My history special topic- draft.

The Führer Bunker- Sven Felix Kellerhoff
Berlin- the Downfall 1945 Antony Beevor
The Fall of Berlin- Anthony Read & David Fisher
The Hitler Book- (secret dossier prepared for Stalin from the interrogations of Otto Guensche and Heinz Linge)

Hitler retreated to his Führerbunker in January 1945 and by the end of February was leading a rapidly disintegrating Third Reich. It was clear that the battle for Berlin would be the final battle of the war.  Stalin, distrustful of the agreements reached at Yalta, told Eisenhower that he had "lost interest in Berlin" and would commence the offensive in May 1945. However, he was adamant that he intended to conquer Berlin by International Workers' Day (1 May 1945). Stalin had authorised his forces on 16th April to commence the battle for the Seelow Heights, the final major defensive line outside of the city of Berlin. The city was bombarded by Soviet artillery for the first time on 20 April, Hitler's birthday.

"Unfortunately not really a birthday occasion" - Martin Borrman in his calendar, April 20th 1945

Josef Goebells had a large congratulation appear in the few German newspapers that were still publishing. "The Führer is Germany's most courageous heart"- Berliner Morgenpost. "We stand by him in Germanic loyalty- they can torment us, but not humiliate or break us down."

On April 20th, the first Russian tanks stand at the gates of Berlin. The crack of the infantry guns and mechanised artillery reached the Reich chancellory. The Führer received birthday wishes from the faithful in the highest echelons of power. They all shook his hand, swore one final oath of loyalty, and then tried to persuade him to leave Berlin and travel to Berchesgaden, where the Nazi leadership was now retreating to. "they all tried, but in vain. Hitler intended to stay and await developments" - Traudl Junge, Hitler's secretary.

Hitler placed a radical and illogical faith in Wenck and Steiner. He believed that the 12th army could turn the tide and win the war for Germany. He became even more deranged and void of reason, moving armies on his map that no longer even existed. The 12th Army under general Walter Wenck and the battle troop of the SS General Felix Steiner were large enough for small offensives, but not large enough to defend Berlin, nevermind drive back and defeat the Soviets. It was clear that Berlin would be the graveyard of the Third Reich.

On April 22nd, Hitler openly admitted, for the first time ever, that the war was lost. He ordered Field Marshall Wilheim Kietel, the highest ranking officer, to go to Berchtesgaden. Kietel knew only too well that they were fighting a losing battle and told Colonel General Jodl "this is the downfall." At the martial conference that evening, Hitler suffered a total nervous collapse when he was informed that the orders he had issued the previous day for SS-General Felix Steiner's Army Detachment Steiner to move to the rescue of Berlin had not materialised. "Hitler launched a tirade against the treachery and incompetence of his commanders, culminating in Hitler's declaration, for the first time, that the war was lost."-Junge.
Hitler said that he would remain in Berlin until the bitter end and then shoot himself. Later that day he discussed the most reliable method of suicide with SS physician Dr. Werner Haase, who suggested the "pistol-and-poison method" of combining a dose of cyanide with a gunshot to the head.

April 23rd- Hermann Göring sends a telegram to Hitler expressing his belief that "after the appropriate time", he himself would assume the position of head of state, which nearly six years prior, Hitler had dictated in the event of his death. 

Göring's telegram was entirely sound and reasonable, given the unreasonable circumstances. He had thought about the matter very carefully and had even discussed it with Hans Lammers, Hitler's closest legal advisor and head of the Reichs Chancellory, who had already flown to Munich. He consulted his staff, who all agreed with his sound and calm reasoning. Bormann, however, believed the telegram to be treasonous and advised Hitler to dishonourably discharge Göring. He followed this advice, and an ss warrant was sent out for Göring's arrest. 

Hitler again faces betrayel on April 25th when Hermann Fegelein, SS liaison officer to the Führer bunker, leaves without permission under false pretenses. He is arrested two days later in his apartment in Berlin. He was found with his girlfriend and a suitcase full of jewellery. Meanwhile, his heavily pregnant wife Gretl, sister of Eva Braun, travels to Berchesgaden. Fegelein is taken to the Reichs Chancellory and is executed there the following day according to martial law. 

