Testament
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The last political testament was signed at the same time as Hitler's last will, 04:00 on 29 April 1945. The first part of the testament talked of his motivations in the three decades since volunteering in World War I, repeated his claim that neither he nor anyone else in Germany wanted war in 1939, stated his reasons for his intention to commit suicide, and praised and expressed his thanks to the German people for their support and achievements. Also included in the first testament are statements detailing his claim that he tried to avoid war with other nations and puts the responsibility for it upon "international Jewry and its helpers". He concluded with a call to continue the "battle of the Nation" and expressed hope for a renaissance of the National-Socialist movement with the realization of a "true community of nations".
The second part lays out Hitler's intentions for the government of Germany and the Nazi Party after his death and details who was to succeed him. He expelled Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring from the party (whom he had previously designated as his successor in the event of his death) and canceled his succession rights. To replace him, Hitler named Großadmiral Karl Dönitz as President of the Reich and Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces. Reichsführer-SS and Interior Minister Heinrich Himmler was also expelled from the party for attempting to negotiate a peace deal with the western Allies without Hitler's permission. Hitler accused Göring and Himmler of betraying him and bringing "irreparable shame on the whole nation" by negotiating with the Allies.
Hitler appointed the following as the new Cabinet and as "leaders of the nation":
- President of the Reich (Reichspräsident), Minister of War (Kriegsminister) and Commander-in-Chief of the Navy (Oberbefehlshaber der Kriegsmarine): Grand Admiral Karl Dönitz
- Chancellor of the Reich (Reichskanzler): Dr. Joseph Goebbels
- Party Minister (Parteiminister): Martin Bormann
- Foreign Minister (Aussenminister): Arthur Seyss-Inquart
- Interior Minister (Innenminister): Gauleiter Paul Giesler
- Commander-in-Chief of the Army (Oberbefehlshaber des Heeres): Field Marshal Ferdinand Schörner
- Commander-in-Chief of the Air Force (Oberbefehlshaber der Luftwaffe): Field Marshal Robert Ritter von Greim
- Reichsführer-SS and Chief of Police (Reichsführer-SS und Chef der Deutschen Polizei): Gauleiter Karl Hanke
- Minister of Economy (Wirtschaft): Walter Funk
- Minister of Agriculture (Landwirtschaft): Herbert Backe
- Minister of Justice (Justiz): Otto Thierack
- Minister of Culture (Kultus): Dr. Gustav Adolf Scheel
- Minister of Propaganda (Propaganda): Dr. Werner Naumann
- Minister of Finance (Finanzen): Johann Ludwig Graf Schwerin von Krosigk
- Minister of Labour (Arbeit): Dr. Theo Hupfauer
- Minister of Munitions (Rüstung): Karl-Otto Saur
- Director of the German Labour Front and member of the Cabinet (Leiter der Deutschen Arbeitsfront und Mitglied des Reichskabinetts: Reichsminister) Dr. Robert Ley
Witnessed by Dr. Joseph Goebbels, General Wilhelm Burgdorf, Martin Bormann, and General Hans Krebs.
On the afternoon of 30 April, about a day and a half after he signed his last will and testament, Hitler and Braun committed suicide.
Read more about this topic: Last Will And Testament Of Adolf Hitler
Famous quotes containing the word testament:
“Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.”
—Bible: New Testament St. John the Divine, in Revelation, 2:10.
“Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
—Bible: New Testament Jesus, in Matthew, 26:41.