1. Der Untergang 
By Khadija Lazare 

2. Overview About the film 'Battle of Berlin' In the Bunker Traudl Junge
Werner Haase & Ernst-Günter Schenck 
Albert Speer 
Felix Steiner 
Hermann Göring 
Heinrich Himmler 
The Goebbels Family 
Traudl Junge 
Aftermath 
Sources

3. About the Film
Directed by Oliver Hirschbiegel, the film was released in 2004, at the Toronto Film Festival.
The writers took inspiration from many contemporary accounts of the 'Führerbunker' in Berlin, particularly ‘Inside Hitler’s Bunker’ (by Joachim Fest) and ‘Until the Final Hour’ (by Traudl Junge).
The film led to controversy in Germany, with many questioning the ‘human’ portrayal of Hitler, despite the atrocities he committed.
Producer Bernd Eichinger responded to this criticism, saying ‘the terrifying thing about Hitler is that he WAS human’
‘Der Untergang’ was the feature-length movie to portray Hitler, and Bruno Ganz dedicated 4 months of research to prepare for the role.

4. 'Battle of Berlin’ (16th April-2nd May 1945)
 The ‘Battle of Berlin’ was the final major offensive of the Second World War (in Europe)
 Also known as the 'Fall of Berlin’, the ‘battle’ took place over two weeks, during which the Soviet (Red) army made gradual advances until they were eventually able to take the city.
This offensive came in the aftermath of the creation of ‘Operation Clausewitz’, the Nazi’s plan for the defense of Berlin, in which it was declared that ‘the Reich capital will be defended to the last man and to the last bullet’

5. Inside the Bunker 

6. Werner Haase & Ernst-Günter Schenck
Both men were doctors and members of the ‘SS’, Hitler’s paramilitary organization.
Inside the bunker, they tended to soldiers wounded during the Battle of Berlin, while also serving as Hitler’s private physicians.
Haase became known as ‘The Man who killed Hitler’ – it was him who gave Hitler the idea for the method of suicide he chose.
Haase died in 1950, after being made a Soviet prisoner of war. Schenck was also taken prisoner, but survived, and died in 1998.

7. Albert Speer 
Speer was an architect, who became the Minister of Armaments and War Production in Nazi Germany.
Speer helped to design Hitler’s idea of ‘Germania’ - a new and improved Germany. He was put in charge of designing the Reich Chancellery and the Ministry of Propaganda.
Speer later became known as 'The Nazi who said Sorry’, as a result of his apparent regret for failing to discover the crimes of the Third Reich.
He was sent to prison and released, and died in

8. Felix Steiner 
Steiner was an SS commander, who Hitler put in charge during the Battle of Berlin.
Knowing he was outnumbered ten to one, he refused to follow Hitler’s final order to lead an attack – which eventually led to Hitler realizing that the war at this point, was unwinnable.
He was arrested in the aftermath of the war, but charges against him were dropped and he died in 1966.

9. Hermann Göring 
Göring was a dedicated Nazi, and one of the most powerful political/military leaders in Germany
After becoming Cabinet Minister of the Third Reich, he led the creation of the Gestapo, the Nazi secret police organization.
When he learned that Hitler was planning to commit suicide during the Battle of Berlin, he sent a telegraph asking to take control of the Reich. Hitler saw this as treason, and stripped him of his positions, expelling him from the party.
He was arrested, but committed suicide before his sentencing was carried out.

10. Heinrich Himmler 
Himmler was the leader of the SS and one of the most powerful members of the Nazi party.
He was directly involved in the organization and development of numerous concentration camps.
When he realized that the war had been lost, he attempted to carry out peace talks with the allies. Hitler attempted to have him arrested, but British forces caught him first. He committed suicide while in the custody of British forces.

11. The Goebbels Family 
Joseph Goebbels was the Nazi Minister of Propaganda.  
He urged Hitler to stay in Berlin during the Battle of Berlin, despite everyone else telling him to flee the city.  
Goebbels succeeded Hitler as Chancellor of Germany, a post he held for one day before the murder-suicide of him, his wife and their six children.

12. Traudl Junge 
Junge was Hitler’s final secretary, working for him from – during this time she was given the responsibility of writing his will.
She released her own memoirs, titled 'Until the Final Hour’ (one of the main sources of information for the film).
In interviews she has spoken of the guilt she felt for the positive relationship that she had with Hitler: 'I deliberately ignored all the warning voices inside me and enjoyed the time by his side’ 
She went on to tell her story to various audiences, and died in aVI3gvIShc&t=24s

13. Aftermath Nuremberg Trials
Nov 1945-Oct 1946
The Nuremburg trials were used to prosecute those who were guilty of war crimes – those who were directly involved in the atrocities of the Holocaust.
Many perpetrators were either eventually released, or committed suicide before they were sentenced. However, ten defendants were executed after sentencing.

14. Sources - - -