1. Gerda Christian, nicknamed Dara, was one of Adolf Hitler's private secretaries before and during World War II.
13 Facts About Gerda Christian
1. 2.
In mid-1943 Gerda Christian returned to Hitler's staff as one of his private secretaries.
3.
Eckhard Gerda Christian was promoted to Generalmajor and Chief of the Luftwaffe Command Staff at Hitler's request on 1 September 1944.
4.
Gerda Christian left the bunker complex on 22 April 1945 to become Chief of the liaison staff of the Luftwaffe to OKW Command Staff North.
5.
Gerda Christian recalled that Hitler made it clear in conversation that his body must not fall into the hands of the Soviets.
6.
Gerda Christian walked into Hitler's study and saw a bloodstain "about the size of a hand" on the rug next to the sofa.
7.
Gerda Christian was part of a group led by SS-Brigadefuhrer Wilhelm Mohnke, which included secretaries Else Kruger and Traudl Junge.
8.
However, Gerda Christian would be among those who escaped, only to later be captured by American forces in March 1946.
9.
In 1946 Gerda Christian divorced her husband because he had not remained with her in the Fuhrerbunker until the death of Hitler.
10.
Gerda Christian moved to Dusseldorf, where she worked at the Hotel Eden.
11.
Gerda Christian was a friend of Werner Naumann, a former state secretary in the Third Reich's propaganda ministry.
12.
Gerda Christian died of cancer in Dusseldorf in 1997, aged 83.
13.
Gerda Christian has been portrayed by the following actresses in film and television productions.