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Selkirk Panton was a Daily Express journalist who covered Berlin, like Louis Lochner and William Shirer, for twelve years. His papers are in the National Library of Australia. Attached to the British Second Army HQ, he witnessed the events after Himmlers death in May 1945.

The Panton papers contain the original typed wire messages he sent to London from Germany reporting Himmler's death. The language used is "journalist Telegraphese" - calculated to reduce the number of words charged for. Telegraphese has been expanded for readbility below, but spelling and punctuation errors are not corrected. Click here for the original Telegraphese version of these pages. These dispatches are based on his handwritten notes, which are transcribed here.

 


R Selkirk Panton Papers, National Library of Australia, MS 5808, folder 41.

Selkirk Panton's wire dispatches May 24-27, 1945

Press collect fastest route Thursday 24-5-45

Daily Express London

2

Take one

203024 Dateline Lueneburg Thursday. Heinrich Himmler creator of infamous SS and kingpin of whole Nazi terror and atrocity campaign which has brutally killed tens of thousands is not millions of lives of men and women who opposed Naziism in conquered countries is dead. He died at elevenzerofour oclock last night in suburban house Lueneburg as he stood stripped naked for medical examination after his capture two days before by men of Black Watch while he was trying to escape disguised across bridge at Bremervoerde twenty-five miles due est of Bremerhaven. This evening I saw his body naked except for British army shirt lying straight on floor in red plush parlour of suburban villa number thirtyone a Uelzenerstrasse Lueneburg headquarters where he had fallen after crushing phial of cyanide potassium in mouth. He was covered with British army blanket and wore British army shirt put on him after hed fallen. There was trickle of blood from lips. His grey eyes which had sent so many untold thousands their death were closed. But he still wore powerful tortoiseshell glasses which had made his eyes even more baleful than they might have otherwise been to his victims. Red plush nineteenth century furniture had been pushed aside to give space for body of fallen Nazi mighty number one on list Nazi war criminals. More Panton


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Daily Express London

Take two Himmler. On the walls were paintings angels. From ceiling over dead body Himmler hung ornate chandelier in room only twelve feet square. I pulled back grey blanket covering body and looked at his face. Theres no dount this is Himmler for I know him well. I first met him in nineteen thirtytwo before Hitler came to power. I had dinner with him and Ernst Roehm then Nazi mighty as chief Nazi storm troopers the notorious SA. Himmler then only small man in shadow Roehm smiled like Japanese behind his ultrastrong spectacles throughout dinner said not a word. He was in background despite his participation with Hitler in Munich beerhall putsch in 1923 and he knew it. Roehm was big man. But Himmler waited. Two year later came Hitlers June 30th putsch against Nazi extremists. That was Himmlers chance. Roehm and hundreds other Nazis were shot in notorious Nazi bloodbath. Himmler was safe. He built up his SS to overcome Nazi storm troopers. He became chief of dreaded Nazi Gestapo secret police which ever since has ruled Germany with brutal hand. Since war its been Himmler who threw tens thousands "enemies reich" both Germans and foreigners into such terror camps as Belsen and Buchenwald. In Berlin I often saw him parading round with Hitler as mighty Nazi leader. Now how low has he fallen. For several days Ive been following clue after clue in the area as far north as Danish frontier. Yesterday we had great hopes of catching him in last hideout German general staff liquidated yesterday by British troops at Murwik near Flensburg. More Panton


