The Fall of the Empire: Memoirs of Hitler's Female Secretary

Author: (DE) Jung / (DE) Müller / Chen Wan
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-08-01
Features: The film adapted from this book, The Fall of the Empire, is a grand German production reflecting on World War II in 2004. It was nominated for the 77th Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film in 2005 and featured in the 8th Shanghai International Film Festival in 2005. People realize that war is not just a struggle between giants and demons, but how do those ordinary people, those living in war zones during the war, see their role in it? For 60 years, they have also been reflecting. This book is dedicated to the 60th anniversary of the victory in the World War II against Fascism. "I let go, only letting guilt, pain, and sorrow consume me. Suddenly, as a witness, I was under the spotlight, which made me subjected to even harsher self-examination. Because in those interviews, no one ever asked me if I felt guilty; they only talked about historical facts. The guilt on my shoulders became heavier and heavier, urging me to reflect constantly. Today, I feel deeply guilty about two things: the fate of millions of people who died at the hands of the Nazis; and for Traudel, a young girl who lacked confidence and did not dare to say 'no' at a critical moment." – Traudel Jung
This book is neither a late self-defense nor an admission of guilt. I do not intend to live a life of repentance for it. Rather, it is an attempt at reconciliation, not with the world outside, but with myself. It does not expect forgiveness, only to help with understanding. For two and a half years, I was Hitler's secretary. It is easy to imagine that my life has been turbulent ever since. From 1947 to 1948, my memories were still fresh, and I wrote about the days I was closely associated with Adolf Hitler. In those years, "we all" looked forward, as fellow travelers were purged and driven out—the movement unexpectedly succeeded. Back then, when I was writing, I had to be serious, whether it was the main theme or small anecdotes, to firmly hold onto them so that the details that might still be useful in the future would not scatter with the wind or be buried in the graveyard of oblivion.
The narrator in the book is sometimes young Jung and sometimes old Jung. Young Jung transformed her increasingly intense curiosity about the so-called inner workings of the Nazi regime into a published memoir, attempting to defend herself in the process, as if young Jung had already died. Old Jung, however, no longer wants to play the role of a moralist. She just hopes to reflect even deeper, rather than generalize as she once tried: a gentleman's appearance is too easily deceptive, so it is always necessary to see through it. One should listen to the voice of conscience. Guilt and repentance do not require much courage. People always have to improve themselves while paying the price.