Martin Bormann

Martin Bormann (June 17, 1900 – May 2, 1945) was a prominent German National Socialist official who became head of the Party Chancellery (Parteikanzlei) and Private Secretary to Adolf Hitler, gaining his trust and deriving immense power within the Third Reich by controlling access to the Nazi dictator.

Rise through the Nazi party

After his release Bormann joined the NSDAP in Thuringia. Despite a coarse and brutal manner, he became the Party's regional press officer and later business manager in 1928. In 1929 Bormann married Gerda Buch, whose father Walter Buch served as a chairman of the Nazi Party Court. Bormann had recently met Hitler, who agreed to serve as a witness to their wedding.

Related Topics:
NSDAP - Thuringia - 1928 - 1929 - Gerda Buch - Walter Buch

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In October 1933 Bormann became a Reichsleiter of the NSDAP and in November a member of the Reichstag. From July 1933 until 1941 Bormann served as the personal secretary of Rudolf Hess.

Related Topics:
1933 - Reichsleiter - Reichstag - July - 1941 - Secretary - Rudolf Hess

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The flight of Rudolf Hess to Britain in May 1941 cleared the way for Bormann to become head of the Parteikanzlei (Party Chancellery) that month and he proved to be a master of intricate political infighting. Bormann developed and administered the Adolf Hitler Endowment Fund of German Industry, a huge fund of 'voluntary' contributions made by successful business entrepreneurs to the Führer. He re-allocated these funds as gifts to almost all of the party leadership.

Related Topics:
Rudolf Hess - Political - Business - Entrepreneur

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Bormann took charge of all Hitler's paperwork, appointments and personal finances. Hitler came to have complete trust in Bormann and the view of reality he presented. During a meeting the Führer was said to have screamed, "To win this war, I need Bormann!" Many historians have suggested Bormann held so much power that in some respects he became Germany's "secret leader" during the war.

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At the Nuremberg trials, Arthur Seyss-Inquart testified he had called Bormann to confirm an order to deport the Dutch Jews to Auschwitz and further testified that Bormann passed along the Führer's orders for the extermination of Jews during the Holocaust.

Related Topics:
Nuremberg - Arthur Seyss-Inquart - Jews - Führer - Holocaust

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