Eva Braun

NAME Eva Anna Paula Braun

WHAT FAMOUS FOR Eva Braun is famous for being the longtime companion and, briefly, the wife of Adolf Hitler.

BIRTH Eva Braun was born on February 6, 1912, in Munich, Germany.

FAMILY BACKGROUND Eva was the second daughter of Friedrich "Fritz" Braun, a school teacher, and Franziska "Fanny" Kronberger, a seamstress. She had two sisters, Ilse and Margarete (Gretl).

CHILDHOOD Eva grew up in a middle-class family in Munich. Her childhood was relatively normal and unremarkable, characterized by the stability of a traditional Bavarian family.

EDUCATION Eva attended a Catholic lyceum in Munich, followed by a year at a business school where she learned shorthand and typing. She was not an exceptional student and had a rather average academic record.

CAREER RECORD After completing her education, Eva worked as a receptionist and assistant to Heinrich Hoffmann, Adolf Hitler's personal photographer. This job led to her introduction to Hitler.

APPEARANCE Eva Braun was known for her attractive appearance, with light brown hair and a fair complexion. She was of average height and had a slender build.

Eva Braun's studio portrait, late 1930s.

FASHION In a regime obsessed with austerity and uniformity, Eva Braun stood out for her love of stylish clothes.  She wore fitted suits and elegant dresses – a stark contrast to the drab browns and blacks favored by the Nazi rank and file.  Here was a woman who, even amidst the gathering storm, clung to a sense of normalcy, a touch of glamour in a world gone increasingly mad.

CHARACTER Eva was described as lively, outgoing, and somewhat frivolous. She enjoyed socializing and the luxuries that came with her association with Hitler, but she remained largely apolitical.

SENSE OF HUMOUR Eva had a playful and light-hearted sense of humor, often engaging in jokes and pranks. She was known to bring a sense of normalcy and relaxation to Hitler’s private life.

RELATIONSHIPS Eva Braun first met Adolf Hitler in 1929 at a photographer's studio in Munich when she was a fresh-faced 17-year-old and he, rather troublingly, was already 40. But unlike the steely Brunhildas of Nazi propaganda, Braun wasn't built for parades and public pronouncements. She preferred the quiet life, a stark contrast to the bombastic world Hitler was building.

Despite the age gap and the looming shadow of the Third Reich, Braun remained by Hitler's side throughout his rise to power.  She wasn't exactly Lady Macbeth, urging him on. In fact, she mostly stayed out of the public eye, content with her private life and a passion for photography.  Some saw this as a harmless hobby, a way to capture candid moments of Hitler relaxing with his inner circle (which, let's face it, wouldn't have made for the most thrilling photo album).  Others, perhaps a tad more cynical, suggest she might have been using the camera to control her own image, a power move in a world that otherwise offered her none.

The relationship wasn't without its drama, of course. There were suicide attempts – one by gunshot, the other by pills – which some historians dismiss as melodramatic cries for attention, while others see as genuine cries of despair from a woman trapped in a gilded cage.

In the bunker's final throes, with Berlin crumbling around them, Braun finally became Hitler's wife in a hastily arranged ceremony on April 29, 1945. It was a strange coda to a strange relationship, ending just a day later with a shared cyanide capsule.  Eva Braun, the enigma in stylish heels, remained by Hitler's side to the very bitter end.

MONEY AND FAME Eva lived comfortably due to her relationship with Hitler, enjoying privileges and luxuries. However, she remained relatively unknown to the public during most of her life, only becoming widely recognized posthumously.

FOOD AND DRINK Eva enjoyed fine dining and had access to the best foods and beverages available. There are accounts of her partaking in lavish meals and indulging in sweets.

MUSIC AND ARTS Eva had an appreciation for music and the arts, often attending concerts and the theater. She enjoyed photography and filmed many home movies, capturing private moments with Hitler and his inner circle.

LITERATURE Her personal letters and diaries provide insight into her life and relationship with Hitler.

NATURE Eva enjoyed outdoor activities such as skiing, swimming, and hiking. She spent time at Hitler’s mountain retreat, the Berghof, where she could enjoy the natural surroundings.

PETS Eva Braun had two Scottish Terriers named Negus and Stasi. There are photos of her with these dogs in her home movies. She apparently kept them away from Hitler's German Shepherd, Blondi.

Hitler once forgot Eva’s birthday when she had hoped for a dachshund gift. "He was here — but no dog," she wrote in her diary.

HOBBIES AND SPORTS Eva was an avid photographer and enjoyed making home movies. She was also a skilled swimmer and skier, enjoying active leisure pursuits despite the restrictions of her relationship.

PHILOSOPHY & THEOLOGY Eva was raised Catholic but did not express strong philosophical or theological beliefs. Her writings and actions suggest that she was more concerned with personal pleasures and loyalty to Hitler than with deeper ideological commitments.

SCANDAL Eva Braun's relationship with Hitler was controversial and scandalous due to his role as the Führer and the secrecy surrounding their relationship. Her presence at the center of the Nazi regime’s inner circle added to the intrigue and controversy.

Braun and Hitler, June 1942 By Bundesarchiv, 

HEALTH AND PHYSICAL FITNESS Eva was generally healthy and physically active, enjoying sports and outdoor activities. However, she did attempt suicide twice in the early years of her relationship with Hitler, possibly due to the pressures and constraints of their relationship.

HOMES Eva lived in various residences provided by Hitler, including a Munich apartment and the Berghof in the Bavarian Alps. In the final days of World War II, she stayed with Hitler in the Führerbunker in Berlin.

TRAVEL Eva traveled extensively within Germany and to the territories occupied by Nazi forces. She accompanied Hitler on many of his trips, although she remained largely in the background.

DEATH Eva Braun died on April 30, 1945, by suicide in the Führerbunker in Berlin, alongside Hitler. They both took cyanide, and Hitler also shot himself.

APPEARANCES IN MEDIA Eva Braun has been portrayed in various films, documentaries, and books about the Nazi era. Her home movies and photographs have been used to provide a personal glimpse into Hitler’s private life.

ACHIEVEMENTS Eva Braun’s life is primarily noted for her intimate relationship with Adolf Hitler rather than personal achievements. Her detailed home movies and photographs have provided historians with valuable insights into the private life of one of history’s most infamous figures.