Constructing a Pseudo-Hitler? The question of the authenticity of Hitlers politisches Testament

Abstract

ABSTRACTThis article provides the first in-depth scholarly analysis of the collection of notes dated February and April 1945 colloquially known as ‘Hitler’s political testament’. This article uses sources from private and public archives in several countries to assess this issue of authenticity and concludes that these notes are most likely forgeries. The purported history of these documents cannot be trusted, the dating of several of the notes has clearly been manipulated, and the published text contain statements that cannot be authentic. The original notes were allegedly destroyed, which means that the published versions cannot be checked for accuracy. Until these notes have been conclusively proven to be genuine — something that is very hard to do without access to the original documents — historians should refrain from using them.