Eva Braun (1912-45)



Figure 1.--Eva Braun not only photographed the NAZI gliterati at the Berhof, but appeared it the footage as well, probably shot by her younger sister Gretl who was also interested in photography. In the footage Eva usually appeared either in a bathing suit or a traditiional Drindl. Actually she usally dressed more stylishly as in the photogrph here, pobbly taken by Hoffman. we do not know who the little girl is. Source: Photographs seized from Eva Brun's collection by the U.S. Army. No. 210252

Hitler met Eva Braun while she was working for his persona; photographer--Heinrich Hoffman (1929). Hoffman played an important role in creating an appealing image that could be sold to the German people. She was 17 years old and he was more than twice her age. The NAZI Party had at the time just become a major force in German politics. She is today well known to history. During the 12 years of the Third Reich, she was unknown to the German people. Only Hitler's inner circle knew about the relationship. Some authors believe Hitler did not want her to become public knowledge because he wanted to be seen as married to the German people. This may be an important factor. Another factor may also be involved and that was Hitler's dark hair and brown eyes. It is likely that Hitler did not want to foster children because they would likely not be the Aryan ideal of blond and blue eyes. Unlike the wives of many world leaders, Eva stayed strictly out of politics. That was just how Hitler wanted it. She was perhaps vacuous, but not stupid. She knew that this was what Hitler wanted in a woman. She was very interested in photography. She dreamed of becoming a major Hollywood movie maker. It is Eva's home movies, many taken at Berchtesgaden, that provide us glimses of the private life of Hitler. She saw herself as making an important record/ These were home movies without any sound. Interestingly new technologies developed in 2006 now allow us to hear what was being said in these movies. Of course in viewing her movies, the question arises as to how she could be so close to such an evil man. She herself, was not an evil oman. In factshe was well liked by those around herm but genberally dismissed by the NAZI bigwigs. This leads to the question of how much she knew--the same question that is still debated about the Germn people in general. This is not known with any certainty, but there are certain known matters that suggest she knew a great deal--certinly the charcter of the regime. And there is good reason to believe she knew far more than the average German.

Family

Eva's parents were part of the sturdy German middle class. Her father was a school teacher. Her mother was seamstress. Eva was the middle child of three daughters. The Brun's were both conservative and religious. Fritz Braun was deeply opposed to his daughter's involvement with Hitler. He was not only an older man, but was not offering marriage. This continued until it became dangerous to do so. Her parents eventually shared in the benefits of being close to the NAZI leadership. We notice family plane trips to resorts. Eva's eldest sister Ilse got a job working for Dr. Martin Levy Marx, a Jewish otolaryngologist and surgeon, She apparently becane his mistriss. This left her in violartion of the NAZI Nuremberg race laws. Some accounts suggest that Eva tried to intervene in his favor, but they are no details. Eva eventually warned her sister about making anti-NAZI comments. Marx managed to escape Germany just before the war broke out. Eva was closer to her younger sister Gretl. She soent a great deal of time with eva at the Berghop, flirting wkith the ordelies. She had a festive spirit and reportedlly enlived the social events. She shared her sister's interst in photography. She became a member of the inner social circle at the Berghof. Braun married SS-Gruppenführer Hermann Fegelein, the SS liaison officer on Hitler's staff (June 1944). Fegelein was a truly despicable character. Womanizing was the least of his character faults. He was an Einsatzgruppen commander, becoming a rich man from jewels and other valuables stolen from the Jews he was murdering. As aliason officer, he was assigned to Hitler;s Berlin Bunker. As the Soviets closed in, he made a break for it. When he was arrested, his pockets were bulging with stolen Jewish jewlry. Hitler ordered him shot for desertion. Eva made no effort to speak up for her brother-in-law.

