Hermann Fegelein’s execution took place on April 28, 1945, during the final days of World War II and the collapse of the Nazi regime. Fegelein, a high-ranking SS officer and member of Adolf Hitler’s inner circle had fallen out of favor with Hitler due to his perceived desertion and betrayal.
Fegelein was arrested by the Gestapo on April 27, 1945, on the orders of Hitler himself. He was accused of deserting his post and attempting to flee Berlin as Soviet forces closed in on the city. Fegelein’s actions were seen as a betrayal of the regime and a failure to fulfill his duties in defending the capital.
Following his arrest, Fegelein was swiftly tried by a Nazi court-martial, found guilty of desertion and treason, and sentenced to death. On April 28, 1945, he was executed by firing squad. His execution took place just days before Hitler’s own suicide in the Führerbunker on April 30, 1945.
The exact circumstances of Fegelein’s execution, including the location and specific details, may vary depending on historical accounts. However, it is generally agreed upon that he was executed on Hitler’s orders as the Nazi regime crumbled in the face of defeat. Fegelein’s fate serves as a poignant example of the internal chaos and collapse within Hitler’s inner circle during the final days of the war.
So who was Hermann Fegelein?
Well if he had been executed a day or two later, he would have died as technically as Hitler’s brother in Law.
The image at the start of the blog is a group photo in the great hall of the Berghof. on the occasion of the wedding of Hermann Fegelein and Gretl Braun, Eva’s sister. Taken on the 3rd of June 1944.
Hermann Fegelein was a notable figure during World War II, primarily known for his association with Adolf Hitler’s inner circle and his marriage to Gretl Braun, the sister of Eva Braun, Hitler’s mistress and later wife.
Fegelein was born on October 30, 1906, in Ansbach, Germany. He joined the Nazi Party in 1930 and later the SS in 1933. He quickly rose through the ranks, becoming a trusted confidant of Heinrich Himmler. Fegelein served in various capacities within the SS, including as an adjutant to Himmler.
One of his significant roles was overseeing the preparations for the equestrian events at the 1936 Berlin Olympic Games. Despite his efforts, Fegelein failed to secure a spot on the German equestrian team for the Olympics, facing stiff competition from the Kavallerieschule Hannover.
During the war, Fegelein was involved in several key roles including commanding SS Cavalry units on the Eastern Front.
In September 1939, he commanded the SS Totenkopf Reiterstandarte (Death’s-Head Horse Regiment) in Poland. This unit was involved in supporting police activities and played a role in the Intelligenzaktion, which targeted Polish intellectuals and clergy.
As the war progressed, Fegelein found himself on the Eastern Front, where units under his command were responsible for the deaths of thousands of civilians during the Pripyat Marshes massacres. His tenure as the commander of the 8th SS Cavalry Division Florian Geyer in 1943 involved combating partisans and defending against the Red Army.
However, his most significant role came during the final days of the war when he was appointed as the liaison officer between Hitler and Heinrich Himmler.
In April 1945, as the Soviet forces closed in on Berlin and the situation became increasingly dire for the Nazi regime, Fegelein’s actions came under scrutiny. He was accused of desertion and treason for abandoning his military duties and focusing instead on securing his own safety and that of his family.
Gretl Braun gave birth to a baby girl, Eva Barbara, on May 5,1945 a week after the execution of her Husband. An execution which probably could have been stopped by Gretl’s sister Eva. However, it appears that Hitler had no loyalty to anyone, only to himself.
Eva Barbara Fegelein killed herself in April 1971 after her boyfriend died in a car accident. Gretl Braun-Fegelein moved to Munich and remarried in 1954. She died in 1987 at the age of 72.
Sources
https://www.geni.com/people/Eva-Barbara-Fegelein/6000000008281050621
https://spartacus-educational.com/Hermann_Fegelein.htm
https://www.hitler-archive.com/photo.php?p=m2cfy5QJ
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