(Along with my Major TLs I have decided to post a single post short story once everyone month or two. Tell me what you think)
October, 16, 1946:
Nuremberg, Bavaria, Germany
Through the darkness of the night the voice of the translator came again, and again, reading the sentences of the self proclaimed saviours of the German people. The voice had haunted the night since they were first spoken too him.
"Bormann, Martin, hung by the neck until dead...
Dönitz, Karl, Ten years imprisonment...
Göring, Hermann, hung by the neck until dead...
Hess, Rudolf, imprisonment for life...
Hitler, Adolf, hung by the neck until dead........"
Awaking with a start the former German Führer raised his head from his prison bed as the first lights of the morning sun filled his cell, though the bared window. Dust danced in the in the streaming cascade of light now starting to blanket the rubble that made up Germany, and all of Europe. The German nation, the German people had failed him. They had proven themselves too weak to survive, the Americans were stronger, the English were stronger, the Jewish Bolsheviks were stronger! What ever fate the occupying powers had in mind for the snivelling weak population of this nation would be too kind.
"Schwächlinge." He muttered as he sat up. The tremor in his right hand mad it near impossible to comb his hair properly so it, and his moustache both looked trashy and unkempt. He had reverted to the larger mustache he had worn during the first world war, now it was grey peppered with the few renaming strands of black. He ran his hands over his head, parting his hair with his fingers in an attempt to look half way presentable. The door to his cell opened, an American Honour Guard stood in the door way with a small plate of food. His last meal, marmalade on toast with apple strudel and tea. It was the first time he was able to have this meal since near the end of the war. Closing the door behind him with out saying a word the American Guard left, he would return in a few hours.
He opened a book he had been reading for his time in prison. A collection of old German fables. He had been unable to read his history of Frederick the Great, he had failed his idol. A sudden commotion came from further down the prison. He heard a few shouts in English but couldn't make out what they were saying. Someone laughed causing a cold chill to run down Adolf's spine. A cell door closed and and the guards walked back up the hall. As they talked, passing his cell, he was able to make out they were saying something about Hermann.
As time pasted his stomach twisted more and more. Knowing the fate that awaited him and his fellow National Socialists. As he read the final words of his book the cell door opened. "Es wird zeit." A man in a Soviet uniform said in impeccable German.
It was time.
His wrists and legs were chained, as he the others were marched out to the gallows. Reporters, politicians and dignitaries from around the world had gathered to watch the execution take place. Speaking not a word Hitler was marched up to the gallows by his Soviet guide. The American he had come too recognise was no where to be seen, but his eyes did fall on a body laying on the ground. It was Hermann, the coward must have killed himself rather than be hung as... as a criminal. They had both appealed to be shot. Shot as the soldiers they were. But the Americans and their show trial had refused them the honour of dying like men.
Looking around Hitler noticed his fellow prisoners had been made to stand in the audience. And he alone stood at the gallows, in centre of the last stage he would ever occupy.
"Adolf Hitler..." A voice called out, others repeated in French, Russian, German and other languages. "...you have been sentenced to death by the International Criminal Court for Crimes Against Humanity..."
He laughed to himself at the thought of "humanity".
"...you will hang by the neck until dead. Do you have any final word."
He stopped and took a breath. "Die Geschichte wird mich rächen."
With that, the rope was placed around around his neck and a bag over his face. The drums rolled and the floor gave way.
This was the end of Adolf Hitler.