Gerda Christian
| Gerda Christian | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born |
13 December 1913 Berlin, German Empire |
| Died | 14 April 1997 (aged 83) Düsseldorf, Germany |
| Cause of death | Cancer |
| Nationality | German |
| Other names | Gerda Daranowski (maiden name) |
| Occupation | Secretary |
| Employer | Adolf Hitler |
| Known for | Adolf Hitler's personal secretary before and during the Second World War. |
| Spouse(s) | Eckhard Christian |
Gerda "Dara" Christian (née Daranowski; 13 December 1913 – 14 April 1997) was one of Adolf Hitler's private secretaries before and during World War II.
Born Gerda Daranowski, and nicknamed "Dara", she worked for Elizabeth Arden before coming to work for Hitler. In 1937, Hitler's other secretaries Johanna Wolf and Christa Schroeder complained about having too much work. They asked for assistance, but Hitler reportedly hesitated; he did not wish to see a new face in his inner sanctum. He finally gave in and hired Gerda Daranowski.
She had been engaged to Hitler's driver Erich Kempka, and later married Luftwaffe officer Eckhard Christian on 2 February 1943. Gerda then took a break from her employment for Hitler and her work was taken over by Traudl Junge.
In mid-1943, Gerda Christian returned to Hitler's staff as one of his private secretaries. Eckhard was promoted to Generalmajor and Chief of the Luftwaffe Command Staff at Hitler's request on 1 September 1944. In April 1945, Eckhard was stationed in Berlin at the Führerbunker HQ. He left the bunker complex on 22 April 1945 to become Chief of the liaison staff of the Luftwaffe to OKW Command Staff North. Gerda and Traudl Junge both volunteered to remain with Hitler in the Führerbunker. While in the bunker complex, the women also looked after the Goebbels children.
During Hitler's last days in Berlin, he would regularly eat lunch with Traudl Junge and Gerda. After the war, Traudl recalled Gerda asking Hitler if he would leave Berlin. This was firmly rejected by Hitler. Gerda recalled that Hitler made it clear in conversation that his body must not fall into the hands of the Soviets. He would shoot himself, and wanted to be cremated "without a trace".Eva Braun said she would take cyanide poison. At one of these meal time conversations, Hitler gave Gerda a cyanide ampoule for use.
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