The odontological identification of Adolf Hitler

27 Pages·2007·3.13 MB·English

The odontological identification of Adolf Hitler
Definitive documentation by X-rays, interrogations
and autopsy findings
REIDAR F. SOGNNAES & FERDINAND STRoM
Schools of Medicine and Dentistry, Center for the Health Sciences,
University of California, Los Angeles, California, and Faculty of
Odontology, University of Oslo, Norway
Sognnaes, R. F. & F. Strom. The odontological identification of
n Adolf Hitler. Definitive documentation by X-rays, interrogations and
o autopsy findings. Acta Odont. Scand. 31, 43-69, 1973.
d
n
o
L A definitive odontological identification of Hitler has been based on
ge several sources of documentary evidence: (1) complete testimonies
e
oll recorded by American intelligence officers during the 1945 interroga-
C tions of Hitler’s dentist and physicians; (2) attached to one of the
g's above mentioned reports five head X-ray plates taken in 1944 follow-
Kin ing an assassination attempt and revealing several very characteristic
y dental conditions, including (a) a maxillary left central incisor with
m b a radiopaque (metallic) restoration and with a radiolucent zone
o typical of a so-called ))Window Crown)), (b) a special dental bridge
e.c construction in the right mandibular area, in which a radiopaque
ormahealthcaronal use only. det(aimxo otwmenetsnnae s ltwlaiaiolcreln)iorc eu rt onecls diotnr omegtrphupaleataa ilcro meenbd a t anohrwden ii bttfhotuih r lseattt h rhrm eei ig onvhslcaaeti rrsc,ioco oaranu nndsrid on poed(r cteeis)ns; m t paco(elo3rl na)if ornet deahowcteutn ierttadheabs lo babvyd oe ecn mpaoeinecb battsienreldeesra vv kojaen--fr
d from infFor pers dortheetpehfi oenRrrit tuseds; sooi(cad4un)om natethuonetlto oapagrsuyiyct h drpoearrptosao’o. r fct T oathmhneadp t a adrcHiicssicuotulmnessrus eladadnti eddind irtneee arvfmpiadpcsert an oicdfse iaoe lt, n hooaenwfr d tph uptebrhsolaeivt si ahdtneheddes
de Russians did indeed recover and autopsy the right body.
a
o
wnl Ke-v-words: Forensic dentistry; forensic medicine; autopsy; history
o
D
d Ferdinand Strom, Faculty of Odontotogy, University of Oslo, Geit-
an myrsvn. 69, Oslo, Norway
c
S
ol
nt
o
d
O
a
ct
A The first exhaustive investigation of the The resulting report of November 1s t,
last days of Adolf Hitler was undertaken 1945, followed by the book, ))The Last
by the Oxford professor Dr. H. R. Trevor- Days of Hitler)) by Trevor-Roper (1947),
Roper in 1945. The British Intelligense appeared to leave little doubt in the
authorities in Germany in September of Western world that Hitler had indeed
that year had given him the task to collect met his end. Furthermore, in the intro-
all available evidence on the last days of duction to the third edition of his book,
Hitler and to determine, if possible, the published in 1956, Trevor-Roper concluded
truth about his disappearance or demise. that there was considerable circumstantial
Received for publication, December 5, 1972.
44 REIDAR F. SOGNNAES AND FERDINAND STROM
evidence that Hitler’s remains must have Kell\, (1965), who had occasion to prepare
come into the hands of the Russians who his sketch from the U.S. Army report by
first occupied Berlin in 1945. his fellow officers who in 1945-46 had
However as late as in 1965. The Soviet interviewed Hitler’s captured dentist, Dr.
General Boltin. one of the co-editors of Hugo Blaschke.
the Russian War Histor). stated to the With reference to our comparative
)>Spiegeln correspondent Eric Kubv, that observations on data reported in the past.
as far as he (Boltin) was concerned. it became apparent that there were certain
Hitler’s body had not been found (k‘ubv, descriptive discrepancies, subject to sub-
1965). Even today no official Soviet jective interpretation. Most regrettably
n statement has been released regarding the there were not to be found the kind of
o
d death of Adolf Hitler. objective documentation illustrating defini-
n
o
L In 1968 the Russian writer Lev Bez.1.- tive x-ray observations. If available, much
e
eg iiienski published in West Germany a more conclusive evidence could be
oll
C book entitled >>DerT oti des Adolf Hitler)) provided to supplement the information
s
ng' (The Death of Adolf Hitler. J 968 b). based on memory through personal inter-
Ki
y Ber)*mrwski’s book carried the subtitle: rogation.