Perhaps Hitler would have been more troubled by this act of betrayel from his future brother-in-law, were it not for more disturbing developments. Heinrich Himmler, the SS chief who had always been loyal to Hitler, met with a Swedish diplomat in Northern Germany on the evening of April 27th. He wished for this swedish diplomat to relay his words to the Western allies. He wanted to arrange a seperate peace (and his own protection) at the western front. Hitler had not expected better from Göring, a "fat morphine-addicted hedonist", but was devastated  by the actions of his loyal Himmler. It was clear to him now that "Germany deserved defeat." Orders were sent out to destroy German infrastructure. While this slowed the advances of the Soviet army, it also doomed his own people. Hitler, alone and betrayed by his most loyal, betrayed the German people.

On April 28th, Benito Mussolini is captured and executed by partisans in Milan. His corpse is publicly hung by the feet and beaten by the crowds. Not wanting to suffer the same fate, Hitler discusses suicide once again with SS Dr. Haase. "I do not want to fall into the hands of the enemy either dead or alive. After my death, my body should be burned and remain undiscovered forever."

On the evening of April 29th, Hitler dictated his last will and testament to Traudl Junge. "As I did not consider that I could take responsiblity, during the years of struggle, of contracting a marriage I have now decided, before the closing of my earthly career, to take as my wife that girl who, after long years of faithful friendship, entered, of her own free will, the practically beseiged city in order to share her destiny with me. At her own desire, she goes as my wife with me into death." 

It was the first time that Traudl heard of his intention to marry Eva Braun. She did not weep, but Goebbels did. Hitler ordered him to leave the city. "I don't want to run away and leave the Führer. I am Gauleiter of Berlin and my place is here. If the Führer dies, my life has no meaning." Goebbels also dictated his will to Traudl, which he ordered should be attached to Hitler's as an appendix. 

During all the hysteria of that night, no one thought of a purely practical matter. No one in the bunker was legally empowered to perform a marriage ceremony. Without some appropriate official to declare their marriage, Hitler's last act would be nullified. Goebbels had a solution. As Gauleiter of Berlin, he knew of someone authorized to act as a registrar of marriages who was fighting with the volkssturm in the defence of Berlin. His name was Walter Wagner, and he was a municipal councillor. A group of elite allgemeine SS was dispatched across the city to bring him back alive.

The marriage took place in the Bunker's map room. Eva wore a long black silk dress. Hitler wore his uniform. Due to the nature of the groom, the formalities were reduced to the bare minimum required by law. Normally, the couple would have to answer questions about the purity of their Aryan heritage and their freedom from hereditary diseases, but in the circumstances, Herr Wagner neglected these. After the brief ceremony, they signed the standard two page wedding contract, followed by the witnesses- Bormann and Goebbels.

Hitler sent his last radio message to the Wehrmacht Headquarters south of Berlin at 11pm, April 29th. He asked when relief troops were coming. Keitel answered under 4 hours later. He told the Führer that "an improvement of the situation can no longer be counted on." Meanwhile, Soviet troops are now only 100 metres away from the Reich chancellory buildings. SS General Wilhelm Mohnke, the battle commander of the government quarters, tells the Führer that they can defend their positions for, at the very most, two days.

On April 30th, Hitler and Eva Braun said their farewells to members of the Führerbunker staff and fellow occupants, including the Goebbels family, Martin Bormann, the secretaries, and several military officers. At around 14:30 Adolf and Eva Hitler went into Hitler's study.
Several witnesses heard a loud gunshot at around 15:30. Heinz Linge, with Bormann at his side, entered the study. Linge later stated he noted "a scent of burnt almonds, a common observation made in the presence of prussic acid, the aqueous form of hydrogen cyanide." Sturmbannführer Otto Günsche, entered the study and found the lifeless bodies seated on a sofa. Günsche stated that Hitler "sat sunken over, with blood dripping out of his right temple. He had shot himself with his own pistol, a PPK."