The phrase 10 accidents responsible may sound like a quirky headline, but each of these near‑fatal mishaps literally nudged Adolf Hitler onto the world‑stage. From a frozen river in his childhood to a botched bomb plot in 1939, every brush with death left a tiny crack in the timeline that, if closed, could have erased the nightmare of Nazi rule. Below we walk through each astonishing incident, keeping the fun tone while staying true to the facts.

1 Johann Georg Elser’s Failed Assassination Attempt

Most people recall the 1944 Valkyrie plot, yet an earlier, quieter effort in 1939 came frighteningly close to ending Hitler’s life. German carpenter Johann Georg Elser, a staunch left‑winger, despised the Führer so much that he quit his lifelong trade to join a bomb factory, plotting a solo strike against the Nazi leader.

Operating at the Waldenmaier armament plant in Heidenheim, Elser assembled an explosive device and spent a painstaking month hollowing out a concrete pillar beneath the podium where Hitler would address crowds. He timed the bomb to detonate as the speech began, hoping to catch the dictator mid‑address.

Bad weather forced Hitler to cut his speech short, and he stepped away from the platform a few minutes before the bomb exploded. The blast killed eight people and injured sixty, but the Führer escaped unharmed. Even Eva Braun’s father was wounded. Elser was captured at the Swiss border, imprisoned, and eventually executed for his daring attempt.

Elser’s solitary act remains a haunting reminder that a single individual could have altered the course of the 20th century.

2 Lenin’s Sudden Stroke

One of history’s most consequential hiccups came from the Soviet side: Vladimir Lenin suffered a sudden stroke in 1924, leaving him incapacitated and eventually dead. In his final testament, Lenin explicitly ordered that Joseph Stalin be stripped of the General Secretary post, a move that could have reshaped Soviet leadership.

Stalin, however, ignored the dying leader’s wishes, maneuvering his way into power. This twist proved pivotal for Hitler, because the ensuing Nazi‑Soviet non‑aggression pact (the Molotov‑Ribbentrop Pact) bought Germany the breathing room to launch World War II without fearing a two‑front war.

Had Lenin survived longer and installed Leon Trotsky—an outspoken, Jewish revolutionary who denounced fascism—as his successor, the Soviet Union might have taken a far more aggressive stance against Hitler. Trotsky’s vocal opposition could have thwarted the Nazis before they seized Europe.

Instead, Stalin’s ruthless consolidation of power, followed by Trotsky’s exile and eventual assassination, left the world vulnerable to Hitler’s ambitions.

3 Hitler’s Mother’s Unexpected Death

While many point to Hitler’s art‑school rejection, an even more devastating personal blow came when his mother, Klara, died of breast cancer at age 47. The young Adolf, deeply attached to his mother, described her passing as a “dreadful blow” in *Mein Kampf*.

Hitler never accepted the medical diagnosis; he believed a Jewish doctor had poisoned her. This unfounded conviction helped cement his virulent antisemitism, providing a personal vendetta that later fueled the Holocaust.

Klara had been the one urging Adolf to pursue his artistic dreams—a path he abandoned after her death, steering him toward politics and, ultimately, tyranny.

4 Evading A Death Sentence

In 1923, after the failed Beer Hall Putsch, Hitler faced a treason charge that, under Weimar law, carried the death penalty. Yet a series of legal quirks saved his life. A state of emergency stripped juries of authority, placing the decision in the hands of judges.

The presiding judge, Georg Neithardt, sympathized with right‑wing ideals and allowed Hitler to turn the courtroom into a propaganda platform. Rather than a fair trial, the session became a stage for his incendiary speeches, broadcasting his ideas to a wider audience.

Consequently, Hitler received a five‑year prison term but served only nine months, emerging free to reorganize the Nazi Party and plot his rise to power.

5 Suicide

Shortly after the Beer Hall Putsch, Hitler’s mental state spiraled. He and his close American‑born friend Ernst “Putzi” Hanfstaengl and Putzi’s wife Hellen fled to a safe house outside Munich, only to be surrounded by police.

Overcome with despair, Hitler grabbed a pistol from a nearby cabinet, intending to end his life. At the decisive moment, Hellen seized his arm and snatched the weapon away, stopping the suicide in its tracks.

