Rochus Misch Autograph

Profession:
(1917-2013) German Oberscharführer (sergeant) in the 1st SS Panzer Division Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler (LSSAH). He was widely reported in the media as being the last surviving occupant of the Führerbunker when he died in September 2013.

Year of Birth: 1917

Rochus Misch was a German soldier who served as Hitler’s bodyguard, courier, and valet during the last years of World War II. Born in Alt-Ruppin, Germany, on August 29, 1917, Misch joined the Nazi Party in 1933 at the age of 16. After joining the SS in 1936, Misch was assigned to the Führer’s bodyguard unit in August 1939.

Misch took part in many of Hitler’s military campaigns, including the invasions of Poland, France, and the Soviet Union. During the war, Misch was wounded in action three times and was awarded the Iron Cross 2nd Class and the German Cross in Gold for his service. Misch was present during the Battle of Berlin and he was one of the last people to see Hitler alive in the Führerbunker.

After the war, Misch was arrested by the Allies and was held as a prisoner of war for nine years. During his imprisonment, Misch was interrogated by the US Army’s Counter Intelligence Corps (CIC) and other Allied intelligence agencies. After his release in 1954, Misch settled in Berlin and worked as a painter.

In the years following the war, Misch wrote two books about his time serving Hitler. The first, The Last Witness, was published in 2005 and details his service in the Führerbunker and his interactions with Hitler. His second book, Hitler’s Last Bodyguard, was published in 2008 and includes details of his involvement in the Battle of Berlin and his observations of the final days in the Führerbunker.

In addition to his books, Misch also appeared in several documentaries about Hitler and the Führerbunker. He was the subject of the 2009 documentary, Hitler’s Last Bodyguard, which featured interviews with Misch and other survivors of the Führerbunker. He also appeared in the 2011 documentary, The Bunker, which focused on the events of the last days in the Führerbunker.

Rochus Misch passed away on September 5, 2013, at the age of 96. He was buried in Berlin with full military honors. Misch’s legacy as Hitler’s last bodyguard and one of the few remaining survivors of the Führerbunker will live on for generations to come.