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Daily Express London

Take three Himmler. Today I drove three hundred miles in search of him all over northwest Germany. Every intelligence officer has received reports of his having been in such and such a place few minutes earlier. But none was hard. Then clue in Flensburg sent me to Kiel. Clue there sent me racing back from where Id started- Lueneburg. There I learnt stories last days major Nazi fiend fortyfour year old exschoolmaster whos done more than any other German blacken Germany in eyes civilized world. This is story. Last Monday May 21st men of black watch regiment on guard at bridge in Bremervoerde across river Oste saw approaching short tubby man without moustache and wearing patch over right I. He wore civilian clothes. He was accompanied by two men both in civilian clothes one burly fellow who turned out later to be his chief SS aide. British tommy on bridge was suspicious. Himmlers papers were not in order although had made out in name discharges Wehrmacht man Hinziger. But the tommy did not recognize Himmler without moustache and with his black I shade. But he put him in local internment camp at Barnsted. After short while there Himmler who saw game was up lost his nerve. He sent his adjutant for British commandant Captain Sylvester and announced his identity to him. Colonel Murphy chief intelligence officer of second British arm waswas call. More Panton


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Daily Express London

Take four Himmler. Colonel Murphy had no doubts. He at once confirmed Himmlers identity sent him down to chief interrogation point in bourgeois Lueneburg villa. There Himmler was stripped naked and examined by British medical officer. This officer examined him four times for any signs of concealed poison which every SS man is ordered to carry. Again he looked in Himmlers mouth. He lifted Himmlers tongue. Himmler again knew game was up. Suddenly British army doctor saw purple tip of phial halfinch long quarterinch wide appearbetween Himmlers teeath for split second. Then SS chief crush phial in teeth. Despite efforts British doctor Himmler died in agony fifteen minutes later there on bare boards where hed fallen. Hed kept phial in mouth several hours all through his interrogation by British officers. He died at elevenzerofour last night and with him disappeared most innocentlooking yet mostfeared and cruel man whole Nazi reich now crumbled into dust. Tonight his body lies there on bare boards suburban parlour viewed by Allied officers of British American and Russian armies who want make quite sure that real beast of German us indeed dead as last symbol complete fall Hitlers third reich. Now remains to be caught only Joachim von Ribbentrop Hitlers foreign minister who undoubtedly caused World War number Two because he refused to believe that Britain would keep her word and fight in defence of democracy and convinced Hitler of this. Hes still at large. End Panton


Press collect fastest route Friday 25-5-45

Daily Express London

251800 Himmler take one dateline Lueneburg Friday. With white flabby body of dead SS chief Heinrich Himmler cruelest man since Nero on their hands British officer here tonight were still waiting for instruction what to do with it. They dont know whether hes to be buried in unknown grave cremated or buried at sea. Whatever course is chosen its believed here that main aim will be prevent any Himmler cult arising or any place pilgrimage for Germans of today or tomorrow. While they waited for order from higher up Himmler today lay in ornately furnished redplush parlour of Lueneburg suburban villa just down road from second army press camp. Windows of his room were open. Door of house was locked. Inside British tommy with gun kept watch. But outside there was no guard. There was nothing show local population that cruelest man since Nero whom they had always feared lay dead and naked except for British army shirt and british army socks beneath grey British blanket on bare boards house. But Himmlers body was not left in peace. All day today British army doctors and security officers worked on it to obtain actual proof that dead man is indeed Himmler. We dont want another man turning up in a week or so and claiming he is real Himmler. So science has been called in - science of doctors and science of Scotland Yard detective. More Panton


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Himmler take two. They took dead mans fingerprints. They examined his body minutely for any special marks. They examined his nails. They took casts of his teeth. They measured exactly every one of his limbs and whole body. Finally they made death mask thus preserving for posterity face of archfiend of twentieth century. While this was going on in Lueneburg British offers were playing cat and mouse game with Himmlers two SS bodyguards ten miles away at POW cage at Barnstedt. That is camp where Himmler discovered and stripped and first searched. He was taken from there dressed only in British army shirt and socks and wrapped in grey blanket down to Lueneburg villa and to his death by poisoning. These two SS men- both flaxenhaired one twentyfour and slightly built tother twentynine and giant of man- are in small room of wooden barracks of former Nazi labour camp. This afternoon when I went to camp they lay on bed halfdressed reading German novels. Two British tommies arms folded sat stolidly on chairs watching them. They were both truculent arrogant. And British officers are treating them very carefully. They think these Himmler bodyguards may have some information. But they are afraid that if they try too hard to get it these SS men will pull a Himmler trick and swallow poison from tiny vial concealed in mouth. Himmler guards on other hand dont know that their demigod chiefs committed suicide. So there is situation: more Panton