b
m ~)C‘nkno~D~onc irtnents from Soviet Ar- Under these circumstances it seemed
o
e.c diives)). Thus. twenty-three years after important to us (a) to re-explore all
hcarnly. the events. Soviet sources finally per- available reports by American, British and
mahealtal use o wmiitthte dv adriisoculso sduerne taolf daentda ilms eodf icthael dauattoa posny iRnu stshiaen puinbvliesshteigda tolirtse raptluarcee, d anodn (rbec) ortdo
d from inforFor person BtKhrreae ubdnse; a atGhno deo bft bwAeolds o dlafon gdHs .ih tlieTsr h feaasmse iwldyeo,l lc Guaemsn eeEnrvatasl cstheorenoktur iogbuhut t eow rihtgoici nhaa l fcauorrcnthchilevures isv reae nssedea trdtclohecm uemmneti gnohtsft
e
ad provided us at long last the possibility controversial questions regarding Hitler’s
o
wnl to evaluate what might justify the claim fate and identity.
o
D that the Russians had recovered and
d
an identified with >)fairc ertainty)>t he corpse
Sc MATERIAL
ol of Adolf Hitler.
ont Bezymenski’s report included for the The following types of observations served
d
O first time photographs of Hitler’s partially as documentary evidence for the analysis,
a
Act burned remains. including his dental correlation and conclusion reached in this
bridgework and some of his natural teeth study:
still in the lower jaw bone. However. I. Documents from Soviet archives,
no x-rays were reproduced to indicate any originally recorded during Hitler’s alleged
clear-cut conformity between subjective autopsy in May 1945. and published for
clinical and objective roentgenological the first time by Bezynienski in 1968.
observations. 2. Currently declassified documents
In between these two major reports of from American archives, originally recor-
British and Russian origins. which were ded during the 1945-46 interrogation of
in book format, there appeared in 1965 a Hitler’s dentist and filed in the head-
brief summary chart on the dental status quarters of the USA National Archives
of Adolf Hitler prepared by a former and Records Service, Washington, D.C.
captain in the U.S. Army. Dr. Ellsu~orth 3. Recently located roentgenological
THE ODONTOLOGICAL IDENTIFICATION OF ADOLF HITLER 45
evidence in the form of five authenticated 1. Descriptive information *
head x-ray plates, originally taken of
The autopsy report ))concerning the
Hitler during late 1944 and uncovered
forensic examination of a male corpse
in early 1972 while one of the authors
disfigured by fire (presumably the corpse
(RFS) was searching wartime medical
of Hitler))) is given verbatim as ~Docu-
files at a satellite U.S. federal archive
ment 1 2 ~in Bezymenski’s book. The
facility in the town of Suitland, Mary-
report dated May 8, 1945, originates from
land.
Mortuary CAFS (Surgical Army Field
The evaluation of these several sources
Hospital) at Berlin-Buch. It commences
of information will be introduced with
with the composition of the commission
n further details on the collection and nature
o with their ranks and titles, followed by a
d of the material. Particular reference will
n
Lo be made to the validity and objectivity detailed description of the examination
e
g of the charred remains.
e of the documentation vis a vis the specula-
oll The first part of the external examina-
C tions, hearsay and even legends and myths
ng's that still surround this enigma, as exenipli- tion, dealing mainly with the head and the
Ki teeth is here reprinted as cited from the
y fied bq recent writings in Germany (Maser,
m b 1971). We shall make little reference to autopsy report in the English version of
e.co much of the often repeated and already Bezymenski’s book (1968b, pp. 44-46):
ormahealthcaronal use only. fwmoierdmnetlasy t ifoprnou mbflr iosthmheo dsv ea arwinohduo s pcuulnabcilmiocn izfiienrdms idedset airtnee--- wf)i)goTuohrdeee dnr e mbbyoa xin fsi(r Leo efnw gaetrh e m 1ad6lee3l ivccemorre.p,d s We inidd itsha-
ed from infFor pers osphboajreltlcs teiamvnepd h aiknsiidnzidevs i sdouomafl e sodofau trtache es .am vIoansisltta erbaeldlei, a bwtloee w2555a sx cm f8o. ,u cnmHde. ,i gac hhtpa ri5ere3cde cmaorf.o ) uynOedlnl o twhthe e j eedbrsgoeedysy,,
ad forensic science, notably the odontological
o resembling a knitted undervest.
