Ulrich Graf

Ulrich Graf, picture taken between 1920-5.

Ulrich Graf (6 July 1878 – 3 March 1950) was one of the earliest members of the circle around Adolf Hitler.

Graf was an amateur wrestler and a butcher's apprentice, and became Hitler's personal bodyguard from 1920 to 1923. He was present at the Beer Hall Putsch, where, with Rudolf Hess, he cleared Hitler's way to the platform. During the subsequent march through Munich, Hitler, Ludendorff, and their followers were blocked by about a hundred armed police outside the Feldhernhalle. Graf stepped forward and shouted "Don't shoot! His excellency Ludendorff is coming." There was nevertheless gunfire, and fourteen Nazis and three police officers were killed. (Two supporters had been killed earlier at the War Ministry). Graf shielded Hitler with his body, received several bullet wounds, and possibly saved Hitler's life. Graf recovered.

In 1936, Graf was elected to the Reichstag. In 1937, he became an Oberfuhrer in Himmler's SS, and on 20 April 1943, Hitler's birthday, became an SS Brigadefuhrer.

On Graf's birthday, 3 July 1943, he received a book from Himmler, Vogt Bartold: The Long Train to the East, signed by Himmler, thanking Graf for saving Hitler's life.

Graf survived the war and died in March 1950.

References

• Heiden: Hitler: a Biography
• Shirer: The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich

Sturmbannführer Ulrich Graf in 1934.