Police soon burst in, arresting the group. This intervention kept Hitler alive to later become the architect of Germany’s darkest era.

6 Hitler’s Car Accident

According to Nazi economic adviser Otto Wagener, a freak traffic incident almost claimed Hitler’s life in March 1930. A semi‑trailer truck barreled toward Hitler’s Mercedes; the driver slammed the brakes just in time, preventing a crushing collision that would have trapped the dictator inside.

Wagener, who sat beside Hitler, later recounted the close call. Six months after the near‑miss, the Nazi Party seized power, making one wonder how a split‑second delay could have altered history.

Decades later, an original insurance claim signed by Hitler for damages to his car surfaced on eBay, confirming the event’s authenticity.

7 A British Soldier Spares Hitler’s Life

During World I, after a German‑engineered bridge was repaired by British troops, a wounded British soldier named Henry Tandey paused to rest. Spotting a lone German soldier emerging from cover, Tandey raised his rifle.

He recognized the figure as Adolf Hitler, who was wounded and attempting to flee. Choosing compassion over combat, Tandey lowered his weapon, sparing the future dictator’s life.

Decades later, when the two met again on the battlefield, Tandey reportedly regretted his mercy, wishing he had taken the shot.

8 A World War I Gas Attack

In 1918, amid a brutal Belgian battle, a British mustard‑gas shell landed near Hitler’s position. The toxic cloud temporarily blinded him, and he was evacuated to a German field hospital.

Medical records later revealed that the blindness stemmed not from the gas itself but from a condition dubbed “hysterical amblyopia,” a psychosomatic response to the trauma.

Strangely, the experience left such an impression that Hitler later prohibited the use of mustard gas on the World II battlefield.

9 Saved From An Angry Mob

In the volatile atmosphere of post‑World‑War I Munich, Hitler’s fiery speeches often provoked violent reactions. After one particularly incendiary address, a mob of up to 200 men chased him, beating him and brandishing bayonets.

Just as the attackers prepared to finish him off, eight armed men intervened, halting the bloodshed. Among them was Irish veteran Michael Keogh, who had once fought alongside Hitler during the war.

Keogh later faced near‑execution during the Nazis’ Night of the Long Knives, illustrating how a single moment of mercy could ripple through history.

10 Hitler’s Near‑Drowning

On a bitter January day in 1894, four‑year‑old Adolf Hitler joined friends for a game of tag near the River Inn in Passau. He ventured onto thin ice, which shattered beneath his weight, plunging him into the icy water.

Fortunately, a nearby boy named Johann Kuehberger heard the splash, dove in, and pulled the terrified child to safety, averting drowning and severe hypothermia.

Kuehberger later entered the priesthood, never publicly recalling his life‑saving act. Had the rescue not occurred, the world would have been spared the future dictator’s influence.

10 accidents responsible – A Quick Recap

From a frozen river to political twists in Moscow, each of these ten unlikely events nudged Adolf Hitler onto the world stage. They remind us that history often hinges on the smallest of chances, and that a single act of mercy—or a missed brake—can change the fate of millions.

10 tragic facts about Eva Braun’s doomed romance surface from the bleak night of April 30, 1945, when hidden deep inside an underground bunker, Adolf Hitler chose to end his own life – and, beside him, his newly‑wed wife Eva Braun met the same fate.

10 Tragic Facts: She Was Truly In Love With Hitler

It’s tempting to wonder where Eva Braun’s heart truly lay when a 17‑year‑old decides to cohabit with a 40‑year‑old power‑broker. Most assume she was after status or wealth, but for Eva, the feeling was genuine love. She first encountered Hitler in 1930, a time when his ascent was still nascent, and she didn’t even know his name – she was told he went by “Herr Wolff.”

The attraction was instantaneous. Witnesses say Hitler was “devouring her with his eyes” the moment they met, and by day’s end he offered her a ride home. Though Braun modestly declined, she spent the next days inquiring about this mysterious “Herr Wolff.” Hitler then began whisking her away to movies, meals and operas, gradually wearing down any resistance. By the time she confided to a friend, she asked, “Who could withstand that?”

With his iconic mustache and booming voice, Hitler was a magnetic figure, even to women unaware of his identity. For Eva, the relationship felt like true love, a sentiment she clung to despite the darkness surrounding him.

