Hans-Erich Voss

Hans-Erich Voss (or Voß, see ß) (30 October 1897 – 18 November 1969) was a German Vizeadmiral (vice admiral) and one of the final occupants of the Führerbunker during the battle of Berlin in 1945.

Around 12:30 hours as the conference began, plotter Claus von Stauffenberg primed the bomb to explode in ten minutes.

In his capacity as Kriegsmarine Liaison Officer, Voss accompanied Hitler, Goebbels and their entourages into the Führerbunker complex under the Reich Chancellery in Berlin.

[7] On 30 April, Voss was among the group of officers whom Hitler informed that he had decided to commit suicide rather than attempt to escape from Berlin, which was surrounded by the Red Army.

[9] Interrogated by Soviet officers on 6 May, Voss recounted: When Goebbels learned that Hitler had committed suicide, he was very depressed and said: "It is a great pity that such a man is not with us any longer.

[11]Voss then joined the group led by SS-Brigadeführer Wilhelm Mohnke, which broke out of the bunker and tried to escape from Berlin.

The Soviet account states: Vice-Admiral Voss, being asked how he identified the people as Goebbels, his wife and children, explained that he recognised the burnt body of the man as former Reichsminister Goebbels by the following signs: the shape of the head, the line of the mouth, the metal brace that Goebbels had on his right leg, his gold NSDAP badge and the burnt remains of his party uniform.According to the Soviet account of their investigation of Hitler's death, Voss was responsible for noticing that one of a number of bodies in a dry water tank strongly resembled Hitler.

By a decree of the Praesidium of the Supreme Soviet in December 1954, however, he was released and handed over to the German Democratic Republic authorities.

Voss has the distinction of being presented with the 20 July 1944 wound badges in black, silver and gold.