Führer Headquarters
In 1945 Hitler declared Bayreuth to be a fortress, which led to the destruction of over one third of the city by air raids. On 1 April 1945, Bormann issued a further order that all "Gauleiters", "Kreisleiters", and other NSDAP political leaders were to fight to the death in their districts. With the city in ruins and only 200 irregular defenders left, Wächtler left Bayreuth with his staff as American tanks approached on 13 April. He set up offices at a hotel in Waldmünchen in the southern part of the Gau near the Czech border. It is unclear whether communications difficulties prevented Wächtler from informing Führer Headquarters of his location, however his deputy and longtime political rival Ludwig Ruckdeschel used the opportunity to contact Bormann and accuse Wächtler of desertion. On orders from Führer Headquarters, Ruckdeschel appeared at the hotel with 35 SS troops and summarily executed Wächtler on 19 April.