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Daily Express London

Himmler take three. So there is situation: British officers have not searched SS guards mouths for poison because theyre afraid if they try to two men will crush &endash; if they have them concealed mouths - and die without giving what information they have. They are also afraid to tell them Himmlers dead for same reason. On other hand SS men are holding out and are mostly annoyed when questioned because theyre trying find out whats happened Himmler. Our officers dont know what theyve got in their mouth. They dont know Himmlers dead. How long this cat and mouse act will go on not known. Our officers to whom I suggested they should give SS men something make them vomit or knockout drops so that mouths can be searched are still awaiting instructions. Before he took one most painful poisons to end his life Himmler told British officers that hed planned lie low for several weeks until search for him had relaxed and we had got over "first flush of victory" he remained truculent until dramatic and refused submit any detailed and claimed right be transported for interview General Eisenhower. He said he wouldnt talk with "underlings" Himmler said that if hed been Berlin when Hitler died he "would have died with him" whenever he was questioned he went into long diatribe about menace communism and explosive nature relations now between Russia and western Allies this carrying on in last moments underground Nazi propaganda line which is already developing into whispering campaign is hope splitting Russia from Britain and america. More Panton


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Himmler take four. But he gave no hard fact away. Himmler chief of worlds greatest secret police was caught just because his papers naming him as Hinziger were not quite in order and he failed tell same story at repeated questionings. But his end is mystery. We shall never know answer to questions: Why did he wait two days being humiliated stripped naked and repeatedly searched before crushing that vial of cyanide of potassium in mouth? Why did he wait until he was standing naked except for British army shirt and socks in parlour Lueneburg villa surrounded by British officers before ending his life? Was he afraid at last moment that minute medical examination had some sinister significance for him? Did he still hope that he had some chance of escape? Or did nerves this Nazi mighty whod personally ordered torture and death untold hundreds thousands men women and children suddenly crack at end?. End Panton


Press collect fastest route Saturday 26-5-45

Sunday Express London

 

261415 Lueneburg Saturday. Take one. Himmler worlds greatest terrorist shrouded only in two grey British army blankets was buried unmarked grave at tenthirty smorning in clump tress somewhere in this area without any of the pomp or ceremony to which he was used. His grave is secret. It is in unconsecrated ground. Afterwards leaves were strewn over spot so that future generations Germans will not know where this fortyfour year old man who personally ordered worst atrocities this worlds seen modern times lies buried. Only British major and three sergeants who interred former dreaded SS chief know where grave is. But even they tonight would have difficulty if finding it. Early smorning Himmlers nakes body which had been lying bare boards redplush suburban parlour Lueneburg since he crushed vial cyanide potassium in mouth last Wednesday evening was wrapped in two British army blankets. Cords were tried round feet waist and neck. Two sergeants picked body up one at feet tother at head. As they went out towards back door villa British army truck drove up back entrance. Himmlers body was dumped in truck. Shovels were thrown in. Truck drove off. Germans passing along street didnt even turn head when truck drove out taking Himmler for last drive. They didnt know Himmler was dead most of them. Place his death scene had been kept secret too. More Panton


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Himmler take two. The truck sped away to secret burial place. Sergeants scraped away leaves started digging grave. While they dug Himmlers body lay nearby. Then he was thrown into grave. It was filled in leaves were raked back and they went home for lunch. Himmler once under Hitler most powerful man Nazi reich had been buried. It was burial which might have been given some mongrel dog killed on road. Now of all Nazi mighties theres only Ribbentrop to be caught man who perhaps did more than any other cause this war by his fanatical hate of Britain which led him convince Hitler that Britain would not honour word and fight in defence of Poland in nineteen thirtynine. End Panton


