On This Day - What happened 30 April 1945 AD

In April 1945, the Red Army seized Berlin, Hitler committed suicide, and Germany surrendered.

On 30 April 1945, Soviet troops were within a block or two of the Reich Chancellery when Hitler shot himself in the head and Braun bit into a cyanide capsule.

Ravensbrück was liberated by the Soviets on 30 April.

In accordance with Hitler's last wishes, Bormann was named as Party Minister, thus officially confirming his top position in the Party. Grand Admiral Karl Dönitz was appointed as the new Reichspräsident (President of Germany) and Goebbels became head of government and Chancellor of Germany. Goebbels and his wife Magda committed suicide later that day.

As Soviet forces continued to fight their way into the centre of Berlin, Hitler and Braun committed suicide on the afternoon of 30 April. Braun took cyanide and Hitler shot himself. Pursuant to Hitler's instructions, their bodies were carried up to the Reich Chancellery garden and burned.

Two days later after Mussolini's assassination, Hitler committed suicide in besieged Berlin, and he was succeeded by Grand Admiral Karl Dönitz.

Goebbels was depressed and stated that he would walk around the Chancellery garden until he was killed by the Russian.