marked in her features.

The small box in whichthe

capsule had been kept lay on the table. I pushed
it aside to give myself room. While Bormann went
outside to fetch help to remove the bodies, I
spread out the blankets, laid the cadavers on them
and wrapped them round. It did not strike me until
later, when the Russians asked me aboutit, that I
did not see Hitler’s face closely, and I was
unable to say what damage the bullet had inflicted
to his head. My main aim was to finish and get
away. Eva Hitler was carried out first. Erich Kempka
lifted her up but then replaced her on the floor so
that Günsche could take over because he foundit
awkward to carry her alone. Bormann picked her up
in his arms and brought the body out of the room
where Kempka took over again because he did not
like the idea of the man she had despised in life
carrying her now ‘to the grave’. I reached below
Hitler’s head,two officers from his SS bodyguard lifted
the body, wrapped in a grey blanket, and we
carried him out. Immediately in front of thebunker
door, in the ReichChancellery garden, his body was
laid next to Eva’s in a small depression where
gasoline was poured over the cadavers and an attempt
was madeto set light to them.At first this proved
impossible. As a result of the various fires in the
parkland there was a fierce wind circulating which smothered
our attempts to set the bodies alight from a few
metres’ distance. Because of the relentless Russian
artillery fire we could not approach the bodies and ignite
the petrolwith a match. I returned to the
bunker and madea thick spill from some signal
papers. Bormann lit it and I threw it onto
Hitler’s petrol- soaked body whichcaught fire
immediately. Standing at the bunker entrance we,
the last witnesses – Bormann, Goebbels, Stumpfegger,
Günsche, Kempka and I – raised our hands for
 a last Hitler salute. Then we withdrew into the
bunker.60 Since Hitler had given me the additional task of
burning everything that remained of him, I had no
time to concern myself with the bodies. These
were still burning towards 1930 hours. I destroyed
the bloodstained carpet, Hitler’s uniforms, his medicines,
documents etc. WhileI was doing this a squad under
the command of an SS bodyguard officer buried the
carbonised bodies in a shell crater. Everything had
to be done quickly and secretly, for if the
fighting troops in the ReichChancellery and defending
the government district knew what had transpired they
were likely to abandon their weapons. I realised at
the time that that must not happen, because Hitler had
arranged for a government to continue the
struggle. Bormann, Goebbels and a few military men
went to the situation conference room to decide how
to proceed in Hitler’s absence. When I met the
new ReichChancellor Dr Joseph Goebbels next morning,
he
stopped me to ask why I had not madeHitler change
his mind aboutcommitting suicide. ‘Herr Doktor, if you
were unable to do it, how should I?’ I
replied. ‘Yes, Linge’, he admitted, ‘last night I also
intended shooting myself, but it is a very
difficult thing to do. I simply could not do it.’ Now
we sat in the bunker and hoped in vain that
the Russians would agreeto thetermsthat General
Krebs offered them on Dr Goebbels’s behalf on
the morning of 1 May 1945.In Russian captivity
Soviet officers told me why the meeting between
Krebs and the Russian generals Chuikov and
Sokolovski had a negative outcome. The Russians wanted
the capitulation. Krebs did not have this authority.
The protocol of the negotiations compiled by the
Russians reads: Krebs (K): I will speak completely
 frankly. You are the first non-Germans to whom I
pass the news that Hitler committed suicide on 30 April.
Chuikov (Ch): We know that. K: Following the Führer’s
testament . . . (he readsHitler’s testament and
an official declaration by Dr Goebbels). Aim of this
declaration is a favourable solution for the peoples
who had the greatest losses in human lives in
this war. The document can be given to your
commander. Ch: Are we talking here aboutBerlinor all
Germany? K: I am empowered to speak for
all German armies. Empowered by Goebbels. Ch:
I will advise Marshal Zhukov. K: My first question:
will the guns fall silent during the negotiations? Ch:
(Takes up the telephone receiver) Connect me with
Marshal Zhukov. Report from Chuikov. General of
Infantry Krebs is here. He is authorised by the
German government to negotiate with us. He confirms
that Hitler has committed suicide. I request that Party
member Stalinbe informed that Goebbels, Bormann and
Grossadmiral Dönitz (according to Hitler’s testament) have
assumed power. Krebs is empowered to negotiate
with us for an armistice. Krebs suggests a ceasefire
during the negotiations. I will ask him now. (To
Krebs) When did Hitler end his life? K: Today
at 15 hours50. Pardon me, yesterday. Ch: (Repeats)
Yesterday at 15 hours50. About peace? No, he
has not spoken about that yet. I will ask him at
once. Yes, understood, as ordered! (To Krebs) Marshal
Zhukov asks if we are talking abouta
capitulation? K: No, there are other possibilities. Ch: He says
there are other possibilitiesof making peace. No. This
other government has turned to the Allies and is
looking for other ways.If Krebs knows that? He has
not mentioned it yet. (Krebs listens tensely.) They
have no