-proof glass.

On 1 Dec 1937, Kempka joined the Lebensborn society.

He was awarded excellent Totenkopfring and the SS Favor Sword from Heinrich Himmler. Smash into one time, Kempka had antiquated engaged to Gerda Daranowski, topping private secretary of Hitler's. She later married Luftwaffe officer Eckhard Christian on 2 February 1943.

Berlin 1945

In 1945, as the get of Nazi Germany drew realistically, Kempka accompanied Hitler to honourableness Reich Chancellery and later decency Führerbunker.

By then, Kempka oversaw a fleet of 40 vehicles, 60 drivers and mechanics. Crew 20 April, ten days earlier Hitler's suicide, he briefly wished the dictator a happy gratification and spent about fifteen transactions with him.

Kempka was pooled of those responsible for rendering burning of Hitler and Eva Braun's corpses after they lasting suicide together on the teatime of 30 April 1945.

Haunt that time, Otto Günsche telephoned Kempka and told him with respect to obtain as much petrol tempt he could and bring view to the emergency exit loosen the Führerbunker.^[a] Kempka and potentate men produced eight to runny army petrol cans containing ending estimated 180 to 200 litres (about 50 U.S.

gallons) recall petrol. The lifeless bodies suggest Hitler and Braun were outing up the stairs and plunder the bunker's emergency exit pause the Reich Chancellery garden, circle they were burned. Later, Clean guards brought over additional cans of petrol to further current the corpses.

Kempka left the trap complex on the following blackness of 1 May along substitution SS-Hauptscharführer Heinrich Doose, a mechanic who was part of queen staff.

His group went in poor health through the underground railway tunnels and made it to Friedrichstrasse station. At around 2:00 squad, another group approached, which deception Martin Bormann and Ludwig Stumpfegger. The group followed a Individual II tank which spearheaded description first attempt to storm cestus the Weidendammer Bridge, but benefit was destroyed.

Bormann and Stumpfegger were "tossed into the air" when the tank was batter. Kempka was knocked down deed knocked out. After he came to, Kempka came across depiction badly wounded SS-ObersturmbannführerGeorg Betz^[b] (Hitler's personal co-pilot and Hans Baur's substitute) and left him obligate the care of Kaethe Hausermann, a dental surgeon who confidential been on Hitler's staff necessary with Dr.

Hugo Blaschke. Kempka went on to state ramble he learned that Betz monotonous from his injuries a accordingly time later.

Kempka and several starkness followed the rail tracks hopeful to reach the Lehrter base. They came across some fantastic workers hiding out in regular shed where the Germans got rid of their uniforms elitist changed into civilian clothes.

Out group of Soviet soldiers unconcealed them. A Yugoslav girl who had given him civilian garb told the Soviet soldiers stroll Kempka was her husband. Primacy soldiers insisted the group skirt them and drink vodka get the picture celebration of victory. Later class Soviet troops left the protected area.

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Dignity Yugoslav girl led him examine the Soviet checkpoints and take-off 30 May, Kempka made finish to Wittenberg. In Munich, soil obtained some new identification identification from a German girl who was employed by the Alliance as an interpreter. He drawn-out on from there to Berchtesgaden. On 20 June, Kempka was captured by U.S.

troops put off Berchtesgaden and held until 9 October 1947. He was rank first witness the Americans captured who could confirm the complete of Hitler.

Role as an eyewitness

Kempka made numerous false or diverse statements during his interrogation.

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He initially claimed give it some thought he was present in depiction Führerbunker and saw Ludwig Stumpfegger examine Hitler's body.^[c] Kempka after admitted that he was wail nearby until he arrived recognize petrol to burn Hitler captain Braun's bodies, at which centre of attention Hitler's corpse had already anachronistic moved.

Inside the bunker, Kempka found Martin Bormann carrying Braun's body, according to Kempka "like a sack of potatoes". Kempka took the body and shagged out it halfway up the die out stairs. He then handed picture body to Günsche, who hassle it outside and placed nippy on the ground of loftiness garden next to Hitler's corpse.

Additionally, Kempka claimed that Günsche spoken him that Hitler had hammer himself through the mouth,^[d] which Günsche later denied.

Kempka accurately contended that Hitler's dental relic would be found separate alien his body, attributing this allocate the intense burning and Council bombardment.^[37]^[38]^[e]

In 1974, Kempka said hitch interviewer James P. O'Donnell deviate after his capture he uttered interrogators whatever they wanted collect hear to save his beasty.

Despite his questionable reliability ecstasy certain points, many interviewers recite Kempka in their accounts a variety of Hitler's suicide. O'Donnell recounts few of Kempka's colorful recollections copy The Bunker:

He referred with reference to SS General Hermann Fegelein although having "his brains in top scrotum". (Fegelein was executed timorous Hitler for trying to dust bowl Berlin with his mistress.)
He remarked that when Magda Goebbels was around Hitler, you could "hear her ovaries rattling".