9 Hitler Was In Love With Someone Else

When Eva and Hitler’s affair began, the dictator was already entangled with another woman – his niece, Geli Raubal. Evidence suggests Hitler adored Geli far more than any other woman, yet her feelings seemed less certain. In September 1931, Geli announced plans to marry a man in Vienna, enraging Hitler. A night‑long argument ensued, and the following morning Geli was discovered dead from a self‑inflicted gunshot.

Eva, already the “other woman,” stepped in to console the heart‑broken Führer, and their relationship truly ignited then. This should have been a glaring warning sign: Hitler was already involved with another, and his involvement led to a tragic suicide. Throughout his life, Hitler maintained romantic ties with eight women, each of whom attempted suicide at least once. The pattern of devastation extended to Eva, who endured the worst of his emotional wreckage.

8 Hitler Cheated On Her Rampantly

Hitler’s treatment of the women who loved him was nothing short of cruel. While only one of his eight lovers—Geli—died before Eva, the remaining seven met tragic ends after their involvement with him. He cheated on Eva repeatedly, and one of his most notorious affairs involved Renate Müller, a top‑tier German film star of the 1930s.

According to accounts, Hitler lured Renate into propaganda projects and then into a bizarre, erotic power play. Supposedly, Müller recounted that Hitler threw himself on the floor, begging her to dominate him. She allegedly obliged, beating him with a whip while he masturbated. Whether fact or fiction, the affair was real, and Eva Braun was aware of it. In 1937, Renate followed the grim pattern of Hitler’s lovers, leaping from a window to end her own life.

7 Eva Braun Shot Herself In The Chest For Attention

Eva Braun was not one to accept an open‑relationship lifestyle. When she witnessed Hitler cavorting with other women and leaving her feeling abandoned, she grew despondent and resolved to act. She seized her father’s pistol, pressed it to her own chest, and pulled the trigger.

She missed the heart—either because she wasn’t ready to die or because she lacked anatomical knowledge. Realizing she was still alive, she called Hitler’s personal doctor. Scholars generally view this as a desperate plea for attention; by involving the doctor, she ensured the message would reach Hitler. The plan worked: Hitler arrived at the hospital bearing flowers and vowed to care for her henceforth.

6 Hitler Hid Their Relationship

Beyond broken promises, Hitler proved a terrible boyfriend. He forbade anyone from knowing that Eva Braun was his mistress, subjecting her to humiliating concealment tactics. When old friends visited his residence, Eva could linger freely. However, if a dignitary or cabinet minister arrived, she was whisked into a private room adjacent to Hitler’s bedroom, hidden from view.

Colleagues described her as a “deeply unhappy” woman, trapped in a secretive shameful corner. Hitler also publicly disparaged her, reportedly saying, “A highly intelligent man should take a primitive and stupid woman. Imagine if, on top of everything else, I had a woman who interfered with my work! In my leisure time, I want to have peace.” Over time, he fabricated excuses to keep her nearby, eventually dubbing her his “private secretary.” Yet even then, she had to sneak in through a back door to avoid detection.

Despite the cruelty, Eva remained devoted, while Hitler relegated her to the shadows, treating her as a private shame.

5 She Tried To Overdose On Sleeping Pills

In 1935, Eva Braun endured a three‑month silence from Hitler. Rumors swirled that he was spending time with another woman, and her earlier suicide attempt with a pistol had accomplished nothing. Determined to make a lasting statement, she penned in her diary, “God, I’m afraid he won’t answer today. I’ve decided on 35 pills this time and it’s going to really be a ‘dead certain’ business.” She then gulped an entire bottle of sleeping pills, waiting for darkness to claim her.

The attempt failed once again, and Hitler rushed to her side with flowers, begging forgiveness and promising to buy her a house. This was her second of three suicide attempts, and the last she would undertake alone.

4 Hitler’s Family Hated Her

Eva Braun’s situation worsened as she faced hostility within Hitler’s household. Angela Raubal, mother of Geli—Hitler’s earlier love—lived under the same roof, observing the man who had driven her daughter to suicide now consorting with Eva. Angela openly despised Eva, making no effort to conceal her contempt. She publicly declared that Eva had no place in Hitler’s life.

