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And once this is accomplished, with all Jews either expelled, in concentration camps, or forced into designated ghettos, we can proceed with the Final Solution.

“Concentration camps.” Bauer’s blood ran cold. “They’re going to set up detention camps and ghettos. They’re going to separate the Jews from everyone else.”

“The final solution?” Gerlich turned to Bauer. “What does that mean, the final solution?”

“What do you think it means, Fritz?” Bauer said. “It means once they’ve effectively removed all Jews from every sector of German society, they’re going to round them all up and exterminate them.”

It was worse than Bauer could have imagined. Before they’d even assumed power, the Nazis were plotting, in detail, the removal and ultimate eradication of the Jewish people. Including his wife, children, and in-laws.

“We’ll publish these tomorrow,” said Gerlich. “The Nazis will deny them. They’ll say anyone could have typed these words on a piece of paper. They’ll blame it on their political enemies. They’ll blame it on the Jews. They’ll claim political persecution and cast themselves as victims. But we have to try. We have to show the world what these monsters plan to do.”

“Good. And we’re not done,” said Bauer. “Two more envelopes to open.”

42

PETER HELLDORFF PICKED UP the fourth envelope, a smaller one, meant to hold a standard posted letter. The envelope was not sealed. He shook it, and out spilled a single small sheet of paper.

Stationery, pink with white flowers, personalized A.M. Raubal, for Geli’s full name, Angela Maria Raubal. It contained handwriting, the start of a letter:

Wenn ich nach Wien komme—ich hoffe sehr bald—werden wir gemeinsam zum Semmering fahren un

Thomas Bauer read it aloud. “When I come to Vienna—I hope very soon—we’ll drive together to Semmering an—” He looked at Gerlich. “Cut off mid-sentence.”

“Cut off mid-word,” Fritz Gerlich noted.

He was right. The word and was missing the final d.

“We’d have to do a handwriting analysis to confirm it’s Geli,” said Helldorff. “But I assume that won’t be a problem.”

Bauer was more interested in the contents of the letter. “Who stops writing a letter mid-word? Someone who’s been startled. And she never got back to it.” He thought for a moment. “Seems like she’s looking forward to meeting this person. Semmering? That’s a resort area south of Vienna, right?”

“Sounds like a romantic getaway for two,” said Gerlich.

It sure did. Bauer moved from the table and paced the small bedroom. “I’ll bet she was in the middle of writing that letter when Hitler accosted her. Which means it was there at the crime scene, and Hess, or Bormann, or another of his aides removed it.” He stopped and turned to the others. “Someone writing a letter like that is not contemplating the end of her life. She’s contemplating the beginning.”

“It doesn’t necessarily prove that Hitler killed her,” said Helldorff.

“No, but it all but rules out suicide. Which gets us one step closer. This is good.” Bauer started nodding. “This is good.”

The room went silent. These were highly incriminating pieces of evidence. None of them, by itself, was conclusive. But the case against Hitler was getting stronger and stronger.

And they still had one envelope left.

Bauer walked over and picked it up. “Feeling lucky, Fritz?” he said.

43

GERLICH TOOK THE FIFTH envelope and shook out a single piece of paper. Stationery again, but this time bearing the name A. Hitler. It was obviously written with a dip pen, as smudges of ink appeared by some of the words and elsewhere on the parchment.

“‘My dearest Geli,’” Bauer read aloud. “‘I am writing this letter because I know how difficult it is to speak of these matters.

“‘What you see as private and disgusting, I see as you in your most natural, vulnerable, and intimate state.’”

“My God,” said Gerlich. “He’s talking about what they do when they’re alone.”

The letter was nearly a full page. Bauer could hardly believe it, much less read it. In graphic and literal detail, the leader of the Nazi Party was admitting to deriving sexual pleasure from his young half niece urinating on him.

“He makes her do it,” Gerlich said, “even though she says she hates it.”