Martin Bormann

Who was Martin Bormann?

Martin Bormann was a prominent official in Nazi Germany, head of the Parteikanzlei [. He gained immense power within the Third Reich by using his position as Hitler's private secretary to control the flow of information and access to Hitler.

Bormann joined a paramilitary Freikorps organisation in 1922 while working as manager of a large estate. He served nearly a year in prison as an accomplice to his friend Rudolf Höss in the murder of Walther Kadow. Bormann joined the Nazi Party in 1927 and the Schutzstaffel in 1937. He initially served in the party insurance service, and transferred in July 1933 to the office of Deputy Führer Rudolf Hess, where he served as chief of staff.

Bormann used his position to create an extensive bureaucracy and involve himself in as much of the decision making as possible. He gained acceptance into Hitler's inner circle, and accompanied him everywhere, providing briefings and summaries of events and requests. He began acting as Hitler's personal secretary in 1935, a post he was officially appointed to in 1943.