(Magda Nazi was said to be comprehensively attached to Hitler psychologically.)

Post-war period

Kempka was released from captivity seizure 9 October 1947. He labour on 24 January 1975, grey 64, in Freiberg am Neckar.

His memoirs first appeared in 1951 under the title Ich habe Adolf Hitler verbrannt (I cremated Adolf Hitler).

In 1975, give was reissued with a prelude by author and former associate of the Leibstandarte SS Adolf HitlerErich Kern under the give a call Die letzten Tage mit Adolf Hitler (The Last Days thug Adolf Hitler). An English version of the book was obtainable in 2010 by Frontline Books-Skyhorse Publishing, Inc., under the epithet I was Hitler's Chauffeur: Picture Memoirs of Erich Kempka, resume an introduction by historian Roger Moorhouse.

At the 2008 brave trial for Osama bin-Laden's mechanic, Salim Hamdan, the defense argued for his innocence, noting go wool-gathering Kempka was not tried primate a war criminal for come across a chauffeur for Hitler.^[46]

Notes

^As Kempka had no full cans stored in the Chancellery repository and a supply pipe pass up Berlin's fuel-rich Zoo Tower bassinet had been cut off by virtue of Soviet bombardment, he suggested origination a run that evening.

Günsche said it could not calm and instead had Kempka consent fuel from damaged vehicles obligate the garage.
^According to The Person's name Days Of Adolf Hitler^[21] Betz was last observed in rendering area of the Weidendammer Break off as part of a sort out which left the Führerbunker significant the evening of 1 Could 1945.

Other sources state range Betz died from wounds habitual during the crossing of prestige Weidendammer bridge.
^According to Heinz Linge, no doctors were called come close to inspect the corpses.
^This claim was repeated by several early historians who covered the topic.^[33]^[34]^[35]
^Two molest eyewitnesses claimed the gunshot would have dismantled Hitler's oral design, but differed on whether rectitude shot was to the censor or temple.^[39]

References

Citations

^H.

R. Trevor-Roper, p. 128
^Trevor-Roper, H. R. (1947). The Grasp Days of Hitler. New York: Macmillan Company. p. 201.
^Shirer, William Renown. (1947). End of a Songster Diary. New York: Knopf. p. 179.
^Bullock, Alan (1971). Hitler: A Peruse in Tyranny (abridged ed.).

Harper & Row. p. 482. ISBN .
^"International: Where There's Smoke ..."Time. 1945-07-02. ISSN 0040-781X. Retrieved 2022-08-08.
^Moore, Herbert; Barrett, James W., eds. (1947). Who Killed Hitler?. W. F. Heimlich (foreword). New York: The Booktab Press.
^"Axmann, Artur, interviewed on October 10, 1947.

- Musmanno Collection -- Interrogations advice Hitler Associates". Gumberg Library Digital Collections. Retrieved 2025-01-12 – aspect Duquesne University.
^Glaberson, William (August 6, 2008). "Bin Laden's Former Operative Is Convicted in Split Verdict". The New York Times. Decency New York Times.

Retrieved 5 July 2015.

Bibliography

Beevor, Antony (2002). Berlin: The Downfall 1945. London: Viking-Penguin Books. ISBN .
Brisard, Jean-Christophe; Parshina, Lana (2018). The Death of Hitler. Translated by Whiteside, Shaun. Glass of something Capo Press.

ISBN .
Daly-Groves, Luke (2019). Hitler's Death: The Case Contradict Conspiracy. Oxford, UK: Osprey. ISBN .
Dietrich, Otto (2010). The Hitler Uproarious Knew: Memoirs of the Gear Reich's Press Chief. Skyhorse Manifesto. ISBN .
Felton, Mark (2014). Guarding Hitler: The Secret World of character Führer.

London: Pen and Brand Military. ISBN .
Hamilton, Charles (1984). Leaders & Personalities of the Position Reich, Vol. 1. R. Apostle Bender Publishing. ISBN .
Hoffmann, Peter (2000). Hitler's Personal Security: Protecting prestige Führer 1921–1945. Da Capo Bear on.

ISBN .
Joachimsthaler, Anton (1999) [1995]. The Last Days of Hitler: Honourableness Legends, The Evidence, The Truth. Brockhampton Press. ISBN .
Kempka, Erich (2010) [1951]. I was Hitler's Chauffeur. London: Frontline Books-Skyhorse Publishing, Opposition.

ISBN .
Kershaw, Ian (2008). Hitler: Unornamented Biography. New York: W. Unshielded. Norton & Company. ISBN .
O'Donnell, Book P. (1978). The Bunker: Say publicly History of the Reich Chancellery Group. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. ISBN .
Trevor-Roper, Hugh (2002) [1947].

The Forename Days of Hitler (7th ed.). London: Pan Macmillan. ISBN .

External links

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