wnl findings and especially the newly un- In view of the fact that the corpse is
o
D covered x-ray evidence.
d greatly damaged, it is difficult to
n
a
c gauge the age of the deceased. Pre-
S
ol sumably it lies between 50 and 60 years.
nt
o
d The dead man’s height is 165 cm. (the
O SOVIET ARCHIVES
a measurements are approximate since
Act The wartime autopsy documents from
the tissue is charred), the right shinbone
Soviet Archives, first recorded in May,
measures 39 cm. The corpse is severely
1945, were not reported until 1968 by the
charred and smells of burned flesh.
Soviet journalist, Lev Bezymenski, first
Part of the cranium is missing.
in a German edition (1968a) and then
Parts of the occipital bone, the left
immediately in an English edition (1968b).
temporal bone, the lower cheekbones,
We will primarily be citing the English
the nasal bones, and the upper and
edition with a few cross-references to the
lower jaws are preserved. The burns
German version when indicated. The
discussion to follow will concentrate on
* The information quoted below from the Soviet
three sub-topics: namely, descriptive, autopsy report is reprinted by permission of
photographic and diagrammatic informa- Harcourt, Brace & World, Inc. from ))The
Death of Adolf Hiilem by Bezymenski, C 1968
tion. by Christian Wegner Verlag, Hamburg.
46 KEIDAR F. SOGNNAES AND FERDINAND STROM
are more pronounced on the right side cavity. The alveolar processes are
of the cranium than on the left. In broken in the back and have ragged
the brain cavity parts of the fire- edges. The front surface and the lower
damaged brain and of the dura mater edge of the mandibula are scorched.
are visible. On face and body the skin On the front surface the charred prongs
is completely missing: only remnants of dental roots are recognizable. The
of charred muscles are preserved. There lower jaw consists of fifteen teeth, ten
are many small cracks in the nasal of which are artificial. The incisors
1 p)
bone and the upper jawbones. The (2 17 and the first right bicuspid
tongue is charred. its tip is firmly (4 ) are natural, exhibiting considerable
n locked between the teeth of the upper wear on the masticating surface and
o
d and lower jaws. considerably exposed necks. The dental
n
o
L In the upper jaw there are nine teeth enamel has a bluish shimmer and a dirty
e
g
e connected by a bridge of yellow metal yellow coloration around the necks.
oll (p, p, 1%)
C (gold). The bridge is anchored by pins The teeth to the left 13, and
s
ng' on the second left and the second right are artificial. of yellow metal (gold),
Ki
y incisor. This bridge consists of 4 upper and consist of a bridge of gold crowns.
b k)*.
m incisors (21 2 canine teeth The bridge is fastened to the third.
o
e.c (3_1 1-3 ). the first !eft bicuspid (14). and the fifth (in the bridge, the sixth tooth),
hcarnly. the first and second right bGuspids and the eight tooth (in the bridge, the
mahealtal use o T(4h1e -5f1i)rs.t alse ft inindcicisaoter d( bin) ctohnes isstsk eotcf ha. rniignhtht (t7o1o)t his) .t oTphpee dse bcyo nad c rboicwuns poidf yteol ltohwe
oron
d from infFor pers wsbpohotittto em ipn.l attThehele its.p opwrlchaetietlhale inct r ai(sce knisna smaente dl)i n aat obt lattchhkee comafen tianthle e( gtoomoldta)hs wt ibchyai ctiahnn gi s a lrsicnuhkrifenadgc e t pol aathtneed. rPigtahhrett
e
d
a visible side of the metal (gold) tooth. posterior surface of the right canine
o
wnl The second incisor. the canine tooth. tooth is capped by a yellow metal (gold)
o
D and the left bicuspid, as well as the plate as part of the bridge. The first right
d
an first and second incisors and the first molar is artificial, white, and secured by
c
S
ol bicuspid on the right. are the usual a gold clip connected with the bridge
ont porcelain (enamel) dental plates. their of the second bicuspid and the right
d
O
a posterior parts fastened to the bridge. incisor. ))
Act The right canine tooth is fully capped
With translations and retyping through
by yellow metal (gold). The maxillary
Russian. German, and English it is to be
bridge is vertically sawed off behind
(I expected that certain technical terms are
the second left bicuspid 5 ). The lower
not readdy explained while specific
jawbone lies loose in the singed oral
designations may even cause more or less
* Ediroriol fuorwfe: The journal normally uses obvious misprints. We have been on the
the F.D.I. tuo-digit system of designating teeth
alert to both possibilities and deemed it
(Tor reference, see ))Instructions to Constribu-
t orsn ) . appropriate to point out our findings in
This system has not been adhered to in the
detail in the attached footnote.*
present paper, particularly because the author's
comparisons have required citations of the
accumulated documentary evidence. In order * Some corrections in the translation of the
to avoid confusion, two differing systems of details described above are necessary for the
designating teeth have not been simultaneously sake of completion of this historical record.
