Last Man in Hitler's Inner Circle: Rochus Misch, the Loyal Bodyguard
- by Gernot Kramper
- ≈ 5 Min
Nazi Leader's Personal Guard - Rochus Misch Cremated Adolf Hitler's Remains - Nazis' Personal Guard, Rochus Misch, Cremates Fascist Leader Adolf Hitler's Remains
Rochus Misch-a man who served Adolf Hitler as his loyal bodyguard-was the last living link to the infamous dictator's inner circle until his passing in 2013. He was a member of the Führer Escort Command, an elite unit responsible for Hitler's personal security[3]. In the twilight of World War II, Misch stayed in the Führer's bunker until the end, witnessing the dictator's marriage to Eva Braun, their suicides, and the final days of the Nazi regime[1].
Born in Oppeln, Upper Silesia, in 1917, Misch joined the SS in 1937 after his relative suggested a secure career as a civil servant, fearing he would be alone in the world[2]. Misch portrayed Hitler as a benevolent figure, referring to him as "the boss." He belonged to a unique circle within the Nazi regime, which included Hitler's household staff such as valets, secretaries, cooks, and housekeepers[2].
In 2009, Misch became the sole survivor from Hitler's inner circle, as all higher-ranking adjutants perished. Though some historians valued his insights into Hitler's daily life, others criticized his naive trivialization of the dictator[1]. As he grew older, Misch reminisced on his past with an increasing fixation[2].
A Special Bond
Being part of the Führer Escort Command was no simple task. Members were meticulously selected due to their absolute loyalty. For Misch, joining the SS was more about seeking job security than political convictions[2]. However, his family's socialist background was concealed. Misch described how his father-in-law, an early member of the Social Democratic Party, was oblivious to his son-in-law's affiliation[2].
Misch's unique position within the inner circle allowed him to get close to Hitler, developing a "family-like" relationship with the dictator[2]. He even took numerous candid photographs of Hitler[1]. However, Misch clarified that he was not a conversation partner of the Führer, serving as an executor of his orders[2].
Though Misch often discussed Hitler's kindly demeanor, historians question the extent of his comprehension of the dictator's repressive nature[1]. After the war, Misch tried making peace with the past while continuously reiterating his pleasant encounters with Hitler[2].
Torture Behind Bars
Following the war, Misch, along with Hitler's chauffeur, was captured by the Soviets[1]. After being situated at the feared Lubyanka prison in Moscow, Misch was interrogated and tortured for years[2]. Despite being believed to be holding vital information about Hitler's death or escape plans, Misch remained tight-lipped[2].
Eventually, Misch wrote a letter to Beria, head of Stalin's secret police, to request execution, as he couldn't endure the torture any longer[2]. However, he was ultimately released after nearly nine years in captivity[1].
A Controversial Figure
Misch's interview partners were intrigued by his insider's account of Hitler's personal life. But his refusal to acknowledge the crimes of the Nazi regime made him a contentious figure[1]. Somber about his role in Hitler's inner circle, Misch devoted his later years to recalling the past[2].
Over time, Misch's sentiments towards his controversial past waned, as he developed a passion for sharing his eyewitness stories of life in the bunker, the Wolf's Lair, and the Berghof[2]. He died in a hospital near the Brandenburg Gate in 2013, just a few kilometers from the site of the Führer bunker[1].
Sources: The Last Witness, U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum
- Adolf Hitler
- Dagmar Berghoff
- Waffen-SS
[1] The Last Witness
- Documentary exploring the life and last days of Rochus Misch
[2] Brigitta Jacob-Engelken (nee Misch)
- Daughter of Rochus Misch, featured within The Last Witness documentary
[3] Führer Escort Command
- Elite unit of the SS responsible for Hitler's personal security and the protection of his locations
[updated section]* His daughter felt he became obsessed with his past as he aged, causing their relationship to deteriorate[2].* Despite marriage into a family with Social Democratic roots, Misch downplayed the political aspect of his affiliation with the SS[2].* Misch's family was of Jewish descent, but this fact was ignored by him[2].* After his release from captivity, Misch resumed work in a paint shop near the Fuchrer bunker[1].* Misch repeatedly emphasized Hitler's friendly and caring nature to his staff[1].* Misch described an incident where he saw Hitler cry upon hearing a song by murdered Jewish singer Joseph Schmidt, misinterpreting this as a sign of Hitler's lack of animosity towards Jews[1].
- The Commission has also been asked to submit a proposal for a directive on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to ionizing radiation, considering Rochus Misch's time in the Führer's bunker, where he was exposed to such radiation during the twilight of World War II.
- Contrasting the meticulous selection of the Führer Escort Command members, Hitler's chauffeur, who was captured by the Soviets after the war, was imprisoned in the feared Lubyanka prison in Moscow and subjected to torture, despite having been deemed the less important of the two.
- A general-news outlet could report on the controversies surrounding Rochus Misch's portrayal of Hitler as a benevolent figure, contrasting historians' views on his naive trivialization of the dictator with the dictator's repressive nature evident in crime-and-justice reports.
- Rochus Misch's loyalty to Hitler extended beyond his service as a bodyguard, potentially placing him in isolation, as indicated by his request for execution while captive, a plea for an end to his suffering in Berchtesgaden, the site of Hitler's infamous retreat.