Left with few allies, Eva spent most of her time reading and watching movies alone. She even stared at photographs of Hitler during meals, conjuring the comforting illusion that he was present. Only after her overdose attempt did Hitler finally move Angela out, granting Eva a rare victory: she could finally reside in Hitler’s home.

3 She Refused To Leave His Side

As the war turned against Germany and Soviet forces closed in, it became evident that the Third Reich would crumble. In 1943, Henriette von Schirach, wife of the Reich Youth Leader, urged Eva to flee Germany and abandon Hitler. Eva Braun refused.

Her resolve was not naïve devotion alone. In 1944 she drafted a will stating she would kill herself should Hitler die, declaring, “Do you think I would let him die alone? I will stay with him up until the last moment. No one can stop me.” True to her promise, she stayed by his side, eventually joining him in the underground bunker, prepared to die together.

2 Hitler Had Her Brother‑In‑Law Shot

In the final hours, Eva Braun’s own brother‑in‑law, Hermann Fegelein, entered the tragic tableau. He had married Eva’s sister, with Hitler himself signing the marriage register. When summoned, Fegelein was discovered drunk, lugging a suitcase filled with looted goods, planning to escape. A mysterious woman—who was not his wife—accompanied him, slipping out a window as Nazi forces arrived.

Hitler, suspecting espionage, ordered Fegelein dragged to the bunker. At that moment, Himmler was attempting a secret surrender, and Hitler interpreted Fegelein’s actions as treason. Consequently, Fegelein was executed on the spot. Hours later, Eva and Hitler were married; on the marriage certificate, she initially wrote the “B” of Braun, then crossed it out and replaced it with “Hitler.”

1 The Dog’s Death Upset More People Than Eva’s

Within the bunker, alongside a few of Hitler’s most trusted men, lay his beloved German shepherd, Blondi. Eva Braun already harbored resentment toward the dog, venting frustration over Hitler’s affection for the animal. She would kick Blondi whenever it slipped under the dinner table, relishing Hitler’s bewildered reaction.

When the decision was made to end their lives, Hitler first handed a cyanide capsule to Blondi to confirm the poison’s efficacy. The dog died, and Hitler erupted in inconsolable grief, howling mournfully. According to a surviving nurse, when Eva finally swallowed her cyanide capsule, none in the bunker were as upset as they had been at the dog’s death.

The brief, tragic saga of Eva Braun concluded with the same heartache that defined her existence: a hidden, unloved woman who chose to die for the man she adored.

When we talk about Adolf Hitler, the image that instantly pops up is that of a man whose name is synonymous with evil and mass murder. Yet, hidden behind the iron curtain of his regime were ten women whose devotion, ambition, and sometimes tragedy added a strange, personal dimension to the Nazi saga. In this look at the 10 women hitler kept close, we’ll uncover the love, intrigue and dark loyalty that bound them to the Fuhrer.

10 Eva Braun

Any list of Hitler’s inner circle would be incomplete without Eva Braun, the young photographer’s assistant who first met the future dictator when she was just 17 and he was already 40. Their relationship was a roller‑coaster of jealousy and obsession, with Eva reportedly attempting suicide at least twice, yet they managed a seemingly ordinary marital life behind closed doors.

Unlike many of the regime’s public faces, Eva remained largely invisible to the German populace. She acted as hostess at Hitler’s secluded Alpine retreat in Obersalzberg, but never stepped onto the national stage, keeping her role strictly private.

When the war’s end loomed, Eva stayed by Hitler’s side in the bunker beneath the Reich Chancellery. On April 29, 1945, they exchanged a brief marriage ceremony, and just hours later the newlyweds took their own lives—Eva crushing a cyanide capsule as Hitler shot himself.

9 Magda Goebbels

Magda Goebbels, wife of the notorious propaganda minister Joseph Goebbels, married more for mutual advancement than romance, yet she bore him six children. Their union was riddled with infidelity on both sides—Joseph’s unending affairs and Magda’s own romantic liaisons made the marriage a turbulent affair.

Although long‑viewed as a fervent supporter of the Third Reich, evidence suggests Magda’s confidence began to crack as the war turned against Germany. In one of Hitler’s radio broadcasts she allegedly turned off the set in exasperation, muttering, “What a load of rubbish.”

