Russia exhibits Hitler's skull

Russia exhibits Hitler's skull

MOSCOW (AFP): The Russian authorities on Wednesday put on display what they said was a bullet-marked fragment of Hitler's skull, but admitted they had no conclusive proof as to how the Nazi dictator killed himself.

Grisly exhibits, including photographs of Hitler's jaw and fragments of bloodstained armrests from the couch where he ended his life, were put on display after the opening of Soviet-era secret service archives.

Officials from Russia's national archives said they could not be sure how Hitler had committed suicide in his underground Berlin bunker in Berlin as the Soviet Red Army fought street battles outside in April 1945.

Archives head Sergei Mironenko said he believed Hitler had shot himself in the mouth immediately after inserting a phial of cyanide, fearing the poison would not work, and died from the gun wound.