Death Masks of the Famous and Infamous

Heinrich Himmler (1900-1945)

Photo Credits: Abroadintheyard

Heinrich Himmler was a leading member of the Nazi Party during World War II. He was one of the most powerful men in Germany and was directly responsible for the Holocaust. In May 1945 Himmler committed suicide by ingesting a cyanide tablet in order to avoid a war crime conviction. Originally, there were two death masks made of him. One showed a contorted face and the other one was relaxed. The twisted mask eventually disappeared and the second is in the Imperial War Museum in London. His body was also buried in an unmarked grave, so people have questions as to what happened to the first mask even though the current one on display is believed to be real.