Until the Final Hour: Hitler's Last Secretary
by Traudl Junge
(Click here)
Book Summary Information
Author: Traudl JungeEditor: Melissa Muller
Edition: Paperback
Audio: English (Original Language); English (Unknown); English (Published)
Published: 2004-06-14
ISBN: 0753817926
Number of pages: 280
Publisher: Phoenix (an Imprint of The Orion Publishing Group Ltd )
Book Reviews of Until the Final Hour: Hitler's Last Secretary
Book Review: Interesting memoir of those times...
Summary: 3 Stars
A memoir as one of Hitler's private secretaries (from the first meeting in November 1942 through the end in April 1945). "Traudl" Junge was born Gertraud Humps. Later, with Hitler's encouragement, she married one of his orderies, Hans H. Junge in June of 1943. Hans Junge was killed in action on August 13, 1944. Though it all she continued working at Hitler's side and looked on him as a father figure. The book shows her interaction with Hitler along with his private side. She is able to give thumb nail sketches of his inner circle, as well. Mrs. Junge was present in the Führerbunker and describes the events therein. She typed Hitler's last will and political testament. She also heard "the shot" in which Hitler ended his life.
The book is not meant to be a scholarly written book as to those times and events. It is interesting and gives the reader anecdotes and observations. The book is written mainly from the point of view of the (then) rather naive, non-political young woman who witnessed the decline and fall of both Hitler and Nazi Germany. A main source for the movie "Downfall".
Footnote: Much of the information put forth in the book above was covered by Mrs. Junge in her contributions to: "Voices From the Bunker" by Pierre Galante. However, "Voices From the Bunker" was not quite as detailed overall and further did not include pre-Hitler and post-Hitler information as to Mrs. Junge's life.
Summary of Until the Final Hour: Hitler's Last Secretary
'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.General Books
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