Liwd. Firstly, it concerns the following statement:
->
THE ODONTOLOGICAL IDENTIFICATION OF A DOLF HITLER 47
In addition to the dental details de- Later on, Bezymenski adds this footnote
scribed and reproduced above from the (1968b, p. 47): ))I asked N. Krayevski (the
autopsy report published by Bezymenski autopsy pathologist) how it was possible
(1968b, p. 44--46), it is stated (p. 47) for the date of May 1 I th, 1945, to appear
that certain objects were taken from the in an autopsy report that had been written
corpse and handed over to the so-called on May 8. He explained that the report
SMERSH Section of the 3rd Soviet Shock had originally been written by hand; only
Army on May 8, 1945. These objects later was it decided to add the statements
were: ))a maxillary bridge of yellow metal, of Heusermann. As was mentioned above,
consisting of 9 teeth; and a singed lower the delay between evidence and conclusion
n jaw, consisting of 15 teeth.)) Heusermann, is absolutely normal.))
o
d the chair-side dental assistant of Hitler’s In any event, the Soviet autopsy report
n
o
L dentist, Dr. Hugo Blaschke (see later), was placed great weight on the significance
e
eg interrogated in a talk with the Soviet of the odontological findings. Thus the
oll
C Chief Expert of Forensic Medicine, Lieute- conclusion of the autopsy report culmi-
s
ng' nant Colonel Shkaravski on May 11, nated with the following statement as cited
Ki
y 1945, in the offices of CAFS No. 496. by Bezymenski (1968b p. 49): ))The most
b
m Frau Heusermann described the state of important anatomical finding for identi-
o
e.c Hitler’s teeth in every detail. Her de- fication of the person are the teeth, with
hcarnly. scription tallies with the anatomical data much bridgework, artificial teeth, crowns,
mahealtal use o kpnerotwainn inmg atno wthheo soer alb ucranveidty ocfo rtphsee uwne- iasn ds ifginlleindg sb (ys eeth deo cfuivme enmtse)m.))b eTrhs e orfe ptohret
d from inforFor person d))iPsasretc otfe dth,)e) ccraonniuclmu dise sm itshsien gr))e. pIonr tth. e original AEnaxunptote prtsC,y o FlCooonremenl msiFics .s iMoIn.e ,d Shicheiakndaeer, adv (s1bksyit , LBiCeyuheltioee-f-
ade German edition, on the other hand, it is stated: russian Front, Medical Service), and by
o ))Ein Teil der Schadeldaches fehlt)). The latter
wnl is more precise, so the correct translation should Lieutenant Colonel N. A. Krayevski.
Do have stated that a part of the occipital vault is Chief Anatomical Pathologist (Medical
d missing. The second correction concerns the
an following sentence: ))The first left incisor (IL) Service, Red Army).
c
S consists of a white platelet, with cracks and a
ol black spot in the porcelain (enamel) at the
ont bottom)). In the original German edition it is
d (11) 2. Photographic Illustrations
O stated: ))Der linke erste Schneidezahn
a stellt eine weisse Zahnplatte dar mit Sprungen
Act und einem schwarzen Defekt im Email unten)). One of the most important exhibits
Thus the word )>porcelain))i n the English transla-
recovered from the Soviet Archives con-
tion is inappropriately used as a descriptive term
for what simply should have been dental enamel. cerns the objective photographic evidence
Then there are in the German as well as in the
illustrating the remains of the dentition
English edition some obvious typewriting errors.
