Hitler Didn't Die: Is It a Conspiracy?

Did Hitler Die by Suicide? Is it a Conspiracy Theory

According to the conspiracy theory, Hitler and his wife Eva Braun did not die by suicide on the 30th of April 1945. The proposed explanation is that due to the circumstances of the deaths, and the fact that the United States government did not believe his death until ten years afterward, it is questionable in discerning that Hitler and Eva Braun were the two dead bodies found. In using Mandik’s qualifications of a conspiracy theory, we can come to the conclusion that it is a conspiracy theory.
Mandik’s definition for a conspiracy theory follows a five pronged approach. He lists that conspiracy theories suggest, 1- explanations of 2- historical events in terms of 3- intentional states of multiple agents who 4- intend the historical events in question to occur and 5- keep their intentions and actions secret.
As for the first two elements in Mandik’s definition, this theory provides an explanation about why the supposed body of Eva Braun was not the correct age, nor that the dental records of the jaw fragments found matched those of Braun and Hitler. This then proceeds to the third element of the theory. The faith put into a small few by Hitler and Braun during the apparent planning of their suicides keeps the multiple agents small and have a more intentional state, as well as being in on the secret plans of the suicide. The position of the Nazi Youth Leader, Artur Axmann who reportedly found the bodies, but promptly burned them before burying them outside the bunker implies that he could have been a part of the plan to get away with suicide. Thus, the historical event of Hitler and Braun dying by suicide still went ahead, with the possibility that they escaped to South America (not officially a part of this conspiracy). Following on, the final element of Mandik’s definition implies the need and intention to keep actions secret. This theory specifically follows the requirement of keeping actions secret. As Hitler’s dental records did not match his supposed skull, there seems to be a discrepancy in his possible location in May 1945. As many other Nazi officials escaped to South America, Argentina specifically, but no one heard anything, could support the intentional secrecy of their escape. Based on this secrecy clause, Hitler and Braun could have survived and escaped from the bunker in Germany. Therefore, the ‘Hitler didn’t commit suicide’ theory is a conspiracy theory, according to Mandik’s five elements.

Sources:
Hitler database entry: http://conspiracytheory.wikidot.com/wiki:hitler-didn-t-commit-suicide
Mandik's five elements: http://conspiracytheory.wikidot.com/wiki:conspiracy-theories-according-to-mandik

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