Otto Günsche

Otto Günsche
Otto Günsche
	Günsche in 1935
Born	24 September 1917; Jena, German Empire
Died	2 October 2003 (aged 86); Lohmar, Germany
Resting place	North Sea (ashes scattered)
Allegiance	Germany
Branch	Waffen-SS
Service years	1933–1945
Rank	SS-Sturmbannführer
Unit	1st SS Panzer Division Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler (1934–1945); Führerbegleitkommando (1940–1941; 1943; 1944–1945);
Known for	Being Adolf Hitler's personal adjutant and being present during Hitler's suicide on 30 April 1945
Conflicts	World War II Western Front Occupation of France; ; Eastern Front Invasion of the Soviet Union; Battle of Berlin (POW); ; 20 July plot; ;
Children	3

Otto Günsche (24 September 1917 – 2 October 2003) was a mid-ranking officer of the Waffen-SS during World War II. He was a member of the SS Division Leibstandarte before he became Adolf Hitler's personal adjutant. During the Battle of Berlin, Günsche was present in the Führerbunker during Hitler's suicide on 30 April 1945 and was captured by the Red Army as a prisoner of war two days later.

While in custody at various labour camps and prisons across the Soviet Union, Günsche was tortured and interrogated for information on the circumstances of Hitler's death and the purported possibility of his escape. Günsche was transferred to a prison in East Germany in 1955 and released on 2 May 1956. He was again questioned and brought to court by the Western Allies to provide sworn key testimony about Hitler's death.