Gretl Braun: Eva Braun’s Sister Who Married SS General and Mass Murderer Hermann Fegelein

Gretl Braun, the younger sister of Eva Braun, lived remarkably close to the inner circle of Adolf Hitler and eventually married SS officer Hermann Fegelein. Her story offers a revealing glimpse into the private world, relationships, and privileges surrounding Nazi Germany’s leadership.Born in Munich in 1915, Gretl grew up in a middle-class family and entered Hitler’s circle through her sister’s long relationship with the Nazi dictator. At the Berghof, Hitler’s mountain retreat in the Bavarian Alps, Gretl became a familiar presence, socializing with senior Nazi officials and members of the SS while the Second World War devastated Europe.Her position within this exclusive world became even stronger through her relationship with Hermann Fegelein, a high-ranking Waffen-SS officer who served as Heinrich Himmler’s liaison at Hitler’s headquarters. Their wedding in June 1944 was attended by Hitler and other leading figures of the regime and became one of the last major social occasions within the Nazi elite.But the world surrounding Gretl rapidly collapsed as Allied forces closed in on Germany. Within less than a year of her wedding, the Third Reich was approaching destruction, her husband faced the consequences of abandoning Hitler’s bunker during the regime’s final days, and her sister Eva followed Hitler into the Führerbunker in Berlin.This documentary explores Gretl Braun’s life, her relationship with Eva Braun, her marriage to Hermann Fegelein, and her place within Hitler’s social circle. Through her story, we gain a rare perspective on the personal relationships, ambitions, privileges, and loyalties that existed behind the closed doors of one of history’s most notorious regimes.This episode is part of the series Fascist Wives and Companions.Watch the full documentary and explore hundreds of historical films at:WorldHistory.tv