January 16 In History: Adolf Hitler Hiding In A Bunker To The End Of His Life

Adolf Hitler - Wikimedia Commons

JAKARTA - On January 16, 1945, the ruthless Nazi leader, Adolf Hitler, decided to go to his underground bunker, where he stayed for 105 days until he died due to suicide. Hitler headed for his bunker after deciding to stay in Berlin during a massive siege.

Citing History, Saturday, January 16, 2021, the bunker is located 16 meters below the ground of Hitler's headquarters, a shelter containing 18 small rooms with their own water and electricity supply.

Hitler traveled infrequently and spent most of his time managing what was left of the German defenses and entertaining his Nazi compatriots like Hermann Goering, Heinrich Himmler and Joachim von Ribbentrop. Constantly by his side all this time was his partner Eva Braun and the person he served, Blondi.

On April 29, 1945, Hitler decided to marry Eva Braun in that bunker. Eva Braun met Hitler while working as an assistant to Hitler's official photographer. Braun spent his time with Hitler out of public view, entertaining himself by skiing and swimming. He did not have a major influence on Hitler's political career, but gave the dictator a brief domestic life. Faithful to the end, he refused to leave the bunker even as the Russians approached.

Suicide Together

When advised to flee due to the approaching Russia, Hitler had other plans. Hitler said goodbye to his servants and poisoned his dog. Petrol for the cremation had been prepared. He used his gun to stretch comfortably, while Eva Braun swallowed the cyanide capsule.

Quoting the Washington Post, at that time Hitler wore a Nazi uniform jacket and black trousers. Meanwhile Braun wore a blue dress with a white cut. They closed the door and sat side by side on a small sofa. They have only been married for a day and a half.

No sound was heard afterward, according to historian Ian Kershaw. While above ground level, Berlin is being flattened by Russian artillery, due to the epic catastrophe launched by Hitler six years earlier.

Ten minutes passed. Then, Hitler's servant, SS Heinz Linge, who had been with Hitler for a decade, smelled a new weapon. He stopped. "Everything in me refuses to open the door," he said.

Hitler and Braun died. Hitler died having a bullet in his right temple. Meanwhile, Braun smells of cyanide, like bitter almonds. "His frown shows how he died," said Linge.

The nightmare finally ended. The man who plunged Europe into World War II and spread untold misery and destruction across the continent, has died.