The . Himmler Heydrich… Jäckel Wannsee conference… 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. We reproduce below a transcript of his handwritten notes, important for their immediacy and detail.R Selkirk Panton Papers, National Library of Australia, MS 5808, folder 82.Selkirk Panton’s handwritten notes [May 24-27, 1945]Original images [Pdf file 600 KB] Page 1 1945 R.

Selkirk Panton PapersNLA MS 5808 Folder 82Notebooks, diaries Page 2Doenitz – seven pairs underpants3 generals had poison phials Himmler planned lie low several weeks until hue & cry died downin first flush victoryWhy did he decide kill himselfFiring squadNerve crackedRemained cocky and refused submit detailed questioningDemanded be transferred[to] Supreme CommandWd not talk underlings Page 3 No hard factsHimmler claimed if he had been in beenin Berlin when Hitler diedhe “would have died

with him”Most prevalent theme +++ & talks wascomment menace in futurerelations Russia withEngland & AmericaUndecided what to do withbody burn itguard inside noneoutside++++ crooks failure tellcompletely consistent storyat several quest[ions]led downfall Page 4 ++++ body on handswondering what to do with itDentist (double underlined) [DOODLE at r.h. edge: square with two X’s inside it.

A badge?]Until later ++++ seeking setinstructionsBut all day busyfingerprintslooking Heinrich Himmler shrouded in grey British army blanketwas buried secretly in —Himmler’s dentistSignature 48 piecesSS stamps Doenitz & underpants Reinicke(line indicating break)Halfeld(?)Questionnaire Page 5 2 aides flown 21st Army HQnot knowing Himmler’s dead.We don’t know whether they have vial concealedWith them went fingerprintsdeath mask all records cast ofteethexamined thereShaef will get into touch

withHimmler’s widow & brotherThey are also looking for dentistAllied command wantsincontrovertible evidence thatman secretly buried yest[erday] wasHimmler.

So far fingerprintsan admission of identityappearance correct replies totrick questions comparison ofhis features with photographs including minute inspectionof ear his signature – talliedwith two specimens in possessintelligence staff Page 6German people (underlined) [drawing of British flag in upper right corner and an oval bisected by a vertical line, on right half of oval, three small circles]Not sorryteasingStill pro-Hitlerhelping usdisciplineObsequiousinformersstreetHappy faces in

different placeslearning speaking EnglishNorth better than SouthFear of Russians before contempt Dressed better taste, hair better uniformitygen.

children well dressed well fed Himmler gave last orders –disband undergroundorganisationsNo civilians injuredno warm water etc Germans playing off one occupyingpower against another.FraternisaitonPostal services Himmler’s platessafer in fjord(?) typhus(?), 260 [cases?] 7 a day [dying?]King George’s birthdaySS men Danish territoryIndex on Heinrich Himmler

See Also