Charismatic leader, pitiless politician, psychopath; Adolf Hitler is a historical enigma, his personality so complex cannot be explained as simply evil. This thorough and engaging documentary ambitiously intends to try and find a solution to Hitler’s mystery. One way to grasp a deeper understanding of the man who brought the world to the brink of catastrophe is to rely on the testimony of one of his closest collaborators, his bodyguard. A close insight into the Fuhrer’s everyday life, HITLER’S BODYGUARD offers a rare opportunity to get a glimpse from the tyrant’s own perspective - his phobias, obsessions and weaknesses included. Hitler’s fragility, personal and political, as well as his growing isolation is accurately investigated, and a significant light is cast on the many failed attempts to overthrow his dictatorship.

Now for the first time thanks to previously never before seen SS records and images, the series provides a unique insight into the men that guard Hitler and explores one of the most enduring and unanswered questions surviving from World War II – why, in 25 years, did no-one manage to kill Adolf Hitler?

Causing the deaths of 50million people, Adolph Hitler became one of the 20th century’s most iconic hate figures. Despised by those he persecuted, and even by some of his own commanders, Hitler’s life was constantly in danger as he spread his tyranny throughout Europe. As he developed from shock politician to supreme leader of Nazi Germany, he collected a long list of enemies along the way.

Protecting Hitler was one of the world’s toughest jobs. During his time in power he survived over 40 attempts on his life thanks to his fearless bodyguards.

The series, narrated by Robert Powell, looks in greater detail at these plots, from Hitler’s early political career where he knew he was a marked man to the infamous Stauffenberg plot. Hitler’s Bodyguard also reveals why Churchill and Roosevelt did nothing to directly harm him or try to assassinate him.

1-How Hitler’s Bodyguard Worked

During Hitler’s travels across Europe, there were over forty attempts on his life. With access to original SS records, this documentary reveals how fate and a small number of handpicked bodyguards, including street fighters, thugs and political cronies, helped the dictator to cheat death on so many occasions.
These included perhaps his closest and most trusted bodyguard Bruno Gesche, a tough street fighter. In return, Hitler repaid Gesche by promoting him to his personal bodyguard crew and this rock-solid inner circle repelled assassination attempt after assassination attempt.

2-Early Attempts on His Life
From his early political rise in the 1920s, Hitler knew he was a marked man.

3-Kill The New Chancellor!
As Hitler became Chancellor he was a man on display, and had to choose his inner circle of top bodyguards.

4-The Night Of The Long Knives
This episode looks at how Hitler resolved to murder the SA leaders who most threatened him and snuff out the biggest threats to his life.

5-Jewish And Émigré Attempts To Kill Hitler
While Hitler’s wrath was being directed at diasporic communities, these persecuted minorities were determined to kill the Fuhrer.

6-Kill Hitler Before The War Starts
Unpopular in some circles of his own country, German officers plotted to remove Hitler even before the war started.

7-Bombs And Paranoia
Uncovering George Elser’s spectacular clockwork bomb, which narrowly missed its target.

8-Hitler’s Dangerous Car Journeys
A closer look at Hitler’s bullet and bomb-proof Mercedes.

9-Hitler’s Aircraft And Flights Into Fear
How Hitler’s air transport repelled the danger – bombs, dummy aircraft and railways all played a part.

10-Hitler’s Dangerous Train Journeys
How Hitler’s armoured train brought German railways to a halt.

11-Attempts To Kill Hitler At The Wolf’s Lair
Hitler’s favourite Alpine isolation provided a tempting target for the SAS and others.

12-Nearly Assassinated At The Berghof
In the most infamous and closest of all the assassination attempts, the Stauffenberg bomb missed Hitler by inches.

13-The Poison Gas Plot In The Bunker
The full story of what happened when Hitler’s most trusted minister arrived with a lethal canister.

Related posts

• The Wannsee Conference (Hitler’s Final Solution: The Wannsee Conference) (Wannseekonferenz)
• Hitler’s Family - In the Shadow of the Dictator
• Death in the Bunker: The True Story of Hitler’s Downfall