Eva Braun

Eva Braun was the longtime companion and later wife of Adolf Hitler, the leader of Nazi Germany during World War II. 

Eva Braun By Bundesarchiv,  https://commons.wikimedia.org/

Eva Braun was born in Munich on February 6, 1912. She was the second daughter of school teacher Friedrich "Fritz" Braun and Franziska "Fanny" Kronberger, who had worked as a seamstress before her marriage.

She worked as a photographer's assistant and model before meeting Hitler.

Eva Braun was 17 when she first met Hitler, 23 years her senior, at Heinrich Hoffmannin's photographic studio in Munich in October 1929. Their relationship began in 1932, and despite being kept largely secret, Eva Braun became Hitler's companion. 

Despite facing pressures and difficulties, Braun remained by Hitler's side throughout his rise to power and the Nazi regime's reign of terror.

Evan Braun stayed out of the public eye and did not participate in official events, maintaining a private life.

Eva Braun attempted suicide in 1932 by shooting herself in the chest with her father's pistol. Historians feel the attempt was not serious, but was a bid for Hitler's attention. In 1935 she attempted suicide again by overdose, when Hitler failed to make time for her in his life.

Braun was an enthusiastic photographer often capturing candid moments of Hitler and their social circle. Though some argue it was a hobby, others see it as a potential influence on how she wanted to be perceived.

She was also a skilled swimmer and skier, enjoying active leisure pursuits despite the restrictions of her relationship.

Braun had a keen interest in fashion and was considered stylish by contemporaries. Despite the austerity of the Nazi regime, she kept up with trends and favored elegant feminine styles.

Eva Braun married Adolf Hitler on April 29, 1945, in a brief ceremony in the Führerbunker, an underground bunker in Berlin. Just a day later , as the Allies closed in on Berlin and the defeat of Nazi Germany was imminent, Hitler and Eva Braun took their own lives on April 30, 1945.

Eva Braun's role in history is often overshadowed by her connection to Hitler. She left behind photographs and films that provide a glimpse into the private life of the Nazi leader, offering insights into the personalities and relationships within the inner circle of the Nazi regime.