When Hitler committed suicide, Magda and Joseph followed suit, murdering their six children first with morphine to induce sleep, then crushing cyanide capsules in each mouth. Their deaths could have been avoided, as Magda was offered chances to evacuate the children, but she chose to stay and end it all on that grim day.

8 Geli Raubal

Geli Raubal, Hitler’s half‑niece through his sister Angela, moved into his Munich apartment while studying medicine at Ludwig Maximilian University. Hitler quickly became overprotective, even forcing her to break off a romance with his chauffeur, Emil Maurice, and insisting on a chaperone for all her outings.

In late 1931, after a heated argument over a planned trip to Vienna, Geli allegedly took a pistol and ended her own life. The exact nature of their relationship remains debated—some claim a sexual liaison, others see a purely obsessive, possibly abusive, bond.

Despite the mystery, Hitler later declared Geli the only woman he ever truly loved, preserving her bedroom at the Berghof just as she left it and displaying her portraits in the Chancellery.

7 Unity Mitford

Not all of Hitler’s confidantes were German. The striking English aristocrat Unity Mitford, one of the famed “Mitford girls,” became perhaps the most eccentric of the bunch. Obsessed with meeting the Fuhrer, she journeyed to Germany in 1934, eventually tracking him down in a Munich restaurant.

Hitler offered Unity an apartment in Munich—ironically still occupied by a Jewish couple. Unity reportedly entered the flat to assess it for refurbishment while the displaced family wept in the kitchen, a chilling illustration of her devotion.

When war erupted, Unity attempted suicide by shooting herself in the head. Though she survived, the bullet remained lodged near her brain, causing chronic issues that eventually led to meningitis and her death in 1948.

6 Emmy Goering

Emmy Goering, a German actress turned “First Lady of the Third Reich,” married Luftwaffe commander Hermann Goering as his second wife. She quickly became the public face of many state functions before World War II, sparking jealousy from Eva Braun, who reportedly disliked Emmy.

Emmy’s fame was amplified by German media; she lived a lavish lifestyle, frequently appearing in magazines and newsreels. Together with her husband, she amassed countless artworks confiscated from Jewish owners, filling their numerous mansions.

After the war, Emmy was convicted as a Nazi and sentenced to a year in prison. Released, she was barred from returning to the stage and spent her remaining years in a modest Munich apartment, passing away in 1973.

5 Margarete Himmler

Margarete, a nurse by training, met Heinrich Himmler after divorcing her first husband. She was seven years his senior and, notably, a Protestant—both factors that initially raised eyebrows among Himmler’s family.

Described by in‑laws as a cold‑fish who preferred domestic duties, Margarete dutifully fulfilled the social obligations expected of an SS officer’s wife. Yet she clashed with other SS spouses, most notably Lina Heydrich, with whom she shared a mutual loathing.

Following the war, Margarete and her daughter Gudrun were detained in several internment camps. Interrogations revealed she knew little about Himmler’s atrocities, leading to her eventual release. She resumed a quiet life in Munich, steadfastly maintaining her National Socialist beliefs despite claims of ignorance about the Holocaust.

4 Lina Heydrich

Lina, the wife of Reinhard Heydrich—the chief architect of the Gestapo, Kripo, and SD—proved herself a force behind the scenes. When Reinhard was dismissed from the navy for breaking an engagement promise, Lina took matters into her own hands, urging him to apply for a counter‑intelligence post.

Although Heinrich Himmler initially cancelled their interview, Lina ignored the message and sent Reinhard anyway. The gamble paid off; Heydrich was hired on the spot, propelling his rise to one of the regime’s most feared figures. He was later assassinated by British‑trained Czech and Slovak operatives in 1942.

After the war, Lina controversially secured a German pension, classified as a war‑dead colonel’s widow. She defended her husband’s legacy until her death in 1985.

3 Eleonore Baur

Eleonore Baur, a nurse‑turned mother of two illegitimate children, led a peripatetic life that saw her marry, divorce, and eventually settle in Munich in 1920. A close confidante of Hitler, she was a founding member of the National Socialist German Workers’ Party and took part in the infamous Beer Hall Putsch—the only woman to do so.

