Ep 3. Hitler?s Last Days

In season 5 episode 3 of Secrets of War, titled "Hitler's Last Days," viewers are taken on a journey through the final days of Adolf Hitler's reign over Nazi Germany. Through a combination of interviews with historians and expert analysis, the episode explores the events that led up to Hitler's suicide and the fall of the Third Reich.

The episode begins by setting the scene in April 1945, when the Allies were closing in on Berlin and Hitler's bunker. As the situation became increasingly dire, Hitler's inner circle began to abandon him. Some, like Heinrich Himmler, saw the writing on the wall and began negotiating with the Allies. Others, like Joseph Goebbels and his wife Magda, remained fiercely loyal to Hitler until the bitter end.

Despite the mounting pressure, Hitler refused to surrender or abandon his vision of a Nazi super-state. Instead, he retreated deeper into his bunker and continued issuing orders to his remaining loyalists. As the Allies drew closer, Hitler's physical and mental health began to deteriorate. By the end of April, he was barely able to function and spent most of his time in a drug-induced stupor.

Meanwhile, the Soviets were closing in on Berlin from the east. In one of the war's most dramatic moments, they stormed the Reichstag building and raised the Soviet flag over the city. As the Soviets drew closer to Hitler's bunker, his inner circle began making plans to escape. Some, like Goebbels, chose to remain with Hitler until the end. Others, like Himmler, fled the city in an effort to save themselves.

As the final days of the war played out, Hitler's remaining loyalists debated what to do next. Some suggested they fight to the death, while others argued for a negotiated surrender. In the end, Hitler remained resolute in his refusal to surrender. On April 30, 1945, he committed suicide in his bunker, along with his longtime partner Eva Braun. In his final hours, Hitler remained convinced that he would be remembered as a hero and a martyr.

The episode concludes with an exploration of the fallout from Hitler's suicide. The war in Europe officially ended on May 8, 1945, but the legacy of the Nazi regime would haunt generations to come. The episode suggests that Hitler's refusal to surrender and his willingness to sacrifice millions of lives for his vision of a Nazi super-state were what ultimately led to his downfall. It serves as a reminder of the terrible consequences that can result from unchecked power and fanaticism.