First of all, in the following statement: ))The of the corpse described in autopsy docu-
first right molar is artificial, white, and secured ment No. 12. Included were photographs
by a gold clip connected with the bridge of the
second bicuspid and the right incisor)), the last of a fixed dental prosthesis, namely, a
word should read the right cuspid. Further it is
9-unit bridge, and the charred fragment
stated in the dental description that ))The
maxillary bridge is vertically sawed off behind of a mandible, the latter with several
the second left bicuspid (IL))),i nstead of the
intact anterior teeth and two bridges, one
first left bicuspid (15). This important correc-
tion is supported by Rzhevsknya (1967) when on the right and one on the left side.
quoting from the same autopsy report and also
The photographs which appear in two
by the treatment description of Hitler’s dentist
Dr. Hugo Blaschke (1946). of the several inserts of illustrations
48 REIDAR F. SOGNNAES AND FERDINAND STRh4
Fig. IA. Lingual view of the nine-unit maxillary Fig. IB. Another vieM of the maxillary bridge
bridge reproduced from Soviet autopsy report reproduced from Bezymenski. Note the metal
on by Bezymenski (1968b). For proper orientation posts emerging from the Dowel crowns of the
d
n and esaluation, see text. upper right central incisor and upper left lateral
o
L incisor. Lingually are seen the ends of tiny
ge (platinum) pins, evidently retaining anterior
olle porcelain facings, not seen directly in this view.
C
s
ng' presented by Bezymenski (1968b between Moving towards the left jaw quadrant,
Ki
y the printed Fages 54 & 55) are reprodu- there then follows a metallic crown for the
b
m ced with his permission as our Figs. left central incisor. The seventh tooth seen
o
e.c 1 A. B (upper teeth) and 1 C. D (lower in this view is again a crown with a barely
hcarnly. teeth ) . :$ visible central post emerging from the
mahealtal use o froTmh e thme axliilnlagruya l brviidegwe aisn dp hiontdoigcraatpesh eda cmroidwdnle) . (tTyhpeic aeli gohft aa nsdo -cnailnlethd pRoircthiomno nodf
d from inforFor person dtCoios ttnhinseec qtb ueesctnu tarlyvd.av taunrotean geeo ft phhtohosietso sgelravarepgnhe e lbesmrhideognwetss. tspherieesnm boirnlia drfg uel ld (evtshiceerw ib leeidfnt tchaaibnso invpeeh )o atnocdga rnatnhpoeh t fdirbuseet
e
ad of the nine-unit bridge which happens to to the curvature of the dental arch.
o
wnl culminate with the right second premolar However. the other view, Fig. lB,
o
D (Fig. IA). namely. a solid metal pontic accomodates a completion of the photo-
d
an replacement not prepared for any direct graphic record. In this illustration, it is the
c
S
ol tooth or root attachment. This pontic upper right two premolars which are
ont is next followed by a similarly independent blocked from direct view, and one can
d
a O replacement. a metal back with a sug- barely see the lingual portion of the crown
Act pestion of a different front facing. a slit of the right canine. On the other hand,
barely separating the anterior from the the seven remaining portions of this
posterior portion. Continuing in a mesial nine-unit bridge can be readily identified.
direction. there follows then what is To begin with, we note that the pontic for
obviously a metallic crown for the canine. the upper right lateral incisor clearly
This. in turn. connects with another politic shows tcvo minute lingual marks, as two
for the lateral incisor. and then the large light neyewlike dots indicative of the
right central incisor. in the center of typical platinum posts emerging through
vvhich there is barely visible what appears the gold from an anterior porcelain facing.
to be a metal post. This politic is next attached to a large
-~ central incisor. This tooth also shows two
* Figs. I and 3 were reproduced by courtesy of
;lLlfh~r publisher of T//e ([f’ Arlolf )’eyes)), evidence indicatitl& ‘ISe Of a
flirior. iR e:.i~tw?i~/1~9i6,8 b). porcelain facing. More importantly, this
THE ODONTOLOGICAL IDENTIFICATION OF ADOLF HITLER 49
Fig. 1C. Labial-buccal view of the left side of Fig. ID. Lingual view of the incisors and right
n the charred remains of the lower jaw. There is quadrant of the lower jaw showing the special
do evidence of bone resorption and tooth erosion bridge construction with the characteristic
on in the mandibular incisor region. Also note the lingual bar, bypassing the intact first premolar.
