Caroline Sharples
New Book Spotlight
The Long Death of Adolf Hitler
An Investigative History
In April 1945, Adolf Hitler committed suicide in his Berlin bunker. But his death was just the beginning of a different story. Caroline Sharples explores the sensational rumors of Hitler’s survival, the grisly discovery of his remains, and how the search for the 'disappearing' dictator shaped the Cold War and continues to fascinate the public imagination today.
“Sharples has brought us an original and different take on the most consequential leader of the 20th century, and in doing so she has shed much-needed light on one of the most confusing, conspiracy-ridden areas of history.”
— History of War magazine
“Hitler’s suicide stands among the most notorious in history, and also the most misunderstood. Caroline Sharples guides us deftly through the chaotic last days in the Bunker, through Russian misinformation, Allied intelligence initiatives, and fanciful conspiracy theories, to a clear understanding of Hitler’s fate.”
—Jonathan Petropoulos, author of Göring’s Man in Paris: The Story of a Nazi Art Plunderer and his World
“For years, Hitler’s enemies yearned—and planned—for his death. Yet when it came, his end proved elusive. In this fascinating account of war and political intrigue, Sharples lays out the consequences of those last moments in the bunker and the high price of Hitler’s private death.”
— Despina Stratigakos, author of Hitler at Home.
“Roll over Hugh Trevor-Roper! With this brilliantly conceived and superbly executed account, the perennially fascinating subject of Hitler's death has finally received the treatment it deserves.”
— Neil Gregor, author of How to Read Hitler.
Reviews & Acclaim
“By meticulously disentangling the myth and reality behind our 80-year obsession with Hitler’s demise, Sharples reveals how the “long death of Adolf Hitler” continues to shape historical narratives and fuel conspiracy theories about the increasingly palpable authoritarian past and fraught political present.”
—Eric Kurlander, author of Hitler’s Monsters: A Supernatural History of the Third Reich.
“When Adolf Hitler said, “my life will not end in the mere form of death,” he had a point. The Long Death of Adolf Hitler digs into the afterlives of the Führer’s demise but also poses questions about death itself, such as how we know when it’s happened. For a short list of persons both monstrous and “magical,” mortality is not just a material fact, but a revealing social and human one.”
— Monica Black, author of A Demon-Haunted Land: Witches, Wonder Doctors and the Ghosts of the Past in Post-WWII Germany.
"Excellently researched and engagingly told"
- Aspects of History.
Upcoming Events
Launch Event: The Long Death of Adolf Hitler
Wednesday 11 March 2026, 6.30–8pm, Wiener Holocaust Library, 29 Russell Square, London.
Caroline Sharples will talk about her book, highlighting some of the unusual ways in which ordinary people around the globe have engaged with the idea of Hitler’s death – and discuss the Allied fears regarding a potential Hitler shrine or martyrdom legend that affected policymaking during the postwar occupation of Germany. The event will be chaired by Professor Bill Niven.
Fully booked!
Launch Event: The Long Death of Adolf Hitler
Thursday, 12 March 2026 | 6-8pm | The Barnes Bookshop, London
Join us at The Barnes Bookshop for an informal launch to celebrate the publication of The Long Death of Adolf Hitler. Chat with Caroline Sharples, buy a signed copy and enjoy light refreshments. All welcome, but booking is required.
Lunchtime Talk: The Long Death of Adolf Hitler (in-person & online)
Friday 24 April 2026, 12–1pm, National Army Museum, Royal Hospital Road, London.
Dr Caroline Sharples highlights the public discourse that had been constructed around the prospect of Hitler’s death. She also traces the responses that news of his passing eventually engendered across Britain and the Commonwealth in Spring 1945, including songs, jokes, games and public rituals.
For talks, media enquiries or questions about my work, please use the form below.
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