Until the Final Hour: Hitler's Last Secretary
1 journaler for this copy...
Won this from History Today website. Will read and release.
Synopsis
'To have such an uncomplicated, unaffected witness present at some of the key defining moments of the 20th century was fortunate for historians. Frau Junge's book has sold 100,000 copies in Germany and it is easy to see why: her testimony rings absolutely true, when other politically motivated accounts of the last days of Hitler do not' Andrew Roberts, Evening Standard Traudl Junge was 22 years old and dreamt of a career as a ballerina, until the 'opportunity of her life' beckoned and she was appointed as Adolf Hitler's secretary. From 1942 until his death she was at his side in the bunker, typing his correspondence, his speeches and even his last private and political will and testament. It was only after the war that the horrible reality of Hitler's regime began to dawn on her, and she became racked with guilt for 'liking the greatest criminal ever to have lived.' Her journal, written in 1947, is a startling eyewitness account of Hitler's court during its final years, and of the building sense of doom as the war progressed.
About the Author
Traudl Junge was a brewer's daughter born in 1920 in Munich. From the end of 1942 until April 1945 she was Hitler's private secretary. In 1942 she married one of Hitler's staff, Hans Junge who was killed a year later. After the war she was sent to a Russian prison camp and later returned to Germany to work as a secretary and a sub-editor.
She died on February 10th, 2002 shortly after publication of her book.
Synopsis
'To have such an uncomplicated, unaffected witness present at some of the key defining moments of the 20th century was fortunate for historians. Frau Junge's book has sold 100,000 copies in Germany and it is easy to see why: her testimony rings absolutely true, when other politically motivated accounts of the last days of Hitler do not' Andrew Roberts, Evening Standard Traudl Junge was 22 years old and dreamt of a career as a ballerina, until the 'opportunity of her life' beckoned and she was appointed as Adolf Hitler's secretary. From 1942 until his death she was at his side in the bunker, typing his correspondence, his speeches and even his last private and political will and testament. It was only after the war that the horrible reality of Hitler's regime began to dawn on her, and she became racked with guilt for 'liking the greatest criminal ever to have lived.' Her journal, written in 1947, is a startling eyewitness account of Hitler's court during its final years, and of the building sense of doom as the war progressed.
About the Author
Traudl Junge was a brewer's daughter born in 1920 in Munich. From the end of 1942 until April 1945 she was Hitler's private secretary. In 1942 she married one of Hitler's staff, Hans Junge who was killed a year later. After the war she was sent to a Russian prison camp and later returned to Germany to work as a secretary and a sub-editor.
She died on February 10th, 2002 shortly after publication of her book.
I read this book so I could send on to my NSSSSS partner.
Interesting story and extensive footnotes. I feel it does capture the feel of working within Hitler's staff. I also enjoyed reading the lead up, it reminded me of the TV series "The War In Colour". In this programme letters, written before 1939, were read saying how much Hitler was supported. How Germans saw their country developing.
Interesting story and extensive footnotes. I feel it does capture the feel of working within Hitler's staff. I also enjoyed reading the lead up, it reminded me of the TV series "The War In Colour". In this programme letters, written before 1939, were read saying how much Hitler was supported. How Germans saw their country developing.
