The 'The Guy Who Killed Hitler' meme is a staple of dark historical humor that relies on the bait-and-switch realization that Hitler committed suicide in 1945. The joke typically involves someone expressing immense gratitude or respect for the person who ended the dictator's life, only for the audience to realize the punchline is the dictator himself. This template flourished on message boards like 4chan and subreddits like r/HistoryMemes, often used to subvert expectations or mock people who fall for historical traps. It remains popular because it perfectly balances edgy irony with a factual twist that catches the viewer off guard.