Ulrich Graf

Ulrich Graf, picture taken between 1920-5.

Ulrich Graf (July 3, 1878- March 1950) - was one of the very early members of the circle around Adolf Hitler. He was an amateur wrestler and a butcher's apprentice, and became Hitler's personal bodyguard from 1920 to 1923.

He was present in the Bürgerbräukeller at the beer hall putsch, and with Rudolf Hess cleared the way to the platform for Hitler. During the march through Munich from the beer cellar, Hitler and 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).

Ulrich Graf, who had shielded Adolf Hitler with his body and received several bullet wounds, recovered having possibly saved Hitler's life. In 1936 he was elected to the Reichstag. In 1937 he rose to become a Oberfuhrer in Himmler's SS. On Hitler's birthday April 20 1943 Graf became an SS Brigadefuhrer, less than three months later on his birthday July 3 1943 Himmler gave Graf a book that he signed " Vogt Bartold: The Long Train to the East", thanking Graf for basicially saving Hitler's life, Graf survived the war dying in March 1950.

References

• Heiden Hitler: a biography
• Shirer The rise and fall of the third Reich

Sturmbannführer Ulrich Graf in 1934.