# Why didn't hitler escape? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 20, 2017, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-didnt-hitler-escape/782629 "2017-03-20T17:50:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2017, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-didnt-hitler-escape/782629/21 "2017-03-20T21:03:11Z")
> [@madsircool](#): > > This is incorrect. He could have retreated to Bavaria and continued to resist in the Alps. It would have been very difficult for the Allies to root him out. Hitler did the best thing for everyone by killing himself. And we could have been battling the last pockets of Japanese homeland resistance into 1950. I guess there’s always another alternative, but given that all the doors had closed for Adolf and his chances of getting out of Berlin alive and uncaptured were minimal, the speculations are pretty thin. Even his leaving earlier, when he could have, is unlikely for reasons already discussed. He was in it for the win, and failed - for weeks to years - to see that he couldn’t possibly win or even force an settlement short of total surrender. ---
**Author:** ![dolphinboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dolphinboy/32/330_2.png) [@dolphinboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dolphinboy)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2017, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-didnt-hitler-escape/782629/22 "2017-03-20T21:27:06Z")
I think he knew that if he went into hiding or fled that Germany would quickly fall without their charismatic leader making all those smart military decisions. As long as he stayed in Berlin he could lead the retreat (er war), even though the odds were stacked against him. He was deluded enough to think that Germany could somehow still win or at least fight to a stalemate. Once he knew it was over he took his own life instead of taking his chances with the Russians. A smart move on his part. ---
**Author:** ![up\_the\_junction](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f1d935/32.png) [@up\_the\_junction](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/up_the_junction)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2017, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-didnt-hitler-escape/782629/23 "2017-03-20T21:29:44Z")
> [@drewder](#): > > Better than shooting yourself or letting the allies do it. Hoom, hoom on ze range, vere ze deer and antiloop vroom. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2017, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-didnt-hitler-escape/782629/24 "2017-03-20T21:51:01Z")
(Some rehash of points made so far.) 1. Serious denial about the state of the war until too late. He really didn’t believe the number of divisions his generals were telling him the Soviets had. Plus the Germans had the advantage now of fighting on German soil. Surely all the German people wouldn’t let him down! He also hoped for a Western Allies-Soviet falling out. He basically couldn’t believe the West was working with those bleeping bleeping commies. 1. Hitler shot himself 5 days after Mussolini was killed. By the time he heard about it the chances of getting out were slim at that point. He had already decided to end it in Berlin well before then. Note that Eva Braun had decided to stay with him in Berlin months before rather than heading to the hills. No one could persuade her to leave. Both knew what was going to happen. 2. The last thing Hitler wanted was to be captured and taken to Moscow. Show trial, execution wasn’t going to be his fate. He was going to die “heroically” defending Berlin next to his troops. Note that the initial death announcement actually said this. Like with all people of his ilk, the facts didn’t matter. It’s what you tell people. 1. Hitler had a thing with destruction. The total [destruction](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nero_Decree) of Germany was the suitable punishment for the people letting him down. The longer he stayed around, the more complete the destruction. If he left Berlin a couple weeks earlier, things would have quickly wound down. 2. He considered himself such a great man that hiding somewhere would not be possible. Everyone knew the great Hitler! Plus, as noted, he knew he wasn’t going to live much longer. Even if he defeated Russia early on, he wasn’t planning on staying in power past 1948 or so. ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2017, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-didnt-hitler-escape/782629/25 "2017-03-20T22:03:32Z")
> [@up\_the\_junction](#): > > Get out of Dodge and do what, where? Escape to Hitler Mountain! A new Disney film with a fascist twist! Stranger ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2017, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-didnt-hitler-escape/782629/26 "2017-03-20T22:32:09Z")
> [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](#): > > Escape to Hitler Mountain! A new Disney film with a fascist twist! But will he be assisted by Oliver Wendell Douglass, or The Rock? ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2017, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-didnt-hitler-escape/782629/27 "2017-03-20T22:34:34Z")
> [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](#): > > …A new Disney film with a fascist twist! > > Stranger There’s nothing new about that. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2017, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-didnt-hitler-escape/782629/28 "2017-03-20T23:40:39Z")
Hitler couldn’t leave Germany because as far as he was concerned, he \*was \*Germany. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2017, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-didnt-hitler-escape/782629/29 "2017-03-21T01:14:51Z")
