JU 353 crash, Hitler's papers and Else Kreuger

Attached is the only reference to Else in the Bormann files at the National Archives. robin

 

Robin,

to try and find the old lady looking after the un-grave in Staufen, it would help to find the son or any other relatives or friends to be able to receive more detailed information from official bodies. Any chance?

Stefan.

 

Else Krueger was one of four women,Trundl (Gertrude) Junge,Gerda Christian,both Hitler;s secretaries and Hitler's diet cook Fraulein Manziarly who chose not to take poison as advised by Hitler but chose to breakout from the Hitler Bunker.

Else Krueger,Trundl Junge and Gerda Christian all escaped to the west.

Constanze Manziarly.it is assumed,committed suicide by taking prussic acid after the breakout on 2 May1945.

Krueger was arrested by the British when she fled to the west...she was interrogated by Trevor-Roper at Plon,Flensburg

Gerda Christian also fled to the west after the breakout but was arrested by the US authorities as late as March 1946.However she was released on 19 April 1945.

Trundl Junge is the odd one out since she escaped initially to the west but foolishly returned to Berlin on 9 June 1945 where her luck ran out and she was arrested by the Russians,raped and became the personal property of a senior Russian intelligence officer.

There is every likelihood that apart from Trundl Junge,none of two women who fell into western hands were sexually violated.

The diamond question....according to the Hitler Book, Gunsche, during the breakout, advised the four women to continue with the breakout independently.At this point Mohnke passed a small bag of diamonds to Frau Christian.He had been given the gems by Burgdorf for safe keeping when Mohnke had left the bunker...these gems were used for making of important medals and awards..... not known the whereabouts of the diamonds but Gerda Christian remained at large until March 1946

Both Else Krueger and her sister were au pair girls in the early 1930s to a London Shell Mex executive's family for the purpose of learning English with the intention that the daughter of the house would in turn learn German.

Bormann was a notorious womaniser...the master of the Obersalzberg....the gatekeeper to Hitler,a thug who always carried a revolver on his person.As Bormann's secretary,I would think that Else Krueger would have spent a great deal of her time at Hitler's compound at the Obersalzburg,the Nazi second seat of government.Bormann used Eagles Nest,ie Kehlstein Haus to entertain his lady friends...Eva Braun loved the place as it was the ideal place for sunbathing...Hitlers 50th birthday present,an expensive project managed by Bormann which Hitler never took to as he disliked heights.

After the long nights in Hitler's presence and only after the Fuhrer had retired to bed did the fun start with parties organised at Bormann's house.I would imagine that Else Krueger could have been able to give an account of this informal life on the Obersalzberg.....cannot see any woman in Bormann's circle being immune to his advances.

 

In one version of the breakout Mohnke entrusted the diamonds to Else for safekeeping but who really knows? Same thing goes regarding Else being Bormann' s mistress. As for Harold James I will continue to trace him. Ironically, Harold was far less vocal than Martin Bormann Jnr. Maybe Harold will one day tell his mother's story.
Meanwhile, I appreciate all the feedback so far received. robin

 

Robin,

would you have a postal address of Harold James? The office of cemetery would like to get in touch with relatives of the James Family.

Stefan.

 

Stefan, sorry I do not have an address for Harold James but if I obtain one will forward. I will contact the local paper in Bedford. Thank you for your help. robin

 

Despite an article in the local paper, where the James family lived before going to Germany, I have been unable to trace their elusive only son. So far, anyway robin bird

 

Robin,

Have also tried to trace Harold James but without success.I wonder if he has changed his name,either christian or surname....does not seem to to be recorded in British records as an adult under Harold James.....Harold a popular first name in Germany as Harald.

According to Klaus P Fischer in his Nazi Germany work,Bormann's intention on the breakout was to report to Donitz at Flensburg.Not known how Else Kruger arrived at Plon.

Regarding Bormann's character and his control of access to Hitler,the construction of the Kelstein Haus,one of the best sources of information is from the various publications available from Bertesgarden/Obersalzberg bookshops.....very informative and certainly gives a very good insight to the goings on at the second seat of the Third Reich regime on the the Obersalzberg.

As said Bormann's eldest son, Martin, has freely discussed his father's Third Reich role in a number of documentaries.....he must be in his eighties by now and I believe found his place in the church.

 

Harry,

I think I may have bought the same publication when on holiday in Bavaria.

Full of information as you said previously.

Regards
Tom

 

Harold James. I have traced a 'Harold James' whose birth date and birthplace fits the son of Else Kruger. I have contacted him and await a reply...

robin bird

 

Robin,

That sounds very interesting. Fingers crossed.

Regards
Tom

 

Interesting development.I wonder if he is the person he will respond.

Incidentally could not find him on findmypast data.

One thing I am surprised about is that a journalist has not attempted to open the story before as it a very intriguing account of a part of the Third Reich fabric and functioning.

 

I was the editor of the local paper that served Else's village in Wallasey. It was said that a woman from the Bunker had once lived in Wallasey. Retirement gave me the time to research her story between my own research into the Marine Aircraft Experimental Establishment 1939-45. I now have quite a lot of information about Else and thank members of this forum for their help and contributions. I now look forward to speaking to her son. robin bird.

 

Robin,
Can you please keep us informed of any developement as this is a really interesting subject.
I have just been watching a German Documentary on the last days of the Bunker and the breakouts by small groups, however Else was not mentioned and nothing new mentioned that we are aware of.
Regards
Tom

 

f.a.o. Stefan: If my lead to Harold James proves positive I will advise him of your interest in his parents' memorial stone. I will then advise you accordingly. Once again thank you and other members. We may be able to open and close a previously untold chapter of WW11. robin

 

My quest to find Harold James has ended. He does not wish to speak on the subject, only to say his parents never spoke about the war. Else never wrote her memoirs. I advised him of what Stefan has told me about the memorial stone. Harold was grateful and said he will contact the cemetery. Via this forum we have established that Else never kept a diary. Harold ' Father like son' will not speak about the war either. However, we have achieved what other historians had not in finding Harold and determining that Else has not left a literary legacy. I thank you gentlemen for your support and interest in this subject. RIP Dr Leslie James and Mrs Else James.

 

Robin,
Many thanks for closure of the subject which has been fascinating to read.
Regards
Tom

 

Yes,Robin a dedicated effort to get to the heart of what would have been an interesting account of the events at the close of the war and life after.

No doubt there was family decision made to totally shun publicity and to isolate themselves from Second World War history

 

yes. Harold has a family and his own professional life. I respect that and his privacy.His parents, too, maintained silence. Else could have written her life story but did not. This forum has found this out and found her son. I think this is end of story, except for a story for the local paper, respecting Harold's privacy, of course. Now it is back to researching the history of the Marine Aircraft Experimental Establishment during WW11. I have never before published photographs of aircraft including Britain's first Catalina, Sunderland and Lerwick, plus first hand accounts of flying in them . I plan to publish them at a future date. Thank you all, once again, for the feedback regarding Else Kruger. I think we achieved a lot.

 

Robin,

Again thanks for the remarkable story and I look forward to reading about the Coastal Command Planes.
I know that there are many other members with an interest on the subject.

Regards
Tom