The
existence of Eva Braun - Adolf
Hitler's mistress for more than 12 years and, in the end, his wife - was one of the most successfully guarded
secrets of Nazi Germany.
According
to Hitler's chauffeur Erich Kempka Eva Braun was "the
unhappiest woman in Germany. She spent most of her time waiting for
Hitler." He had always kept her
out of sight - as soon as guests arrived, he almost invariably banished
her to her room. Joachim Fest tells in his biography of Hitler how Eva
Braun continued to be kept in semi concealment during the years, stealing
in by side entrances and using rear staircases, contenting herself with a
photograph of Hitler when he left her alone at mealtimes. But gradually she accepted her frustrating role - content to
be sole woman companion of the great man.
Hitler's personal valet, Heinz Linge, later recalled how the staff used to
call her the "girl in a gilded cage". But Hitler became
genuinely fond of Eva and found relaxation in her company. "Fraulein
Braun is a young girl," Hitler once said to Linge, "too young to
be the wife of one in my position. But she is the only girl for me. So we
live as we do. But one day I shall give up the leadership of the Reich. I
shall cease to be the Fuhrer and retire to Linz to a house that can be
managed by a small staff. Then I will marry Fraulein Braun ..."
Eva Braun
Eva Braun was born the middle of three sisters into a Catholic family on 6
February 1912 - three
lively, pretty girls. She was educated at a lyceum, then for one year at a
business school in a convent where she had average grades and a talent for
athletics.
Fresh out of the convent school Eva Braun, at 17, met Adolf
Hitler the first time when she was working in Munich in 1929 as the
assistant of Hitler's personal photographer Heinrich Hoffmann.
From the moment Hitler walked into the shop, she was in love.
In a letter to her sister Gretl Eva Braun later wrote about the meeting:
"I
had stayed after closing time to straighten up several things and was
standing on the ladder putting something away on the top shelf. Then I
heard the door open and saw the boss come in with a somewhat older man
carrying a felt hat in his hand. I tried to watch them without their
noticing ...
When I came down off the ladder the boss introduced us. He said: Mr.
Wolff, this is our little Miss Eva. Then Hoffmann sent me out to get some
beer and sausages from the corner pub."
Hitler soon became attracted to the young woman and began
showing her little favors and courtesies. And she was much more than a
dumb blonde interested in movie stars, horoscopes and clothes ...
She described him to friends as a "gentleman of a certain age with a
funny moustache, a light-colored English overcoat, and carrying a big felt
hat." In
1931 the 19-year-old Eva wrote a letter to the Nazi Führer:
"Dear
Mr. Hitler, I would like to thank you for the pleasant evening at the
theater. It was unforgettable. I shall always be grateful for your
friendship. I count the hours until the moment when we shall meet again
..."
Sketch of Eva Braun
made by Adolf Hitler
Eva
Braun soon agreed to follow Hitler to his mountain retreat in the alps.
Their attraction was immediate, and over the objection of her
lower-middle-class Bavarian parents, she became his mistress.
For the next
sixteen years, she lived in luxury as millions
suffered and died at the hands of her 'Wulf'.
- Louis Bülow
