The fascist dictator’s body was discovered by the Red Army near his Fuhrerbunker after they stormed central Berlin. Hitler is said to have killed himself by using the “pistol-and-poison method” of combining a dose of cyanide with a gunshot to the head. His wife, Eva Braun – who he had married hours earlier – also killed herself by biting into a capsule of cyanide, which had been tested on their dog Blondi the day before.
The German Shepherd was given to Hitler as a gift from Nazi Germany chief Martin Bormann, and the dictator is said to have immediately taken a shine to her.
Author Angela Lambert describes Blondi’s behaviour as “almost human” in her book ‘The Lost Life of Eva Braun’.
She wrote in 2006: “Hitler was frantically devoted to his German shepherds.
“Blondi, the favourite, was a beautiful and intelligent pedigrees bitch.
“People at [Hitler’s residence] were fond of saying he loved her better than Eva and he was more publicly demonstrative to his dog, hugging and kissing her.
“He had taught Blondi a number of tricks and delighted in showing off her prowess.
“At times, the dog’s behaviour seemed almost human.”
Erna Flegel, one of only two survivors from Hitler’s Fuhrerbunker, claimed in 2005 the death of Blondi had a bigger impact than the death of Eva on those inside the lair.
Despite his love for her though, it is said that Hitler would also whip the animal brutally to punish her for disobedience.
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Four of their names are unknown, but Hitler named his favourite one Wulf, after his own nickname.
All of them were shot dead by Hitler’s dog trainer Fritz Tornow.
Blondi had played a role in Nazi propaganda by portraying Hitler as an animal lover.
Dogs like Blondi were coveted as “germanischer Urhund,” being close to the wolf, and became very fashionable during the Third Reich.
During his military service in World War 1, Hitler rescued a stray white Fox Terrier named “Fuchsl”.
Hitler had great affection for the dog, and when he was not on duty at the front, he would spend much of his free time playing with the dog in the barracks.
Hitler was profoundly distraught when he lost him.
He had been given a German Shepherd before named “Prinz” in 1921, during his years of poverty, but he had been forced to lodge the dog elsewhere.
However, she managed to escape and return to him.
Hitler, who adored the loyalty and obedience of the dog, thereafter developed a great liking for the breed.
‘The Lost Life of Eva Braun’ is published by Arrow and available to purchase here.