Charred corpses of Dr. Paul Joseph Goebbels, Minister for Propaganda and Public Enlightenment, most loyal member of Hitler's inner circle, and of his wife, Magda.  Having procured the murder of their children earlier in the day (with the help of the Fuhrer's dentists, who supplied the poison), Joseph and Magda committed suicide, in somewhat uncertain circumstances, on the evening of 1 May, 1945 - 70 years ago today - with the Soviets literally at the gates.  The SS attempted, according to their instructions, to incinerate the bodies using petrol as an accelerant.  There was not enough petrol available to complete the job.

A thought occurs - if the SS in the Bunker had had the services of some of their organization's experts in cremation, from the death camps, they might have done a better job ... JR.

Dr Paul Joseph Goebbels.

Studio portrait of General Rudolf Schmundt.  Schmundt was a highly decorated combat soldier in WW1.  By WW2, his career had moved entirely into the realm of Staff.  He spent a long period as the Fuhrer's Heer adjutant, and might just have come into the group of people (not many) who could be described as a friend of Hitler.  This friendship came to an explosive end as a result of the July Plot.  Schmundt was present at the fatal meeting and was seriously injured, dying about three months later as a result of his wounds.

Hitler seems to have been affected by his loss.  Uniquely among the "Bomb Plot" victims, Schmundt was awarded the German Order, First Class (the only class in which it was, in the event, awarded) posthumously.  The German Order was perhaps the highest State/Party decoration, considered by the Fuhrer as being in his personal gift.  It was known to many as the "Dead Heroes Order" because, of the eleven confirmed persons in receipt of it, seven received it posthumously, and a further two were killed shortly after.  One of these, SA-Brigadefuhrer Karl Holz, Gauleiter of Franconia (in succession to Julius Streicher) was killed (or committed suicide) in Nuremberg during that city's "final battle" against US troops, just one day after being awarded the German Order.  Best regards, JR.

Dead Hero - Rudolf Schmundt

Interesting postcard-type photo depicting the presentations of the Ritterkreuz to Léon Degrelle, Hauptsturmfuhrer der Reserve, SS-Sturmbrigade "Wallonie", and of the Swords to the Knight's Cross with Oakleaves to Herbert Otto Gille, SS Gruppenfuhrer und Generalleutnant der Waffen SS, commander of 5th SS Panzer Division, "Wiking".  These awards were gazetted on 20 February, 1944 in connection with a number of meritorious actions on the part of Gille and Dégrelle in connection with operations around and breakout from the Cherrasky Pocket (Gille was something of an expert on breakouts).  

Among the interesting points about this photo is the simple fact that Hitler made the presentation personally.  By this stage of the war, he seldom made medal presentations.  More usually, such a presentation would have been made by a lesser Nazi paladin - often Himmler, who is present here along with his representative to the Fuhrer's Headquarters, Hermann Fegelein.  Also, the photo is clearly captioned, and stamped "Hoffmann Presse", confirming that it is a product of the studio of Hitler's all-but-official photographer, Heinrich Hoffmann.  Best regards, JR.