New book claims Hitler died in Argentina

Upon spending most of yesterday evening reading the book (quickly I might add) I have to say that this book takes very little facts and weak testimonies and goes a long way with them. It has a very boys own kind of spy story feel to it throughout. The book is very shaky in places and skips along with little detail on the most amazing details, like the description of how they quickly found the most incredible perfect double for Eva Braun. The whole book heavily relies on the fact that nobody would recall such an incredible tale, or anybody in a position to do so was conveniently 'disposed of' once they served their purpose. There is also no real proof presented on how certain details in opposition to historical views have been acquired and verified, such as the non-death of Fegelein and the key allowing factor of the story;that Bormann survived the war. Which has never been proven.

The escape is portrayed to have been well planned in advance, and therefore I find it inconceivable that if such an escape plan was in place, proven self preserving characters like Heinrich Himmler and Goering would not have tried to avail of it or had a similar plan drawn up before attempting to negotiate peace deals or run the risk of capture. Many of the key testimonies are also quite dubious, like the soldier who was wounded on the airfield and claims Hitler shook his hand. It's hard not to wonder if he wasn't hallucinating, making it up as a tall tale or telling his captors what he thought would get him a better deal or circumstances. Likewise on the latter with the pilot who claims to have flown him out of Berlin. Worse still is the question as to why none of the 300 other men there didn't recount the tale publicly, since their chances of survival were high considering they were sure the Western Allies would be the ones to get to them. What really made me dismiss the book however, was the actual method of getting to Spain. They flew an aircraft over Allied lines and across France. I find it nearly impossible to believe that given the total destruction of the Luftwaffe and the conspicuous absence of their activity by that stage, anything as odd as a single large and rare type of transport plane as was used, getting up in the air over German held territory and not identifiable as friendly, would not have been picked up on radar and aroused suspicion as to it's mission, since it seems plausible that the Allies might have assumed the Germans might have a sting in the tail such as letting rip with the nerve gas right at the end. This whole flight succeeding is once again quickly skimmed over and put down to the skill and luck of the pilot.

The book continues in more or less the same manner throughout. They get to Spain which would no doubt have been riddled with Allied spies and even German agents who would no doubt jump at the chance to salvage something from the war and contact the British or Americans about the operation. They reach South America and again the proof they were there is thin on the ground, (this might be expected it was Hitler) but again shaky testimonies like that from a former Croatian dictator's carpenter, who would probably be more than happy to tell a tall tale to a TV crew in exchange for a bit of cash, do little to convince. Hitler's later years are almost farcical and beyond belief in some accounts. He is observed wailing at the end of his bed with photo's of the war's aftermath scattered around him (including burned Jewish children). There is mention that he tries to take up painting again, but can't hold a brush due to parkinson's disease. The fact it is medical opinion that he would not have lived much longer than a few years after the war considering this affliction is lost on the author. Overall I think this book is an entertaining read, but it is too reliant on dead ends, incredible personal loyalty and grave silence. There's just too much sheer good luck and everything going off without a hitch to make it believable.

As I have said in earlier posts, given the apparent nature of Hitler, I find it hard to believe he would have quietly died in a small house in the Argentine countryside without leaving behind some posthumous testimony or manifesto to be released after his death. Likewise that no death bed confessions ever emerged regarding the location of proof of this operation. It's just a proven fact that people cannot keep secrets. The final nail in the coffin for me is that I doubt that the vast Soviet intelligence machine would not have gone to the most extreme lengths available to ensure Hitler was dead and gather intelligence on any group that might have given the slightest hint otherwise.