born June 17, 1900, Halberstadt, German Empire
died May 1945, Berlin, Ger.
German Nazi leader.
He joined the Nazi party in 1925 and served as Rudolf Hess 's chief of staff (193341). He was appointed head of the party chancellery in 1941 and became one of Adolf Hitler 's closest lieutenants. A shadowy but extremely powerful presence, Bormann controlled all legislation, party promotions and appointments, and the personal access of others to Hitler. He disappeared shortly after Hitler's death. Though some reports allege that he escaped to South America, German authorities officially declared him dead after exhuming his presumed remains.