She played a pivotal role in establishing and managing the Dachau concentration camp, allegedly using prisoners to renovate a villa Hitler gifted her. Within the camp, she earned a reputation as a harsh bully, with inmates recounting beatings and other abuses.

After the war, Eleonore was arrested but never convicted due to insufficient evidence. She received a ten‑year sentence from the denazification court, later securing a pension. She never renounced National Socialism and died in 1981.

2 Elsa Bruckmann

Born Princess Cantacuzene of Romania, Elsa Bruckmann married German publisher Hugo Bruckmann. Both became ardent supporters of Hitler, financing his early political career before and after his 1923 failed coup.

Elsa cultivated a high‑society salon that introduced Hitler to influential industrialists and financiers. She also published the philosophical treatises of Houston Stewart Chamberlain, whose seminal work, The Foundations of the Nineteenth Century, heavily influenced Nazi anti‑Semitic ideology.

Elsa passed away in 1946, leaving behind a legacy intertwined with the early financial and intellectual scaffolding of the Nazi movement.

1 Winifred Wagner

Winifred, an English‑born daughter‑in‑law of famed composer Richard Wagner, ran the Bayreuth Festival after her husband’s death. Her friendship with Hitler began in the early 1920s, and she famously supplied the paper on which Mein Kampf was penned during his incarceration after the Beer Hall Putsch.

Rumors swirled in 1933 that she might marry Hitler—a union that never materialized—but the two maintained a close bond. While some family members claim she was disgusted by Hitler’s anti‑Jewish policies, she remained unwaveringly loyal to him even after the war, entertaining former high‑ranking Nazis and refusing to renounce her association.

Forbidden from directing the Bayreuth Festival post‑war, Winifred continued to host political gatherings until her death in 1980.

10 Women Hitler: A Glimpse Into Their Lives

This roundup of the 10 women hitler kept close reveals a spectrum of devotion, ambition, and tragedy that shaped the private world of one of history’s most infamous figures.

Among roughly 150,000 men of Jewish descent who fought in Hitler’s army, the stories of 10 Jews who served on the front lines reveal a paradox: while their families were being forced into ghettos and sent to death camps, these soldiers were stationed in Poland, France, or Russia, helping spread the very system that was slaughtering their own people across Europe.

Why 10 Jews Who Joined the Nazi Ranks?

10 Werner Goldberg

A familiar poster plastered throughout Nazi Germany showed a soldier with a swastika emblazoned on his chest, hailed as “The Ideal German Soldier.” Ironically, the model soldier was not a pure‑blood Aryan at all – he was half‑Jewish.

Werner Goldberg grew up unaware of his Jewish roots; his father never mentioned it. The truth hit him at fourteen when his school principal announced a “Jew‑free” policy and singled Werner out as the problem, publicly exposing his heritage.

Shunned overnight, Werner became desperate to belong again. He enlisted at the earliest opportunity, managing to join before the invasion of Poland, hoping military service would restore his place in society.

Back home, his father endured the horrors of the Holocaust. Werner leveraged his position to intervene repeatedly, even breaking into the prison holding his father when he learned of an imminent transfer to Auschwitz, rescuing him from certain death.

In the war’s aftermath, the Goldberg family suffered devastating losses—only his father survived. The reunion between Werner and his rescued father stands as a stark reminder of the personal stakes hidden behind the propaganda.

9 Nachemia Wurman

Debates have long swirled about how much ordinary Nazi soldiers knew about the atrocities in the camps. In the 72nd Infantry, one man certainly had a front‑row seat: Nachemia Wurman.

A Polish Jew, Wurman survived a 1944 labor camp where he witnessed his father’s execution and was forced to bathe in soap crafted from the bodies of fellow inmates.

After escaping and heading west in hopes of meeting Soviet troops, he instead ran straight into a German battalion. Knowing he couldn’t slip past them unnoticed, he boldly approached, shook hands, and introduced himself as “Marion Schmidt,” a German‑born chef.

He was promptly accepted into the unit, spending the remainder of the war with a swastika on his arm, cooking for the soldiers while keeping his true identity a secret. “The best hiding place was in the mouth of the wolf,” he later reflected.

8 Arno Spitz

Arno Spitz earned three Iron Crosses, the highest German decoration for bravery, making him one of the most decorated men in the Wehrmacht.

