This silent 16mm footage are some of the “home movies” of Eva Braun. Braun was notorious dictator Adolf Hitler’s most trusted confidant and his longtime partner. Hitler and Braun married shortly before their death by suicide. In 1945, 28 movie film reels were found and seized by the U.S. Army. These were patched together into eight reels in no chronological or thematic order. Reels are intermittent with b&w and color footage captured between 1940-44. This particular reel primarily features personal interactions among Braun & Hitler’s family and friends, including sister Gretl Braun and Herman Fegelein’s wedding in June 1944, Eva’s Scotties, the Braun siblings’ childhood friend; Herta Scheniders, a ski trip and the Berghof residence in the Bavarian Alps near Berchtesgaden. The cast includes Otto Dietrich, Sepp Dietrich, Isle, Greta and Eva Braun, Hitler, Anni and Karl Brandt, Albert Speer, Martin Bormann, Herman Fegelein, Karl-Heinrich Bodenschatz, Herta and Otto Gunsche. Note: supposedly as WWII drew to a close, in an attempt to remain upbeat and recall happier times, Eva projected these films at home for family and friends.

00:00 Film starts with images of Herta and her children playing in snow (:52). Joseph (Sepp) Dietrich (1:13) reads the paper, lounges with Eva Braun’s younger sister Gretl (1:50), salutes and plays with Herta’s kids (2:04). Sepp was the highest ranking officer of the Waffen-SS and former personal chaffer and bodyguard of Hitler. Vantage shots show Berchtesgaden and the Schloss Berchtesgaden (2:47); founded in 1102. Ground views tour the streets, passing commercial buildings (3:23) highlighting Berchtesgaden’s architectural style (3:52). Flowers fill a porch with Eva on the stoop (4:04) playing with a Scottie (4:14). She had two named either Negus and Katsuschka or Negus and Stasi. Gretl (4:32) and Theordor Morell (4:39) appear on a train. Morell was Hitler’s personal physician often prescribing narcotics, vitamins, amphetamines and quick fix supplements. He gave the suicidal duo their cyanide ampuls. Morell lounges on a chair (5:03) and sits near Otto Dietrich on the train (7:46). Dietrich was an SS Officer and Nazi Press Chief. A grim Hitler spits words in front of the Alps (9:15). He bends over a Scottie (9:40). “Im Tiergarten von Berlin” indicates a trip to Berlin Teirgarten, a prominent urban garden opened in 1527. Albert Speer, Karl Bodenschatz and Otto Dietrich mingle (11:12). (Note: Speer was the Nazi architect behind the Reich Chancellery and Nuremberg rally grounds and Minister of Armaments and War Production. Bodenschatz was Liaison Officer between Goring and Hitler. Speer was convicted at the Nuremberg trials and sentenced to 20 years in prison.) Bodenschatz (11:20) and Dietrich (11:27). Karl Brandt (12:01) was responsible for the administration of the Akiton T4 euthanasia program. Speer (12:29) reads the paper. Bodenschatz and Dietrich descend snowy steps (17:23) prior to the ski trip (18:02) with Eva, Isle, Otto Guensche, Karl and Anni Brandt. Nazi flags become gates (18:59). Eva and her Scottie ride slopes (20:25). Martin Bormann settles in for Gretl and Herman’s wedding ceremony (21:19). (Note: Herman was shot for desertion on 28 April 1945, two days before Hitler and Eva Braun committed suicide. Gretl emerged from the war unscathed with a new name and new marriage.) Herman (21:57) and Gretl sign the marriage license (22:33). Henrich Himmler congratulates the groom (22:55). (Note: Himmler fostered the growth of the SS into the most powerful institutions in Nazi Germany and founded the Death Squads. He likely died by suicide at war’s end.) Himmler (23:10) and Bormann sign (23:15). (Note: Bormann was one of the leading proponents of the ongoing persecution of the Christian churches and favoured harsh treatment of Jews and Slavs in the areas conquered by Germany during WWII.) The bread and salt ceremony begins (23:43). Herta and her kids (24:17-25:05). A young girl interrupts Hitler from staring at the floor (30:07). Kids play with rabbits (32:23). Children sit in front of a Christmas tree (33:53). Eva and Herta walk (34:39) and pose affectionately (35:58). Herta and her husband (36:19).

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This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD and 2k/4k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com