Press collect fastest route Sunday 27-5-45

Daily Express London

271700 Take one Himmler dateline Lueneburg Sunday. As Heinrich Himmler today lay in his rainsoaked nameless unmarked grave somewhere on lonely Lueneburg heath his two aides- burly colonel and slightly built major Waffen SS- were flown in British transport plane to twentyfirst army group headquarters of fieldmarshal Montgomery. There they will undergo further velvetglove interrogation used by out intelligence officers in hope of getting more information. With them in plane went Himmlers personal belongings and all material British army doctors and detectives have been able to collect in their examination his body- fingerprints of all fingers cast of lower jaw special markings on body and death[sic[ mask. All records of conversation with Himmler before he crushed glass suicide vial in mouth together with small amount information drawn his aides travelled in same plane for higherups at armygroup level to work on. Two SS men did not know what bage and parcels British escort guarded carefully in plane contained. Cat and mouse game is still going on. They dont know Himmler their chief is dead and buried. We dont know whether they too conceal in their mouths tiny glass vial with cyanide potassium which theyll crush if we are too tough. We havent searched their mouths yet for two reasons. If they have vial there theyll crush it and die on our hands without divulging perhaos vital information. If they havent vials mouths theyll know weve found out Himmlers trick and that hes dead. and we dont want them know that- yet. More Panton


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Take two Himmler. They tried find out about Himmler smorning. They asked for newspaper. They got them- but only up to day before Himmler died. Before going plane theywere taken out their small room wooden barracks for exercise. They walked about Luneburg heath where their chiefs buried escorted by British guards and alsatian policedog our men had "captured" from German SS policemen here. For all I know two SS men may in their strolls have kicked leaves over Himmlers grave. For only British major and three sergeants who buried him secretly yesterday know where it is. At twentyfirst army group headquarters two Nazi thugs will be questioned again. Evidence Himmlers identity collect at Luneburg will again be examined by experts. Contact will be made with Himmlers widow and his brother- both in Allied hands. Shaef doesnt want any Himmler mystery cropping up later. Supreme command wants indisputable proof that body buried yesterday was Himmlers. So far identity rests this evidence: Himmler said he was Himmler his appearance comparison of features with photographs especially minute inspection ear {this must be due express revelations re Hitlers ears} correct replies to trick questions and most interesting all his signature. Just before he took poison Himmler was asked sign name. Without hesitation he wrote his signature on piece paper. He was just going hand it back with ink still wet when suddenly he tore paper into fortyeight pieces. More Panton


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Daily Express London

Take three Himmler. Over weekend British officer have been piecing scraps of paper together again. Its now stated that Himmlers signature on it tallies with other specimens our hands. But question nobody can answer is this: But why did Himmler whod freely admitted identity wanted make us believe it and never denied it after revealing it tear up his signature which would help confirm his identity? Possible he feared we might write something above it such as confession of having personally ordered horrors of Belsen and buchenwald. End

New story dateline Luneburg three German generals arrested last Wednesday by British troops at Flensburg when the sham Doenitz government and whole German general staff was rounded up had concealed in their clothes similar poison vials to that used by Himmler. One general was General Reinicke no details. Personality. They were discovered when members Doenitz cabinet and general staff were stripped after arrest and their clothing was searched. But generals made no attempt take poison. Poison vials are like tiny glass bottles halfinch long quarterlong diameter with blue bulb at end of neck. Glass is very thin and can be easily crushed. No such vial was found on grandadmiral Karl von Doenitz selfdesignated last fuerher German. Instead British security officers found when they stripped grandadmiral that he was wearing seven pairs woollen underpants. It was embarrassing moment for both. But Doenitz made no explanation of why he was doing this in May. End Panton

Index on Heinrich Himmler

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