e L distal drift of the left canine and second pre-
g molar, creating wide replacement with what
e
oll appear to be twin porcelain facings for the
C first premolar.
s
g'
n
Ki
y clearly shows a metal post, albeit rather striation in keeping with the previous
b
m short, typical of the Richmond Crown or description that it was ))vertically sawed
o
e.c Dowel Crown, as it is now commonly off)).
hcarnly. called. Turning to the left quadrant, this In the lower jaw, several of the natural
mahealtal use o rbeasctkoeradt iloenft ceisn traatlt aincchiesdo r rteos toar atisomn owotihth- tbeeeitnhg awtetarec herde mtaor ktahbel yc hwarerlel d prreemsenrvaendts,
oron
d from infFor pers tpnhooes tm ofatahrckeiirnn ggh sao nrtdo a, nsusyug cgpheo sstet v eaiidtttheaencrch ema iepsn latcstl.ie nauOrmlny rboerfpi dtrhgoeed ,um caseended niibn l feFr,oi gtmo. g 1etCthhe ea rn bdwu iacth cra ialg hlovt iwebwerird, lgeaefs.t
e
ad present on the next tooth, the left lateral seen from the lingual view in Fig. ID.
o
wnl incisor, which again shows the lingual With regard to the natural teeth,
o
D ))eyes)) caused by the platinum posts the lower incisors evidently exhibit a
d
an typical of a porcelain facing, as well as a good deal of dental erosion, mainly below
c
S
ol relatively short central post or dowel, the enamel-cementum junction. In the
ont typical of the Richmond Crown or ))Sift- case of the lateral incisors, the right one
d
O
a Zahm. This crown is then attached to a shows considerable incisor wear, if not
Act relatively thin reconstruction for the left even a partially fractured incisal edge,
canine position, obviously a metal-backed whereas the left lateral incisor shows
porcelain facing with no evidence of any some dark areas possibility suggestive of
provision for root attachments; in other dental decay. The latter may in part be
words, a pontic rather than crown. Finally, super-imposed upon the erosion, since
this cantilevered pontic is in turn attached we now know that such seemingly in-
to an additional cantilevered replacement compatible conditions are not necessarily
for the left first premolar. One cannot mutually exclusive (Sognnaes et af., 1972).
readily see whether or not this latter Both the anterior and posterior views of
restoration has the markings of a porcelain these incisor teeth (Fig. 1 C & 1D) suggest
facing. However, one can see that the distal that, aside from any postmortem destruc-
left termination of this bridge is not tion, there appears to have been con-
amoothly polished, but has some rough siderable alveolar bone resorption during
50 REIDAR F. SOGNKAES AND FERDINAND STROM
the life of the patient. indicative of defect in this area caused either by a
periodontal disease. fracture or caries). Principally covering the
The left lower bridge spans a space from lingual and interproximal surfaces this
the canine to the last molar. In addition to canine restoration must be classified as a
the full crown attachments on these so-called 3/4 crown used for attachment
terminal ends, there is a middle pillar of the lingual bar, and thereby connected
where a full crown appears to be attached with the crown of the second premolar.
to what must be a distally drifted second Lastly. the photograph clearly shows a
premolar. The missing teeth, which have freehanging, cantilevered extension for
been replaced by the pontics between these replacement of the lower right first molar
n three bridge attachments. are the first tooth. Being this far back in the mouth,
o
d premolar and the first and second molar. one would not expect to need a buccal
n
o
L However. due to distal drift of the second tooth-colored facing for aesthetic reasons.
e
g
e premolar and mesial drift of the third Yet. one can clearly detect the two little
oll
C molar, the ))twin)) pontic replacement shiny ))eyes))p iercing through the lingual
s
ng' ot' the first and second molars has been gold backing, indicating the platinum
Ki
y reduced in width to little more than that posts emerging from a porcelain facing.
