Summary

Hitler met with his commanders on April 1, 1945, in his bunker in Berlin. Hitler attempted to lay out a strategy for victory in what everyone else in the room knew to be delusional. A bomb explodes nearby. Everyone was careful not to appear frightened. The bunker was an unpleasant place with its layers of security and machine-gun toting guards. The atmosphere was described as debilitating. The bunker was not soundproof; the sounds of round-the-clock Allied bombardments permeated through the thick concrete walls. Casualties and damage to property were massive. The city’s current population was mainly female since most men were made to fight in the war.

The battle in Stalingrad proved to be a turning point in the conflict between the Russians and Germans. The battle lasted more than five months and saw a loss of more than a million Russian soldiers and...