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
Press collect fastest route 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
Press collect fastest route 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
Press collect fastest route 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
Press collect fastest route Daily Express London 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
Press collect fastest route 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
Press collect fastest route Daily Express London 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
Press collect fastest route Sunday Express London 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
Press collect fastest route Daily Express London 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
Press collect fastest route 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 
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