Who Is Heinz Linge? Age, Biography and Wiki
Heinz Linge was born on March 23, 1913, in Germany. Known primarily for his role as an SS officer during World War II, he served as a personal aide to Adolf Hitler. His life has been surrounded by controversy due to the nature of his service and the historical implications of his actions. Linge's experiences during the war and subsequent life have been a point of study for historians and enthusiasts alike.
As of 2025, Heinz Linge would have been 112 years old, but he sadly passed away in 1980. His story continues to be relevant for understanding the complexities of historical narratives associated with World War II.
| Occupation | Other |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | March 23, 1913 |
| Age | 66 Years |
| Birth Place | Bremen, German Empire |
| Horoscope | Aries |
| Country | Germany |
| Date of death | 9 March, 1980 |
| Died Place | Hamburg, West Germany |
Popularity
Heinz Linge's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
Heinz Linge was known to be of average stature for his time, although specific measurements regarding his height and weight are not extensively documented. Typically, men of his generation averaged around 5 feet 8 inches (173 cm) tall. His appearance was characterized by typical German features of the era, which included dark hair and a stern demeanor reflective of his military background.
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
Information regarding Heinz Linge's family and personal relationships is limited. Most of his life was characterized by his commitment to the Nazi regime and his roles throughout the war. Following World War II, he faced deep scrutiny, which likely affected any personal relationships he may have had. There are no documented records of significant romantic partnerships, indicating that his focus was predominantly on his military career.
On 30 April, Hitler had a last midday meal with his secretaries. After the meal, Linge spoke briefly with Eva Braun. He described her as looking pale and of having had little sleep. She thanked him for his service. Hitler then said farewell to each of his servants and subordinates. Thereafter, Hitler retired to his study at 3:15 p.m.
Hitler instructed Linge to join one of the break-out groups and try to get to the west. Linge asked for whom they should now fight and Hitler replied, "For the coming man." Linge then saluted and left. In a 1974 episode of The World at War, Linge and Hitler's secretary, Traudl Junge, describe Hitler's last minutes in the bunker.
Linge explains that Hitler and his wife committed suicide in Hitler's private room in the bunker. He recalled how he went into Hitler's private study after hearing a sudden bang and found that Hitler and Braun were dead. Hitler had shot himself in the right temple. Linge concluded that Braun had taken what must have been cyanide poison.
Net Worth and Salary
Estimating Heinz Linge's net worth poses a challenge due to the lack of documentation regarding his financial status during and after the war. However, as a high-ranking member of the SS, it is believed he held a substantial salary during his service. Post-war, Linge's financial situation may have been unstable due to his controversial past, with potential difficulties in securing consistent employment. While estimates are speculative, his earnings were likely drawn from his military service and any post-war activities he may have engaged in.
Career, Business and Investments
Heinz Linge's career was deeply intertwined with the Nazi regime. He initially joined the SS and quickly rose through the ranks due to his loyalty and administrative capabilities. His primary role as Hitler's aide allowed him to engage in various operational and administrative tasks, solidifying his standing within the party apparatus.
After the war, Linge was imprisoned but eventually released. He continued to grapple with the impact of his past and the shifting tides of public perception regarding the Nazi regime. Investment opportunities for individuals like him during that time would have been limited due to social stigma and legal repercussions stemming from their actions during the war.
He was employed as a bricklayer prior to joining the SS in 1933. He served in the Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler (LSSAH), Hitler's bodyguard. In 1934, when he was part of No. 1 Guard to Hitler's residence on the Obersalzberg near Berchtesgaden, Linge was selected to serve at the Reich Chancellery. By 1945, he had obtained the rank of SS-Sturmbannführer (major).
Social Network
Despite the distance from his life in the limelight, Heinz Linge's legacy continues to be addressed through various forums, including documentaries, books, and academic research. His connections within historical societies and discussions among World War II historians allow for an analysis of his role and impact during one of history's most tumultuous periods.
Linge initially told the Soviets that he heard Hitler's suicide gunshot before explaining that he only said this to keep his account from appearing "frail" in light of "shadowy areas" of his memory.
He also claimed to have learned of the suicide from the smell of gunpowder, despite being separated by several doors and Hitler's rooms being well ventilated. Linge told the Soviets that he and Bormann could tell that Hitler and Braun were dead by looking at them, but did not explain why they did not summon Hitler's doctors to confirm the deaths.
He stated that he saw a coin-sized wound to Hitler's right temple with one or two trails of blood running down his cheek, and no exit wound or other damage to the skull.
Linge may have been one of only two witnesses to survive the war to make observations of Hitler's head wound in the aftermath of his suicide, the other being Hitler Youth leader Artur Axmann, who reported blood on both temples, but no clear entry wound.
Günsche reportedly told the Soviets that he only learned of Hitler's method of death from Linge, but testified in 1956 that (like Linge) he saw an entry wound to the right temple, which convinced him that Hitler died by a suicide gunshot.
According to historian Mark Felton (who does not explain how he accessed the Soviet material), Linge reportedly told a Soviet agent—undercover as a captured German—that only he and Bormann knew the circumstances of Hitler's death; Linge repeatedly said he would not 'crack' to the Soviets and suggested that (from his apparently limited viewpoint
) Hitler's temple wound seemed like it could have been painted on.
Education
Details about Heinz Linge's education are sparse. It is presumed that he received a typical German education of the time, which emphasized nationalism and military virtues. More specialized training would have been acquired through his military career within the SS, as members of this organization were often indoctrinated into the party's ideologies, emphasizing loyalty, discipline, and a rigid adherence to duty.
At around 16:15, Linge ordered SS-Untersturmführer Heinz Krüger and SS-Oberscharführer Werner Schwiedel to roll up the rug in Hitler's study to burn it. The two men removed the blood-stained rug, carried it up the stairs and outside to the Chancellery garden. There the rug was placed on the ground and burned.
On and off during the afternoon, the Soviets shelled the area in and around the Reich Chancellery. SS guards brought over additional cans of petrol to further burn the corpses, which lasted from 16:00 to around 18:30.
Linge later wrote that he burned other personal effects of Hitler's while an SS bodyguard oversaw the burial of the burnt bodies in a shell crater.
