Traudl Junge (1920–2002)

A fascinating memoir from someone who spent a lot of time with Hitler, right up to the end. The everyday details are mesmerizing.
It seems the writer existed on a slightly detached plane - maybe a defense mechanism, maybe just innocence or ignorance. It is only long afterwards that anything approaching guilt affects the writer.
It is difficult to know how to judge someone in this position. What would most us have done?

Junge was Hitler's personal secretary from 1942 to the end in the bunker in Berlin in 1945. Never interested in politics, she never realized what the Nazi's were really doing until after the war. She admits she was mesmerized by Hitler who to her was a warm caring man who almost treated her like his daughter.

She writes about Hitler and his entourage as they enjoyed a life that was unavailable to the average German citizen. She only realized the difference when she went to Munich to visit her show more mother and saw the bomb damage and the people seeking food and new housing. She tried to ask Hitler about what he was doing about it but he did not seem interested and as far she could see, he never saw a bombed German city in daylight.

She was there in the bunker when Hitler and Braun committed suicide, Hitler gave her a pill to end her life if she wished although he gave her permission to flee. Eventually captured by the Russians, she eventually made it back to Munich where she made a career as a writer and editor although her personal life never lived up to her hopes.

If you wish to find out what went on in the Wolf's Lair or Berchtesgaden, here is a good source. As well, Junge describes the regulars in Hitler's entourage and often explains why she did not like an individual. show less

Detailed memories from an interesting view...that of hitlers last secretary Traudl Junge. Sorry, not sorry that I am not as enamored of her as other readers.
Why? I do not believe she was as naïve as she would like us to believe.

This was written by a woman who, at the age of 22, became one of Hitler's secretaries. She is naive and unaware of what is actually going on in the prison camps. She paints a picture of 2 Hitlers--the harsh fuhrer, and the paternalistic employer. It goes into very great detail about day-to-day life as she travels with his entourage to Wolf's Lair and Berintesgarden in the Bavarian Alps. She stays with him until the end, even after most of his staff has left. She does not apologize for her show more role during the war, but subsequently feels a great deal of guilt over not realizing how evil Hitler was. show less