> [@dolphinboy](#): > > I think he knew that if he went into hiding or fled that Germany would quickly fall without their charismatic leader making all those smart military decisions. As long as he stayed in Berlin he could lead the retreat (er war), even though the odds were stacked against him. He was deluded enough to think that Germany could somehow still win or at least fight to a stalemate. Once he knew it was over he took his own life instead of taking his chances with the Russians. A smart move on his part. > [@Alessan](#): > > Hitler couldn’t leave Germany because as far as he was concerned, he \*was \*Germany. I don’t think this was a factor in the end. In the final days, Hitler made it clear that he was pissed at Germany. As far as Hitler was concerned, Germany had let him down and deserved to be destroyed. ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2017, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-didnt-hitler-escape/782629/30 "2017-03-21T01:25:30Z")
A) We assume he didn’t B) He realized there was no place he could go and not be captured and tried one way or another. Considering his mental state, a “heroic” death-before-dishonor probably sounded like a good idea. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2017, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-didnt-hitler-escape/782629/31 "2017-03-21T03:53:56Z")
Hitler spent a great deal of resources on hardened sites and escape tunnels so he certainly contemplated such an event. One could stipulate this was an option to continue the war and not as an escape from total failure. Hitler didn’t leave himself an option to fail. He had to have known that if he was caught there was zero chance it was going to go well and he would be chased to the ends of the earth in the process. Hell, his own people repeatedly tried to kill him. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2017, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-didnt-hitler-escape/782629/32 "2017-03-21T04:04:47Z")
> [@Amateur\_Barbarian](#): > > Mickey Mantle’s father and grandfather both died at 37, so one of the reasons he drank and caroused so hard was that he thought he had only a few years in which to do it. So he destroyed his knees and his liver and lived to be 64 with all the problems, including a late liver transplant. He said, “If I knew I was going to live so long, I would have taken better care of myself.” ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2017, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-didnt-hitler-escape/782629/33 "2017-03-21T04:31:07Z")
Hitler had never run away in his life and he was not about to start now. It was as much as part of his character as his racism. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2017, 6:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-didnt-hitler-escape/782629/34 "2017-03-21T06:41:43Z")
> [@ZPG\_Zealot](#): > > “Sense of honor” and Hitler do not belong in the same sentence. Oh c’mon now, that’s not totally fair. I mean, he DID kill Hitler. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2017, 12:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-didnt-hitler-escape/782629/35 "2017-03-21T12:07:42Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > Hitler spent a great deal of resources on hardened sites and escape tunnels so he certainly contemplated such an event. One could stipulate this was an option to continue the war and not as an escape from total failure. Hitler didn’t leave himself an option to fail. Cite? The only significant plan was Himmler’s [Alpine Fortress](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alpine_Fortress) which Hitler wasn’t very keen on and was never constructed. While some people and resources were withdrawn into that area near the end of the war, that was based on geography and the front line situation. ---
**Author:** ![Enola\_Gay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/3ab097/32.png) [@Enola\_Gay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enola_Gay)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2017, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-didnt-hitler-escape/782629/36 "2017-03-21T18:12:47Z")
No cite, but I recall seeing some documentary where they said he “didn’t want to end up in a zoo”. I suppose that meant jail, and as someone mentioned upthread, he didn’t want to suffer Muzzolini’s fate. ---
**Author:** ![MichaelEmouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/michaelemouse/32/101_2.png) [@MichaelEmouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MichaelEmouse)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2017, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-didnt-hitler-escape/782629/37 "2017-03-21T18:15:55Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Most men in Hitler’s family died relatively early and Hitler felt he was never going to live to old age even if he won the war. So a long life wasn’t something he aspired to. What did they die from? I’m curious what kind of tree that apple came from. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2017, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-didnt-hitler-escape/782629/38 "2017-03-21T18:57:12Z")
> [@MichaelEmouse](#): > > What did they die from? I’m curious what kind of tree that apple came from. His father died of a sudden stroke at 65. His mother died of cancer at 47 (she was Alois Hitler’s third wife after his first two wives died). His paternal grandmother died of tuberculosis at 51. His supposed paternal grandfather died at 64 of unspecified natural causes. His maternal grandparents lived longer; they died at the ages of 73 and 76. Four of Adolf Hitler’s siblings died in infancy; two of diptheria, one of measles, and one of hydrocephalus. Hitler’s mother had two sisters, who died at the ages of 48 and 66. Hitler’s father was an only child. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2017, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-didnt-hitler-escape/782629/39 "2017-03-21T20:48:26Z")
> [@up\_the\_junction](#): > > Hoom, hoom on ze range, vere ze deer and antiloop vroom. I sot ze antiloop spieled. Ja? ---
**Author:** ![drewder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/57b2e6/32.png) [@drewder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewder)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2017, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-didnt-hitler-escape/782629/40 "2017-03-21T21:13:56Z")
Looking into this I’m trying to find out if there is any physical evidence of him actually dying. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-didnt-hitler-escape/782629.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-didnt-hitler-escape/782629.md?page=3)