A Birthday Celebration
Once Hitler descended into the Berlin bunker, he rarely left. One of the few times he did, however, was on April 20, 1945 — his 56th birthday. In the garden just outside the bunker, Hitler decorated 20 Hitler Youths-turned-soldiers. Here he shakes hands with Alfred Czech, a 12-year-old Hitler Youth soldier, after the young veteran of battles in Pomerania and upper and lower Silesia was awarded the Iron Cross. After the ceremony, Hitler returned to his underground home, which some generals regarded as "a madhouse being run by the inmates."