Alligator Who Survived Second World War Bombing Dies

The reptile, named Saturn, escaped Berlin Zoo in 1943 when it was bombed.

An alligator rumoured to have been part of Adolf Hitler's private animal collection has died.

The reptile named Saturn passed away aged around 84 at Moscow Zoo.

According to the zoo, Saturn was born in the US, but was gifted to Berlin Zoo, from which he escaped when it was bombed in 1943.

He was then missing for three years until British soldiers found him and gave him to the Soviet Union, the zoo said.

It is not clear whether he ever met Hitler, but after the Second World War, the rumour developed that he had been part of his personal collection.

In a statement, Moscow Zoo said: “Almost immediately, the myth was born that he was allegedly in the collection of Hitler and not in the Berlin Zoo."

It added: “Animals are not involved in war and politics and it is absurd to blame them for human sins”.