Martin Bormann

Martin Ludwig Bormann (17 June 1900 – 2 May 1945) was a Nazi German politician and member of the Nazi Party. As Adolf Hitler's personal secretary, he was the second most powerful person in the Third Reich.^[1] He was also a member of Hitler's Cabinet.

Martin Bormann in July 1934 during Night of the Long Knives

Early life

Bormann was born in Wegeleben, a small town near Halberstadt, Germany, on 17 June 1900.^[2]

He was imprisoned in 1924 because he took part in a murder, but spent less than a year in jail.^[2]

Nazi career

After he was released from prison, Bormann joined the Nazi Party. In 1937, he joined the Schutzstaffel (SS) and was ranked as SS-Gruppenfuhrer.

In May 1941, Bormann he became a Reichsminister. (This was after Rudolf Hess fled to Scotland.^[3])

In 1942, he became SS-Obergruppenfuhrer. After that, he became one of Hitler's closet advisors.^[3]

In 1943, he became Hitler's private secretary, which made him the second most powerful person in the Third Reich.^[1]

Death and conviction

Bormann was in the Führerbunker when Adolf Hitler killed himself there. Bormann tried to flee, but disappeared.

An eyewitness reported seeing Bormann die on May 2, 1945. However, his body was not found until 1972. It was identified as Bormann's by DNA analysis.^[4]

At the Nuremberg Trials in 1946, Bormann was convicted and sentenced to death in absentia. (This means the conviction happened while Bormann was not there.)^[5]