In September 1931, Angela “Geli” Raubal, the 23-year-old niece of Adolf Hitler, was found dead in his Munich apartment from a gunshot wound to the lung. The initial police investigation concluded that Raubal had taken her own life with Hitler’s Walther pistol while Hitler was away in Nuremberg. However, new research by historian Harald Sandner challenges this timeline and the official suicide ruling, reigniting debate over the circumstances of her death.

Raubal, the daughter of Hitler’s half-sister, had lived with him since 1929 in his apartment on Prinzregentenplatz. Their relationship has long been described as intense and complex, with some historians speculating on a possibly incestuous or romantic bond, though no consensus exists on the true nature of their connection.

Sandner, who has spent decades reconstructing Hitler’s movements, discovered German city archives listing Raubal’s death as occurring a day earlier than previously recorded—at 10:15 a.m. on September 18, 1931—when Hitler was still in Munich. This contradicts earlier police reports which stated her body was found on September 19, while Hitler was confirmed to be in Nuremberg. Sandner argues the official investigation was manipulated by Nazi sympathizers within the justice system to protect Hitler, calling the existing police report a “historical work of deception” containing numerous mistakes and deliberate alterations.

The historian plans to publish a book later this year detailing his findings and applying modern criminological methods to the case. Though he has not publicly disclosed all evidence or identified suspects, the implication is that Hitler himself may have been involved in Raubal’s death.

The research has drawn cautious consideration from academic historians. Thomas Weber, a professor specializing in Nazi Germany, reviewed the documents Sandner presented and acknowledged their plausibility. While he sees it as "probable" that the timeline was obscured, Weber expressed reservations about definitively concluding murder. He noted that the Nazi regime had limited motive to cover up a homicide, as a suicide under such controversial circumstances could have been equally damaging to Hitler’s public image amid his rising political career.

Weber explained that the Nazis sought to portray Hitler as trustworthy and virtuous during this critical period leading up to the 1932 elections. A niece’s suicide in Hitler’s apartment, especially amid rumors surrounding their relationship, would have risked undermining that effort. Thus, while the possibility of murder cannot be ruled out, the true circumstances of Raubal’s death remain a subject of debate, with available evidence open to interpretation.

The case continues to attract attention as new archival research and forensic analysis potentially reshape understanding of a previously settled episode in Hitler’s private life, illustrating the ongoing challenges of disentangling history from propaganda and myth.