Childhood

Eva Anna Paula Braun was born in Munich (February 6, 1912). Eva was especially close to her younger sister. They grew up in a typical German middle-class home. She was by ll accounts a typical teenager, interested in clothes, boys, and makeup. She was an ttrctive girl and nust have attracted some attention from boys, although German scghools at the tome separated genders. She especially enjoyed outdoor activities. She also liked movies, including American Hollywood movies. Hollywood films were widely show in Germany. Until about 1930, films were silent. Thus language was not the barrier it became. Even after the NAZIs seized control, Hollwood films were still shown. Hollywood avoided making films that offended the NAZIs so as not to impair their German box office. This did not change until it became clear that the NAZIs were about to launch World War II.

Education

Braun was educated at a Catholic lyceum in Munich. This mean that she had an above average education. Despite habing a school teacher father, she wasn't especially interested in her studies. She earned average grades, but this probably meams more than it does in modern American schools. Her religious parents sent her to a convent school--a business school in the Convent of the English Sisters in Simbach am Inn. Again she had average grades and showed a talent for athletics. The vivacious Braun was not made for a convent school and she left after only one year.

Heinrich Hoffmam

Eva Braun was connected with photoraphy from an early point. Eva first worked for a bookkeeper. And then she got a job as an assistant at the Heinrich Hoffman's Munich studio. This was a better fit because she was interested in photograohy. It was in Hoffman's studio that Hitler first met Eva (1929). Hoffman played an important role in creating an appealing image that could be sold to the German people. She was only 17 years old and he was more than twice her age. The NAZI Party had at the time just become a major force in German politics.

Secret Relationship

Eva Braun was Hitler's mistress, actually companion is probably a better description. She is today well known to history, perhaps the most fanous mistriss in history. After Hitler's niece, Geli Raubal, apparently committed suiside, the relationshop between Braun and Hitler begn to develop (1931). And it became closer as Hitler seized control of Germany. The exact nature of the relationship is unknown. Eva is never known to have commented. There were of course no children which is a clue. Braun expressed deep devotion to Hitler. There was extensive correspondence, but Hilere had it destroyed. There were only limited found in Eva's diary. Hitler is yusually depicted as an oppessive presence and devoted himself primaroly to the development of the NAZI Party. During the 12 years of the Third Reich, she was unknown to the German people. Only Hitler's inner circle knew about the relationship. Some authors believe Hitler did not want her to become public knowledge because he wanted to be seen as married to the German people. This may be an important factor. Another factor may also be involved and that was Hitler's dark hair and brown eyes. It is likely that Hitler did not want to foster children because they would likely not be the Aryan ideal of blond and blue eyes. She by all accounts suffer emotionally because Hitler insisted on keeping their relationship secret. She attempted to commit suicide twice (1932 and 35), but remained devoted to Hitler.

The Berghof

Hitler bought Eva an apartment after her second suiside second attempt (936). The Berghof, Hitler's alpine chalet at Berchtesgaden, had not yet been built. When it was finished, she took up residence there, although ther was aust up with Hitler's half sister. At the Berghof they could be togethr there wihout attracting any public attention. There they had some influence on domestic mattrs. And she could enjoy many of the activitis she loved, including gymnastics, sunbathing, skiing, and swimming. She remained at the Berhof even whn Hitler was not there. The NAZI glterati was invited to the Berghof. It was seen as a signal honor. They brought their wives and children. Speer's wife was a rare individual who attempted to avoid such visits. There as Hitler uptured Europe fom East to West and committed terrible crimes, she froliked in the Alpine beauty unperturbed. Her mood is said to have changed as the War turned against the NAZIS. We are not sure if she was following developments or this reflected changes in Hitler's behvior. Through all of this there were no public sightings of the couple together. And of course in the NAZI controlled press, there was no mention of her.

Submissive Role

Unlike the wives of many world leaders, Eva stayed strictly out of politics. That was just how Hitler wanted it. She was perhaps vacuous, but not stupid. She knew that this was what Hitler wanted in a woman. She was not demanding and was willing to stay out of the spotlight. She had no known influence in Hitler's political decisions. It is widely believed that she chose her as a companion because she had no interest in politics nbd did not involve herslf in state policcy. She saw Hitler as a great leader and sought to create an environment in which Hitler could divert himsel nd take his mind off pressing isues.

