How legitimate is the theory that Hitler didn't actually die in the bunker?

by ValyrianJedi

I've seen an episode or two of this new History Channel show called Hunting Hitler. While I don't usually believe a word that that channel says, they have given a piece of evidence to two that seem pretty strong, such as the skull that the Russians had and claimed to be Hitler's being tested and found to be a females.

Is there actually a decent case for Hitler having survived after WW2, or is this show just more History Channel bullshit like Ancient Aliens?

bonerparte1821

Not very in the grand scheme of things. For one, we have key eye witness testimony of some of the last occupants of the bunker. Heinz Linge (Hitlers Valet) and Otto Gunsche (Hitlers personal adjutant) were both present at Hitlers suicide-albeit he and Eva Braun committed suicide behind closed doors. They disposed or at least tried to dispose of his corpse. A lot of the hoopla surrounding Hitlers death seems to come from Stalins claim to Truman following the war that they weren't sure of his whereabouts, even though the NKVD had taken possession of his and Eva Brauns corpse. I think it is highly unlikely that Hitler could have successfully escaped (to Argentina?) and lived out the rest of his life in solitude.

Ever heard of Adolf Eichmann? Sure he was a key player in the Holocaust, but in the hierarchy of Nazi Germany he was a relatively minor official(a Lieutenant Colonel in the SS). The effort put into capturing Eichmann was considerable, now imagine a Hitler on the run and the effort that would be put into finding him. Hitler had made it plain to many that he would not be leaving Berlin and indeed he died there.

Sources : The Hitler Book: The Secret Dossier Prepared for Stalin from the Interrogations of Otto Guensche and Heinze Linge, Hitler's Closest Personal Aides.

BrosenkranzKeef

The problem with figuring out whether this is likely or not is that historians are historians and anything that isn't generally accepted is basically a conspiracy theory. If some new idea were to gain traction, you'd hear it from investigators, not from historians.

The idea of Nazi party members being moved to Spain via the methods mentioned in the show is too obvious to not be practical. The trip across the Atlantic is a little far-fetched but if I'm able to track toward an RDF beacon and land a plane in that field, you can bet German pilots could as well.