Top 10 Interesting Facts about Eva Braun

Eva Braun with dog at the Berghof – Bundesarchiv – Wikimedia Commons

Top 10 Interesting Facts about Eva Braun

Eva Braun, also known as Eva Anna Paula Hitler was a German photographer. However, Eva is popular for being a longtime companion and later wife of Adolf Hitler.

Braun was born on 6th February 1912 in Munich Germany. She later died on 30th April 1945 in Berlin, Germany at 33 years of age. Eva Braun was a significant figure in Nazi Germany. However, she somehow falls through the cracks and gets overlooked by historians and scholars.

Eva’s fame is mostly due to her complicated and scandalous relationship with Hitler. However, she was also a photographer responsible for providing insight into the lives of Nazi leaders.

The following are some interesting facts about Eva Braun.

1. She Met Hitler at 17 Years of Age

In 1929, 17-year-old Eva Braun took a job at Heinrich Hoffmann’s studio in Munich. Heinrich Hoffman was the official photographer of Hitler and the Nazi Party.

Hoffman hired Eva as a sales clerk and shop assistant at first. However, she learned how to operate cameras and develop professional photographs and was promoted to photographer.

It was here that 17-year-old Eva met “Herr Wolf” (Adolf Hitler). Hitler was then 40 years old, and 23 years her senior. Their relationship is said to have begun two years later.

2. She Made Two Ineffective Suicide Attempts

In August 1932, Braun got ahold of her father’s pistol and shot herself in the chest. The general assumption from historians and others is that this was merely a cry for Hitler’s attention. If this is true then Braun’s plan worked since the two became lovers by 1932.

Almost three years later, in May 1935 Eva would make another suicide attempt. This time it was Hitler who had not been in contact with her for three months, as per her diary. This time she took a bottle of sleeping pills (35 pills) and waited to die.

Similar to her last attempt, she failed. Hitler once again came back to her, apologized, and promised her a house. This was not Braun’s last suicide attempt but was the last ineffective one.

3. Hitler Kept Their Relationship Secret

Eva Braun Photographed With Hitler – National Archives at College Park – Wikimedia Commons

Hitler ensured that his relationship with Eva Braun was hidden from the public. He claimed that this was purely for political reasons. However, it could also be true that he was just a terrible partner.

Hitler was convinced that women found him sexually attractive. Therefore, he tried as much as possible to exploit this for his political gain.

He presented himself to the world as a single male since he thought it would help him win over the female voters. To achieve this, he ensured that the public did not find out about his intimate relationship with Eva Braun.

Hitler would permit Eva to linger while his old pals were around at his house. However, she was kept out of sight if a dignitary or cabinet minister arrived.

She was characterized as being extremely miserable and deeply in love by Hitler’s employees. Their relationship was hidden so well that the public only found out after World War II.

4. Braun Made Home Videos with High-Ranking Nazi Leaders

Braun was a photographer by profession. Therefore, most of the time she was behind the camera. Some of her most popular content is a collection of home videos with high-ranking Nazi Party leaders.

The collection is called ‘The Colorful Film Show’. It was filmed mostly by Eva Braun and featured Hitler alongside some top-ranking officials in Nazi Germany. Some of these officials are; Joachim von Ribbentrop, Albert Speer, and Joseph Goebbels.

This collection of tapes was first uncovered by Lutz Becker in 1972. They completely changed how the world viewed Hitler. In the videos, he appears “human” contrary to Hoffmann’s depiction of him as a cold and stern dictator.

5. She Was Very Influential in Nazi Germany

Hitler and Mussolini in Munich, Germany, circa June 1940. Eva Braun’s Photo Albums – National Archives Collection – Wikimedia Commons

Although she was not a decision-maker in Germany, Eva gained great influence by being Hitler’s significant other. She was a crucial part of Hitler’s close circle and even influenced him by feeding into his paranoia. 

It is claimed that she was high up the hierarchy so much so that Albert Speer and Joseph Goebbels worked hard not to lose her favor.

Her influence on Hitler was so strong that he fired his half-sister as a housekeeper at the Berghof. After this incident, Braun was almost untouchable which made her all more influential since most were afraid of her. 

6. She Had Little Political Interest

Braun is reported to have been uninterested in politics. She was not even a member of the Nazi Party. This is despite being the longtime partner of one of Europe’s most influential political figures.

However, it is recorded that on one occasion in 1943, when it was suggested that the manufacturing of cosmetics and pleasures be forbidden. She unexpectedly became interested in the policies of Hitler’s complete war economy.

Hitler is claimed to have called Albert Speer; his Minister for Armaments after Braun approached him with “great indignation.” Simply of a complete ban, cosmetic production was instead halted.

7. Eva Refused to Leave Hitler’s Side Until the Bitter End

Eva Braun and Hitler’s dog at Berghof – Eva Braun (Eva Braun’s reel 5th of 8th) – Wikimedia Commons

Toward the end of 1944, the Red Army and their western Allies were advancing and overrunning parts of Germany. In April 1945 they made their way to Berlin and by the 23rd had it surrounded.

It was suggested, by Henriette-Hoffmann’s daughter, that Braun should run and go into hiding. However, she refused and sternly reportedly replied: “Do you think I would let him die alone? I will stay with him up until the last moment.”

8. Hitler Had Her Brother-In-Law Killed

Hitler ordered the murder of Eva Braun’s brother-in-law on April 28, 1945. He was caught attempting to depart Germany and in possession of stolen goods from Berlin.

Additionally, he was with a woman who was not Eva’s sister. It appears that when Nazis arrived to drag Fegelein away to Hitler’s bunker, the woman fled out of a window. Hitler had Fegelein hauled outside and killed after concluding that this mysterious woman must have been a spy.

9. Hitler and Eva Were Married for Less Than Two Days

Obersalzberg- Adolf Hitler and Eva Braun with dogs (German_Shepherd_Dog “Blondi”?) at the Berghof – By Bundesarchiv – Wikimedia Commons

As the Red Army marched toward Hitler, he conceded to marry Eva. The ceremony was held at the Führerbunker on April 28th/29th with Joseph Goebbels and Martin Bormann in attendance as witnesses.

It was a modest fair due to the looming danger presented by the Red Army. Only a small breakfast was arranged to celebrate the wedding and to sign the certificates.

Notably, this was only a few days after Hitler had sanctioned the killing of Eva’s brother-in-law.

10. Eva Braun and Hitler Committed Suicide Together

Over a day after their nuptials, A gunshot rang through the bunker. When the staff entered the room to check what was happening, they found Hitler and Eva lifeless on the ground.

Eva Hitler had taken a cyanide pill while Hitler had shot himself through the temple. They did this to avoid capture by the Red Army.