Issue of the French Communist newspaper L’Humanité dated 7 June 1945, reporting on the definitive identification of Adolf Hitler’s body following a post-mortem examination. Also includes reports on the capture of Nazi war criminals and their being brought to justice.
On the front page, under the headline “Is It Hitler? His Body Reportedly Identified by Soviet Authorities, ” the following is written: “Berlin, 6 June – It is confirmed that the Soviet authorities have reportedly identified Hitler’s body. Shortly after the fall of Berlin, four bodies were discovered in the underground bunker of the New Chancellery. These bodies bore a strong resemblance to Hitler’s description and matched many of his physical features. This is why the Soviet military authorities had, until now, refrained from publishing anything about their findings. However, a thorough examination of the teeth, as well as other identifying marks, helped dispel doubts regarding the identity of the real Hitler. The autopsy further confirmed that Hitler died by poisoning, likely on the instruction of his physician, as had previously been reported. The bodies of Goebbels and his family were also found in the same underground shelter in Berlin.”
The circumstances of Adolf Hitler’s death were the subject of much controversy and speculation in the weeks following the end of World War II. According to widely accepted accounts, Hitler committed suicide in the Führerbunker in Berlin on 30 April 1945, most likely by a gunshot to the head, while his partner Eva Braun took poison beside him. Their bodies were immediately burned, in accordance with his orders. As of 7 June 1945, the publication date of this L’Humanité issue, Hitler’s identity had not yet been officially confirmed by the Allied powers, contributing to a wave of speculation in the media and among the public. The Soviets, who had seized control of the bunker, maintained intentional ambiguity and even spread conflicting information. Contemporary newspapers frequently addressed the uncertainty surrounding his death, amid fears that he might have escaped or that his body had not been definitively identified. In later years, the suicide account was corroborated by survivor testimonies, forensic findings, and Soviet investigations that were gradually released during the 1960s and 1970s.
Also in this issue: At the center of the front page: “The wardresses were no less cruel than the Nazi executioners. Here are some of those captured at Belsen, where the occupying forces put an end to their horrific crimes.” Above, a photograph shows the bodies of children brutally murdered in the Nordhausen camp, alongside the photo of Irma Grese, infamously known as “the bitch of Auschwitz” for her atrocities. Also featured is a notice about an upcoming exhibition in Paris that will display torture devices from the death camps. Another article is titled: “We must capture Laval” – a call to bring Pierre Laval to justice. Laval, a French politician who collaborated with the Nazis as Prime Minister of the Vichy regime, became one of the key symbols of treachery during the war. Headline: “PLUS D’UN MILLION DE FRANÇAIS SONT ENCORE EN ALLEMAGNE…” – (“More than a million French citizens are still in Germany…”) – a report on forced laborers (STO) and prisoners who were deported to Germany and have yet to return to France. The CGT, the communist-aligned trade union federation, demands the establishment of a new constitutional assembly – a call for the democratization of France and a definitive break from the Vichy regime. and more.
L’Humanité is a French daily newspaper founded in 1904 by prominent socialist leader Jean Jaurès. Initially serving as the voice of the socialist movement, it came under the control of the French Communist Party (PCF) in 1920, becoming its central organ for decades. Throughout the 20th century, L’Humanité was a leading voice of the Marxist left in France, particularly during times of political crisis, social struggles, and resistance to fascism. The newspaper was known for its clear ideological stance, its support for trade unions, and its consistent anti-capitalist discourse.
[2] pages. Complete issue. Light spotting. Good condition.