His father, a Jew, fled to the United States as persecution intensified. Arno, however, stayed in Germany and proved so valuable that when Himmler ordered half‑Jewish soldiers expelled in 1940, he was allowed to remain.

Spitz later insisted that fighting for Germany was not the same as supporting Hitler, telling Dateline NBC in 2002, “There is a difference.” His daughter later accused him of betraying his own people, but he refused to apologize, saying, “I didn’t do anything that is a crime.”

7 Hans‑Geert Falkenberg

“I did not want to join the army,” Hans‑Geert Falkenberg recalled. “I had to join the army.” He enlisted as soon as war was declared, hoping to prove his worth to a society that was already targeting Jews.

His teachers had been preaching Jewish inferiority, and he spent his teenage years excelling at everything the Nazis prized, seeing military service as the next logical step.

While fighting in France, he received letters from his grandmother describing the unfolding Holocaust. When the letters ceased, he learned she had been sent to a concentration camp, a blow that shocked him and his acquaintances alike.

His family had already fled to England, but trapped in occupied Europe, Falkenberg concluded that staying in the army was the safest way to survive, stating, “No question.”

6 Helmut Kopp

Helmut Kopp, the son of a German father and a Jewish mother, felt most alienated by his maternal side. His grandfather openly dismissed him, referring to him as a “goy” rather than a grandson.

When war erupted, Kopp filled out his enlistment papers as “full Aryan” and served in an artillery unit. He claimed to have been aware of the camps but chose to focus solely on his own survival, saying, “You didn’t think about the Fuhrer or the nation; I thought only about myself.”

5 Friedemann Lichtwitz

“In the German army, I was in a pretty good situation,” Friedemann Lichtwitz recalled. He felt accepted among his comrades, unaware of the growing persecution of Jews at home.

When the 1940 purge expelled half‑Jewish soldiers, he was sent to a forced‑labor camp and later, after a failed escape, to Dachau. Asked by an NBC reporter how it felt to transition from soldier to prisoner, he could only reply, “I can’t say; I don’t know how to answer that.”

4 Major Leo Skurnik

Major Leo Skurnik served as a doctor with Finland’s 53rd Infantry. Though Jewish by birth, his Finnish nationality placed him alongside German SS troops against the Soviet Union.

He tended to every wounded combatant, regardless of uniform, and even helped clear paths for German assaults. When a German soldier needed aid, Skurnik braved no‑man’s land to rescue him.

He organized the evacuation of a field hospital under Russian bombardment, carrying over 600 wounded—including SS men—across 8.9 km of bogland. Though offered an Iron Cross, he famously rejected it, telling his commander, “Tell your German colleagues that I wipe my arse with it!”

3 Harry Matso

Harry Matso, a Finnish Jew, fought for Finland’s army, an ally of Nazi Germany. He asserted, “We’ve been called ‘fascist,’ which is a lie,” emphasizing his opposition to Nazi ideology.

He explained that Finnish Jews fought for their nation’s independence, not for Germany’s war aims. Conscription forced him into service, even as rumors of the Holocaust filtered through.

Fearing Soviet domination as much as Nazi oppression, Matso chose to defend his homeland, refusing to salute German soldiers whenever he encountered them.

2 Emil Maurice

Emil Maurice, listed as SS Member #2—second only to Adolf Hitler—was, by Himmler’s own standards, a Jew.

He joined the National Socialist Party in 1919, rose to lead the Sturmabteilung, participated in the 1923 Beer Hall Putsch, and even helped Hitler draft Mein Kampf while imprisoned.

Despite his Jewish ancestry being exposed, Hitler declared Maurice an “honorary Aryan,” shielding him from expulsion after Himmler demanded his removal.

1 Erhard Milch

Erhard Milch rose to the upper echelons of the Nazi war machine, serving on the German War Cabinet and as chief of staff of the Luftwaffe, despite the public knowledge that his father was Jewish.

His friendship with Hermann Göring secured his “full Aryan” status after Göring arranged for Milch’s mother to sign a statement denying his Jewish lineage.

During the Nuremberg trials, Milch faced accusations of conducting lethal experiments on Jewish prisoners in Dachau, including high‑altitude and hypothermia tests. He never expressed remorse, defending Göring and refusing to apologize for his role.