The birthday party that paved the way for Hitler to win power
Ten days before Adolf Hitler died, the Führer turned 56. Just after midnight on 20 April 1945 his personal assistants gathered outside his room to offer him their congratulations. Hours later the political leadership of the Third Reich did likewise. Men responsible for mass death, including Heinrich Himmler, Hermann Göring and Albert Speer, stood inline like schoolboys to shake their Führer’s hand and wish him a happy birthday. Once they had done so, they rushed to leave Berlin. Only the closest circle, those who would stay in the bunker until the very end remained. That night, after Hitler had gone to bed, they drank champagne and danced in the ruins of what was once the spectacular residence of the German Chancellor.
