Traudl Junge, Adolf Hitler's secretary and a witness in the bunker during his final days, offers a haunting glimpse into history. She recounts the surreal atmosphere as Hitler married Eva Braun amid the encroaching Soviet forces. Junge reflects on the leader's charisma intertwined with isolation, showcasing the stark contrast to the horrors outside. The emotional turmoil of his inner circle as they faced desperate choices adds depth to her testimony, providing a compelling narrative of loyalty, despair, and the chilling final moments in the bunker.
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Traudl Junge's Secretarial Start
Traudl Junge was chosen by Hitler from ten girls to be his secretary in East Prussia in 1943.
She originally sought work in Berlin, driven by family connections and chance.
insights INSIGHT
Hitler's Personality with Secretaries
Hitler appeared friendly, charming, polite, and patient to his secretaries.
He showed a fatherly behavior especially to the youngest secretary, Traudl Junge.
insights INSIGHT
Hitler’s Appeal to Germans
Hitler was seen as a savior restoring Germany after WWI humiliation and economic collapse.
He improved employment, housing, and food supply, regaining national pride.
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On 30 April 1945 Adolf Hitler killed himself in a bunker in the German capital Berlin as Soviet Red Army soldiers closed in. But first he married his lover Eva Braun, and dictated his will. In 1989, Traudl Junge, one of Hitler’s secretaries who was in the bunker when he died, shared her testimony with Zina Rohan. This episode was first broadcast in 2013.
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