“So, I leave tonight?” Bormann asked.

“No, you leave within the next hour,” Hitler said calmly. “Because of the driving rain and low clouds there is no air cover at the moment. Captain Neumann thinks he could achieve total surprise, and I agree. I have every confidence you will succeed.”

There could be no arguing with that and Bormann nodded. “Of course, my Führer.”

“Then there only remains one more thing,” Hitler said. “You’ll find someone in the bedroom. Bring him in.”

The man Bormann found in there wore the uniform of a Lieutenant General in the SS. There was something familiar about him and Bormann felt acutely uncomfortable for some reason.

“My Führer,” the man said and gave Hitler a Nazi salute.

“Note the resemblance, Bormann?” Hitler asked.

It was then that Bormann realized why he’d felt so strange. It was true, the General did have a look of him. Not perfect, but it was undeniably there.

“General Strasser will stay here in your place,” Hitler said. “When the general breakout occurs he will leave with the others. He can stay out of the way until then. In the confusion and darkness of leaving it’s hardly likely anyone will notice. They’ll be too concerned with saving their own skins.” He turned to Strasser. “You will do this for your Führer?”

“With all my heart,” Strasser said.

“Good, then you will now exchange uniforms. You may use my bedroom.” He came round the desk and took both of Bormann’s hands in his. “I prefer to say goodbye now, old friend. We will not meet again.”

Cynical as he was by nature, Bormann felt incredibly moved. “I will succeed, my Führer, my word on it.”

“I know you will.”

Hitler shuffled out, the door closed behind him and Bormann turned to Strasser. “Right, let’s get started.”

Precisely half an hour later Bormann left the Bunker by the exit into Hermann Goering Strasse.