In 1945, Hans Kammler, one of the most influential and feared high-ranking SS officers, found himself trapped in an increasingly desperate situation as the Third Reich, which he had served with brutal efficiency, was irreversibly collapsing around him.
As an SS-Obergruppenführer, Kammler wielded immense power, overseeing the construction of concentration camps and heading the development of advanced weapon systems.
In 1944, Heinrich Himmler, convinced of the strategic importance of the V-2 project, persuaded Adolf Hitler to place the project under the direct control of the SS. On August 8, Hans Kammler replaced Walter Dornberger as the director of the project. From January 31, 1945, Kammler became the head of all missile projects.
During his tenure, Kammler also took partial responsibility for the operational use of the V-2 missiles against the Allies, until the war front reached Germany’s borders. In March 1945, following partially the advice of Joseph Goebbels, Hitler gradually began stripping Hermann Göring of various powers related to air support, maintenance, and supply, transferring them to Kammler. This culminated in early April with Kammler’s promotion to "Führer’s General Plenipotentiary for Jet Aircraft."
At that time, Goebbels proclaimed: "Faith in final victory is unshakeable, and we must ensure that our most advanced resources are in the right hands."
On April 1, 1945, Kammler ordered the evacuation of 500 missile technicians to the Alps. With the last launch of a V-2 on the Western front in late March, on April 5, Kammler was assigned by the Oberkommando der Wehrmacht to command the defense of the Nordhausen area. However, instead of defending the missile facilities, he immediately ordered the destruction of all the "V-1 special equipment" at the Syke storage facility.
Kammler was the last SS officer to be promoted to the rank of SS-Obergruppenführer, effective March 1, 1945. In his own words: "In times of desperation, loyalty and efficiency are our most valuable weapons."
In the final days of the war, as Allied forces closed in on Germany, Kammler’s trail suddenly went cold. The last confirmed sighting of the SS general was on April 17, 1945, less than three weeks before Germany’s unconditional surrender. From that point on, Kammler’s fate became shrouded in mystery, spawning a multitude of theories and speculations that persist to this day.
One prevalent theory suggests that Kammler, faced with imminent capture and the prospect of being tried for his crimes, chose to take his own life. This scenario aligns with the actions of many high-ranking Nazi officials who, unwilling to face justice, opted for suicide in the final days of the Reich.
However, the absence of a body or any concrete evidence of suicide has led some historians and researchers to propose more intriguing possibilities. Among them is the theory that Kammler, using his knowledge of advanced Nazi technology, struck a deal with the U.S. forces.
Could Kammler, with his intimate knowledge of Nazi weapons programs, have been one of those granted a new life in America?
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🎵Music Played on this video & Channel:
'Catalyst' by Scott Buckley - released under CC-BY 4.0. www.scottbuckley.com.au
'Goliath' by Scott Buckley - released under CC-BY 4.0. www.scottbuckley.com.au
'The Long Dark' by Scott Buckley - released under CC-BY 4.0. www.scottbuckley.com.au
'Discovery' by Scott Buckley - released under CC-BY 4.0. www.scottbuckley.com.au
'Emergent' by Scott Buckley - released under CC-BY 4.0. www.scottbuckley.com.au
'Rise Above' by Scott Buckley - released under CC-BY 4.0. www.scottbuckley.com.au
'This Too Shall Pass' by Scott Buckley - released under CC-BY 4.0. www.scottbuckley.com.au
'Chasing Daylight' by Scott Buckley - released under CC-BY 4.0. www.scottbuckley.com.au
'Vanguard' by Scott Buckley - released under CC-BY 4.0. www.scottbuckley.com.au
'Ignis' by Scott Buckley - released under CC-BY 4.0. www.scottbuckley.com.au
'The Vision' by Scott Buckley - released under CC-BY 4.0. www.scottbuckley.com.au
'The Spaces Between' by Scott Buckley - released under CC-BY 4.0. www.scottbuckley.com.au
'Ascension' by Scott Buckley - released under CC-BY 4.0. www.scottbuckley.com.au
'The Call' by Scott Buckley - released under CC-BY 4.0. www.scottbuckley.com.au
'Terminus' by Scott Buckley - released under CC-BY 4.0. www.scottbuckley.com.au
