WW2 Pod: We Have Ways of Making You Talk VE Day: The Fall Of The Third Reich (Part 7)
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May 5, 2025 Experience the harrowing final days of World War II in Berlin through the eyes of soldiers and civilians. Discover the chaotic atmosphere as Soviet troops close in, and the desperate actions of the remaining Nazi leadership. An interpreter shares poignant stories of survival amid ruins, while the psychological impact of Hitler's death reverberates through a shattered populace. The search for Hitler's body unfolds against the backdrop of surrender and shifting power dynamics, revealing unexpected moments of resilience amidst despair.
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Yelena Cargan's Berlin Experience
- Yelena Cargan, a 25-year-old Russian interpreter, experienced the collapse of Berlin firsthand during the Soviet conquest.
- She vividly described the city's ruin, civilian suffering, and the chaotic conditions in April-May 1945.
Hitler's Death Shattered Spell
- The death of Hitler shattered the Nazi regime's spell, ending its ghostly hold on Germans.
- Despite horror and destruction, people began adjusting to the new reality, marking a historic turning point.
Goebbels Family Discovery
- Soviet troops found the charred and recognizable bodies of Josef and Magda Goebbels days after Berlin fell.
- The discovery included Goebbels' children found alive but poisoned in their beds, shocking the soldiers.