As I did not consider that I could take
responsibility, during the years of struggle, of contracting a
marriage, I have now decided, before the closing of my earthly
career, to take as my wife that girl who, after many years of
faithful friendship, entered, of her own free will, the practically
besieged town in order to share her destiny with me. At her own
desire she goes as my wife with me into death. It will compensate us
for what we both lost through my work in the service of my people.
What I possess belongs - in so far as it has any
value - to the Party. Should this no longer exist, to the State;
should the State also be destroyed, no further decision of mine is
necessary.
My pictures, in the collections which I have
bought in the course of years, have never been collected for private
purposes, but only for the extension of a gallery in my home town of
Linz on Donau.
It is my most sincere wish that this bequest may
be duly executed.
I nominate as my Executor my most faithful Party
comrade,
Martin Bormann
He is given full legal authority to make all
decisions. He is permitted to take out everything that has a
sentimental value or is necessary for the maintenance of a modest
simple life, for my brothers and sisters, also above all for the
mother of my wife and my faithful co-workers who are well known to
him, principally my old Secretaries Frau Winter etc. who have for
many years aided me by their work.
I myself and my wife - in order to escape the
disgrace of deposition or capitulation - choose death. It is our wish
to be burnt immediately on the spot where I have carried out the
greatest part of my daily work in the course of a twelve years'
service to my people.
Given in Berlin, 29th April 1945, 4:00 a.m.
[Signed]A. Hitler
[Witnesses - Signed]
Dr. Joseph Goebbels
Martin Bormann
Colonel Nicholaus von Below
Sources: Nazi Conspiracy and Aggression, Government Printing
Office, Washington, 1946-1948, vol. VI, pg. 259-260.