Günther Schwägermann
Encyclopedia
Günther Schwägermann was born in Uelzen
and served in the Nazi government of German dictator Adolf Hitler
. From approximately late 1941, Schwägermann served as the adjutant for Dr. Joseph Goebbels
. He reached the rank of SS-Hauptsturmführer
(Captain). Schwägermann survived World War II
and was held in American captivity from 25 June 1945 until 24 April 1947.
on 8 April 1937. Schwägermann was sent to the SS-Junkerschule Bad Tölz
for officers' training from October 1938 until September 1939. He served with the 4th SS Polizei Division
in France and Russia. After being wounded on the eastern front
, Schwägermann became the adjutant for Dr. Joseph Goebbels. He was promoted to the rank of SS-Hauptsturmführer on 29 November 1944. In January 1945, Goebbels sent Schwägermann to his villa at Lanke, ordering him to bring his wife, Magda
, and their children to stay at an air raid shelter on Schwanenwerder
.
By 22 April 1945, the Soviets were attacking Berlin and the Joseph and Magda Goebbels brought their children to the Vorbunker
. Schwägermann came with them. Adolf Hitler had already taken up residence in the lower Führerbunker
in January 1945. It was in that protected bunker complex below the Reich Chancellery
garden of Berlin that Hitler and a few loyal personnel were gathered to direct the city's final defence.
On 1 May 1945, during the final days of the Battle for Berlin, Goebbels and his wife, Magda
, left the bunker complex and went up to the garden of the Reich Chancellery. They each bit on a cyanide ampule and either shot themselves at the same time, or were given a coup de grâce
immediately afterwards by Goebbels' SS adjutant, Schwägermann. Schwägermann then doused their bodies with petrol, but the remains were only partially burned and not buried.
Schwägermann survived the war. Schwägermann successfully escaped out of Berlin to West Germany. He was held in American captivity from 25 June 1945 until 24 April 1947. Schwägermann later lived in northern Germany. His life in postwar Germany is rarely discussed.
Uelzen
Uelzen is a town in northeast Lower Saxony, Germany, and capital of the county of Uelzen. It is part of the Hamburg Metropolitan Region, a Hanseatic town and an independent municipality....
and served in the Nazi government of German dictator Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler was an Austrian-born German politician and the leader of the National Socialist German Workers Party , commonly referred to as the Nazi Party). He was Chancellor of Germany from 1933 to 1945, and head of state from 1934 to 1945...
. From approximately late 1941, Schwägermann served as the adjutant for Dr. Joseph Goebbels
Joseph Goebbels
Paul Joseph Goebbels was a German politician and Reich Minister of Propaganda in Nazi Germany from 1933 to 1945. As one of Adolf Hitler's closest associates and most devout followers, he was known for his zealous oratory and anti-Semitism...
. He reached the rank of SS-Hauptsturmführer
Hauptsturmführer
Hauptsturmführer was a Nazi rank of the SS which was used between the years of 1934 and 1945. The rank of Hauptsturmführer was a mid-grade company level officer and was the equivalent of a Captain in the German Army and also the equivalent of captain in foreign armies...
(Captain). Schwägermann survived World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and was held in American captivity from 25 June 1945 until 24 April 1947.
Biography
He joined the 1st SS Division Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler1st SS Division Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler
The Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler was Adolf Hitler's personal bodyguard. Initially the size of a regiment, the LSSAH eventually grew into a divisional-sized unit...
on 8 April 1937. Schwägermann was sent to the SS-Junkerschule Bad Tölz
SS-Junkerschule Bad Tölz
SS-Junkerschule Bad Tölz was the officers' training school for the Waffen-SS. It was the SS equivalent of Britain's Sandhurst and the USA's West Point. The school was established in 1937, in the town of Bad Tölz which is about 30 miles south of Munich and the location was seemingly chosen because...
for officers' training from October 1938 until September 1939. He served with the 4th SS Polizei Division
4th SS Polizei Division
The SS Polizei Division was one of the thirty-eight divisions fielded as part of the Waffen-SS during World War II.The division was formed in 1939 as part of the Ordnungspolizei...
in France and Russia. After being wounded on the eastern front
Eastern Front (World War II)
The Eastern Front of World War II was a theatre of World War II between the European Axis powers and co-belligerent Finland against the Soviet Union, Poland, and some other Allies which encompassed Northern, Southern and Eastern Europe from 22 June 1941 to 9 May 1945...
, Schwägermann became the adjutant for Dr. Joseph Goebbels. He was promoted to the rank of SS-Hauptsturmführer on 29 November 1944. In January 1945, Goebbels sent Schwägermann to his villa at Lanke, ordering him to bring his wife, Magda
Magda Goebbels
Johanna Maria Magdalena "Magda" Goebbels was the wife of Nazi Germany's Propaganda Minister Joseph Goebbels...
, and their children to stay at an air raid shelter on Schwanenwerder
Schwanenwerder
Schwanenwerder is an island in the Havel river in Berlin, Germany. It is in the locality of Nikolassee in the borough of Steglitz-Zehlendorf, and is located in a wider stretch of the river, close to the eastern shore...
.
By 22 April 1945, the Soviets were attacking Berlin and the Joseph and Magda Goebbels brought their children to the Vorbunker
Vorbunker
The Vorbunker or "forward bunker" was located behind the large reception hall that was added onto the old Reich Chancellery, in Berlin, Germany. It was meant to be a temporary air-raid shelter for Adolf Hitler, his guards, and servants...
. Schwägermann came with them. Adolf Hitler had already taken up residence in the lower Führerbunker
Führerbunker
The Führerbunker was located beneath Hitler's New Reich Chancellery in Berlin, Germany. It was part of a subterranean bunker complex which was constructed in two major phases, one part in 1936 and the other in 1943...
in January 1945. It was in that protected bunker complex below the Reich Chancellery
Reich Chancellery
The Reich Chancellery was the traditional name of the office of the Chancellor of Germany in the period of the German Reich from 1871 to 1945...
garden of Berlin that Hitler and a few loyal personnel were gathered to direct the city's final defence.
On 1 May 1945, during the final days of the Battle for Berlin, Goebbels and his wife, Magda
Magda Goebbels
Johanna Maria Magdalena "Magda" Goebbels was the wife of Nazi Germany's Propaganda Minister Joseph Goebbels...
, left the bunker complex and went up to the garden of the Reich Chancellery. They each bit on a cyanide ampule and either shot themselves at the same time, or were given a coup de grâce
Coup de grâce
The expression coup de grâce means a death blow intended to end the suffering of a wounded creature. The phrase can refer to the killing of civilians or soldiers, friends or enemies, with or without the consent of the sufferer...
immediately afterwards by Goebbels' SS adjutant, Schwägermann. Schwägermann then doused their bodies with petrol, but the remains were only partially burned and not buried.
Schwägermann survived the war. Schwägermann successfully escaped out of Berlin to West Germany. He was held in American captivity from 25 June 1945 until 24 April 1947. Schwägermann later lived in northern Germany. His life in postwar Germany is rarely discussed.