Adolph Hitler (1889-1945) was leader of the National Socialist (Nazi) Party and Chancellor of Germany from 1933-1945; he led that country into World War II in 1939. The documents in this file range from 1933 to 1947, but primarily fall either in 1933 or between 1945 and 1947. In 1933, the FBI investigated an assassination threat made against Hitler. In the aftermath of Germany’s surrender in 1945, western Allied forces suspected that Hitler had committed suicide but did not immediately find evidence of his death.

At the time, it was feared that Hitler may have escaped in the closing days of the war, and searches were made to determine if he was still alive. FBI Files indicate that the Bureau investigated some of the rumors of Hitler’s survival.

For those of you who think Hitler could not have lived for so long without people identifying him, please note that even a slight change in appearance can alter a person’s entire physiognomy:

The first one is a genuine picture of Adolf Hitler and the following five were made by Eddie Senz, a New York make-up artist, for the OSS on 6 June 1944.

Would you have recognized him in the 2nd, 4th, 5th or 6th pictures, even if you were to see him face to face, in a foreign country? (Please remember that these pictures represent only very small changes of the facial hair and haircut, not plastic surgery).

It was not only General Eisenhower who was concerned over Hitler’s compete disappearance, Stalin also expressed his concerns.

In 1945, the Stars and Stripes newspaper quoted then General Eisenhower as believing that the real possibility existed of Hitler living safely and comfortably in Argentina.