Photography

Eva was very interested in photography. She dreamed of becoming a major Hollywood movie maker. And she begn taking home movies at the Berghof. Except for visitors at the Berghof, these films were unknown. German film historian and artist Lutz Becker, who as a child lived through the NAZI Gotterdammerung in Berlin dicovered a cache of Eva's home movies taken at the Berghof. She shot 16-millimeter home movie footage. It is Eva's home movies taken at the Berghof, that provide us glimses of the private life of Hitler. She saw herself as making an important record. Here she got her wish. It is a rare documentary in World war II, Hitler, or the NAZIs that does mot include some of her footage. You also often see her stills in history books on the era. These were home movies without any sound. Because of her position, she was able to gtet high-quality Agfa color film at a time that most most photogrphy nd movies was black and white. Interestingly new technologies developed in 2006 now allow us to hear what was being said in these movies. Eva's imagery stands in stark contrast to the officcial NAZI propaganda imagery. NAZI propganda commonly showed official ceremonies and was popmous and grandiose. Eva's footage shows the NAZI elite in casial civilin clothes at theur leisure and having fun together.

Knowledge

Of course in viewing her movies, the question arises as to how she could be so close to such an evil man. She herself, was not an evil woman. In factshe was well liked by those around herm but genberally dismissed by the NAZI bigwigs. This leads to the question of how much she knew--the same question that is still debated about the Germn people in general. This is not known with any certinty, but there are certain known matters that suggest she knew a great deal--certinly the charcter of the regime. And there is good reason to believe she knew far more thab the average German. There are several reaons to believe this. First, at the Berghof she was in contact with both top NAZI officials and their wives as well as ordelies and other men which had served in the military. Second, her younger sister was also part of the Bergof inner circle and had similar contacts. Third, her older sister was the misstriss of a Jewish doctor. Fourth, she warned her older sister about making anti-NAZI comments meaning she knew bout the character of the regime. Fifth, her younger sister married an Einsatzgruppen commander. Sixth, she is know to have told friends that SS Chief Heinrich Himmler frightened her.

Berlin Bunker: Marriage ans Suicide (April 1945)

Eva Braun sat out most of the War safely at the Berghof in the Alps close to the Austrian border far away from the fighting. Onlt at the very end of the War did American bombers begin targetting the Berghof and AMerican paratroopers begn to to approch it. The German people knew nothing about her. She did not bring her camera into the bunker. Hitler met her in a photographic studio. She shot movie footage at the Berghof. Many of the available film footage is what she shot wih her small camera. Thus she chronicled the social life of the NAZI regime. She not only captured Hitler's private life with her camera, but also visits from the NAZI elte and hangers on. This footage is especially valuable because the tehnology now exists to recreate some of the dialog spoken while Braun shot the footage. Braun of course was shooting with a simple film camera without sound capability. But when the subjects were facing the camera, the dialog can be created, including that of Hitler himself. Against Hitler's expressed wishes, she decided to join him in Berlin. She arrived just as the Soviets were surrounding the city (April 15). Eva could have left Hitler, but she instead joined him at his bunker in Berlin. Hitler ordered her to stay at the Berhof. In a rare display of independence, she dlew to Berlin to join him in the Bunker. In the final days of the war, the two contemplated killing themselves rather than fall into the hands of enemy troops. For her show of loyalty, Hitler agreed to marry Braun. The couple wed (April 29). The following day they committed suicide (April 30). Eva died from ingesting poison while Hitler poisoned and shot himself. Their bodies were brought to the bombed-out garden behind the Reich Chancellery, where they were burned.

Sources

Gortemaker, Heike B. Eva Braun - Life With Hitler (2011).







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Created: 6:48 AM 9/4/2014
Last edited: 5:59 AM 10/13/2014