The Reaction of Himmler, Hitler and Göring when they Were Told that the End Had Arrived

 The reactions of Heinrich Himmler, Adolf Hitler, and Hermann Göring to the imminent collapse of Nazi Germany in 1945 reveal much about their personalities, ambitions, and states of mind as the Third Reich crumbled under the weight of Allied forces. Each man faced the end in starkly different ways, shaped by their roles in the regime and their delusions about the future.

Heinrich Himmler: The Opportunist’s Desperation

Himmler, head of the SS and one of the architects of the Holocaust, reacted to Germany's impending defeat with betrayal and a desperate bid for self-preservation. As the war entered its final days, Himmler secretly sought to negotiate peace with the Western Allies behind Hitler’s back.

1. Secret Negotiations:
   In late April 1945, Himmler authorized meetings with representatives of the Allies, attempting to position himself as a mediator for a conditional surrender. He hoped to preserve some semblance of German power and save himself from retribution.

2. Hitler's Fury:
   When Hitler learned of Himmler’s betrayal from a BBC broadcast, he was outraged. In a fit of rage, Hitler declared Himmler a traitor and stripped him of all positions. This marked a dramatic fall from grace for one of Hitler’s most trusted confidants.

3. Himmler’s End:
   Disgraced and abandoned, Himmler disguised himself as a common soldier and fled. However, he was captured by British forces in May 1945. Before he could be tried for his war crimes, Himmler committed suicide by biting down on a cyanide capsule.

Adolf Hitler: Defiance and Delusion

Hitler’s reaction to the collapse of the Third Reich was characterized by denial, fury, and a final act of self-destruction. By April 1945, as Soviet forces encircled Berlin, Hitler retreated to his underground bunker and refused to leave.

1. Blame and Paranoia:
   Hitler spent his final days blaming others for Germany’s defeat, including his generals, the German people, and even his closest allies. He lashed out in anger, issuing impossible orders to imaginary armies and clinging to fantasies of a turning tide.

2. Refusal to Flee:
   Despite opportunities to escape Berlin, Hitler insisted on staying. He declared that he would either achieve victory or die in the capital of the Reich. By this point, he had lost touch with reality, relying on increasingly delusional proclamations.

3. Suicide:
   On April 30, 1945, with Soviet troops just blocks away from the Führerbunker, Hitler married Eva Braun in a brief ceremony before the two committed suicide. Hitler shot himself while Braun ingested cyanide. Their bodies were burned to prevent them from becoming trophies for the advancing Red Army.

Hermann Göring: A Bid for Power

Göring, head of the Luftwaffe and Hitler’s designated successor, reacted to the end with a bold and ultimately self-serving attempt to seize control.

1. Power Play:
   As the Third Reich unraveled, Göring sent a telegram to Hitler on April 23, 1945, asking for permission to take over leadership, citing the Führer’s inability to govern effectively. Göring believed he could negotiate a surrender with the Allies and preserve his position.

2. Hitler’s Wrath:
   When Hitler received Göring’s message, he viewed it as an act of treason. Göring was immediately stripped of his titles, placed under house arrest, and narrowly avoided execution.

3. Capture and Death:
   Göring was later captured by American forces and stood trial at the Nuremberg Trials for his war crimes. Before his execution could be carried out, Göring committed suicide by ingesting cyanide in October 1946.