SS 1 : the unlikely death of Heinrich Himmler

An examination of the curious demise of Reichsfuehrer SS Heinrich Himmler that investigates an extraordinary web of secret deals and international intrigue.On 22nd May 1945, in the immediate aftermath of the end of World War II, the Allies celebrated the capture of the most important member of the Nazi hierarchy, Reichsf hrer Heinrich Himmler.The SS leader was arrested, interrogated and committed suicide by taking poison from a capsule concealed in his mouth.

Then he was buried at a secret site on Luneberg Heath.

But Himmler did not rest in peace, if it was Himler who was buried there.

The British disinterred and reburied his body, and in 1946 MI6's most talented, if treacherous, agent, Kim Philby, was still not convinced that the story of Himmler's death made any sense at all.

Philby realised that a man of Himmler's organisational genius, a plotter of great intricacy and sophistication who recognised Germany's inevitable defeat as early as 1943, was unlikely to have just blundered into the arms of the Allies.

What happened?Hugh Thomas set out to answer Philby's question and uncovered a maze of corruption, high finance, political gambles and international intrigue.

In so doing he reveals not only where the bodies are buried but whose bodies they are.