b
m of a single molar. By the same token. the
o
c
e. distal drift of the second premolar has
hcarnly. increased the first premolar space. Con- 3. Diugramnratic Representation
mahealtal use o stoeq tuheen tdlyis. ttahle apsopnetcict roefp ltahcee mcaennitn. ea tctarochwend. Tbyo cah daerntitnisgt , ai t pisa teiesnset'ns tiadle tnoti tkieoenp wreictho rditss
oron
d from infFor pers aplaphtpoteetroa grsrr aetppohl asb ceeo mfa set nhwte idcedh oaaersrs e ad nmroeotm laarhi.na vsI.en tthhaiess ccFhaola.rr aptchatiteshr oipsltouigrcpaicollasyle , ainvndadir viroiedusustoa lrpiazrteeipvdre i naftneeaadtt oudrmeiasi-.-
e
d
oa polished a buccal surface as the rest of this grammatic forms are used to depict the
wnl bridge. Instead. there seems to be a dental arches and individual tooth shapes.
o
d D certain surface porousity which may Apparently there was no dentist or
an suggest the use of porcelain facing. partly ordinary dental chart available to the
c
S
ol concealed by a secondary darkening from pathologists who performed the autopsy
ont the charred buccal flesh. of Hitler's alleged body as recorded
d
O
a The lower right bridge involves three above. But fortunately an effort was made
Act teeth directly. but bypasses one seemingly to sketch some of the dental configurations
uninvolved tooth, the right first premolar. in diagrammatic form as a supplement to
due to a very special type of bridge the descriptive and photographic data.
constiuction (Fig. 1 D). As will be seen Specifically. this sketch, which indicates
from this lingual view. there is a distinct the number of natural and artificial
fixed connecting bar between the restora- teeth present at the time of the autopsy.
tion5 on the canine and second premolar. IS illustrated in the English edition of
B) cross checking with the anterior view Beziwwnski (1 968b) between text pages
in Fig. 2C, it will be noted that the canine 54-55 and is reproduced in our Fig. 2.*
restoration does not involve the labial The Soviet autopsy report, dated May 8,
portion of this tooth except for a consider- 1945. actually made specific cross reference
able slice out of the mesial-incisal corner
(thi.; niay have served to restore a serious * See footnote, p. 48.
THE ODONTOLOGICAL IDENTIFICATION OF ADOLF HITLER 51
Fig. 2. Soviet pathologist’s
sketch alleged to be the teeth
and tooth replacements of Hit-
ler’s upper and lower jaws. An-
notations on the right are attri-
buted to Mrs. Kaethe Heuser-
mann, chairside assistant for
Hitler’s dentist. This illus-
tration is reproduced from
Bezymenski’s English edition
(1968b), but did not appear
in the German version. For
translation* of the Russian wri-
ting and interpretation of the
diagram, see text.
n
o
d between the descriptive findings and the indicates that the lower right second and
n
o
L dental diagram when stating: ))as in- third molars were missing without being
e
eg dicated in the sketch.)) replaced. The remaining fourteen teeth
oll
C The Soviet dental sketch reproduced in are included in the diagram as being either
s
ng' Fig. 2 shows in the upper jaw, a nine-unit present or replaced by bridgework.
Ki
y bridge attached to four teeth with roots, The lower right first permanent molar
b
m namely, the upper right canine, the right is sketched in an uninterrupted profile
o
e.c central incisor and the upper left central together with the second premolar in the
hcarnly. and lateral incisors. Among the pontics of shape of a figure ))8~,a s if the two were
mahealtal use o athned b trhideg eu papree rt hrei guhptp efirr srti gahnt dla tseercaoln idn cpisroe-r hmoawdeev eirn, oisn ed rpaiwecne . inT hae fciorsmt pplerteemlyo lainr,-
d from inforFor person gtmeirnomgla irncsaa. ln Tti(hldeeivs etlaarelt)td e re extxtwetenons sitoieonen thso foa tnrhe e tfh rbee reirhdigagnhe.-t ddbriecipdaegtniend ge cntoth naints eotchlatiistoe npd a rftoaincshu iloaerni t,ht oewro itthhs oiwdueat, s aninonyt-
e
ad Similarly, the upper left side of the involved in the adjacent bridge construc-
o
wnl bridge terminates with the two cantilevered tion. Similarly, the four lower incisor
o
D distal extensions, namely, for the replace- teeth are each drawn independently. Un-
d
an ment of the left canine and first premolar. like the maxillary incisors, these teeth
c
ol S Distally to the profile of the first premolar, are thus completely separated to indicate
ont a sharp black line has been drawn as the that they were not involved in any kind
d
O termination point. This, according to the of bridge construction. On the other hand,
a
Act autopsy description, is where the maxillary on the lower left side, there are six teeth
bridge was ))vertically sawed off)). diagrammed in complete contact with
No other teeth are shown in the upper each other, much like the maxillary
ja,, indicating that several teeth were bridge, suggesting that a fixed bridge
missing without being replaced; namely, extended from the lower left canine
the upper right first, second and third through the premolars and molars finally
molars. and the upper left second pre- culminating distally with the third molar
molar and first, second, and third mo- or wisdom tooth.
lars. There are several annotations, hand-
With regard to the lower jaw, the sketch written in Russian, on this same sketch.
To the left of the chart (see Fig. 21, next
* The translation of the Russian notes was done to the profile of the upper bridge, the
at The Institute of Slavic and Baltic Studies,
University of Oslo, Head Professor Arne Gallis. translation reads ))upper jaw)) and next
52 REIDAK F. SOGNNAES AND FERDINAND STROM
to the mandibular teeth. dower jaw)). and photographic documentation re-
and near the bottom, ))corpse of a man)). produced from the Soviet autopsy report
Flirthermore. the notes identify the chart by Bezymenski (1968b), and not in any
as belonging to the ))document of the important conflict with the data recently
dissection of the corpse of Hitler)). Lastly. recovered from the American Archives
it is written, rather importantly. that ))the to be presented below.
drawing on the right side is carried out by
citizen Hojzerman)). with an illegibie
AMERICAN ARCHIVES
first name ())Kate?))). After this. the
family name of ))Hojzermann is repeated Presentation of the information obtained
n with improved writing and dated May 11. through the search of the American
o
nd 1945; in other words, suggesting her Archives will first be concerned with the
o
e L commentary was made three days after very important interrogation of Hitler’s
g
olle the actual autopsy date. dentist, including (a) description of the
s C The signature oil this sketch is not dental status quo, (b) appropriate dental
ng' easily legible but would appear to be that charts and diagrams, and (c) history of
Ki
y of Shkaravski. who. as indicated else- Hitler’s dental treatment record. These
b
m where. was the Chief Expert, Forensic dental data will be supplemented with
o
e.c Medicine. Kathe Heusermann‘s annota- information obtained by interrogation of
hcarnly. tions on the right side of the chart are Hitler’s physicians. Finally. a detailed
mahealtal use o >ofo mwehca\t. hpartso cbaatbtelrye dd,e pbiuctt si ntchleu dper odfrilaew oinfg as panoarltyasnits nwewill fobere nmsiacd eex hoifb itt,h en ammoelsyt , itmhe-
d from inforFor person siaio lc-scimsaaallll eldedar r)ko) nwdcie nfides ocstw.k neA tcctthraoecwdh neid n w.t iowth it thhai s a dt oicsoltetaahlr-, fBoifvr aetn hchehe f aidloe fs x l-torhaceya t eUpdl .aSitne. s t Nhdeai tsMicoonovadeler erdAn rRcinhe icvooenrsde,
e
ad facing and post (probably to mean Dowel the National Document Center, Suitland.
o
wnl crown). The sketch shows at least one Maryland.
o
D other isolated tooth profile. suggesting
d
an repiacement with a post a 18 the Dowel
ol Sc crown type. One additional tooth profile DI.e nIntitsetr. rDogra. tBiolans cohf keH itler ’s Personal
ont suggests what may have been made to
d
O emphasize the otheruise stated presence Hitler’s principal and only full-fledged
a
Act of an open-face crown or so-called dentist, hitherto known to us, was Dr.
window)) cro\\ ti. Hugo Johannes Blaschke, D.D.S., a dental
All in all. while apparently there was no graduate of the University of Pennsylva-
dentisr and no standard dental form in- nia. class of 191 1. Returning to practice in
volved in the autopsy or in the post- Berlin. lie became well known to the Nazi
mortem review of the dental status. there leaders. He was Hitler’s dentist from 1934
can be no question that such a chart. as to 1945, and was rewarded by being
reproduced in Fig. 2. does prove to be a awarded the title of Professor and Briga-
very important kind of exhibit in forensic dier General. Waffen S.S.
odoiitology. Indeed, what has been in- Following his capture in 1945, an eight
cluded in the autopsy sketch we have found page document was prepared at the
to be in harmony with the essential in- headquarters of the United States Forces,
t‘ormation obtained from the descriptive European Theatre. Military Intelligence