Hanneke’s Reviews > Unity Mitford - A Quest > Status Update

I remember once seeing a TV interview with Hitler's typist, Gertraude "Traudl" Junge. She had previously worked in the mailroom dealing with Hitler's post, and described how she would read thousands of letters from women who had written declaring their love for Hitler.

Weird! One thing I've always been immune from is celebrity hero-worship. I can admire someone for reaching the top of their profession, but to me that means no more than recognising that the person is very good at what they do. It doesn't mean worshipping them. The world of fandom has always escaped me.

Ian, reading along in this biography, in which at times the author gets really too overdone with dropping hundreds of names of the English upperclass, I keep reading that Unity is quite a very stupid and provocative person. Hardly any sensible education (upperclass schooling at home, of course) and always provocative from childhood onward. Her only passion in life was adoring Hitler and, being from such an English upperclass, she succeeded to get into Hitler’s close circle. Hitler thought the connection was very advantageous. For example, Winston Churchill was a cousin/nephew of hers.
I did read an autobiography of Traudl Junge a few years ago and, strangely enough, I cannot recall that she ever mentioned Unity. Interesting biography of Junge, if you are interested (Traudl Junge - Until the Final Hour) (I posted a review of that autobiography).

Hanneke wrote: "Ian, reading along in this biography, in which at times the author gets really too overdone with dropping hundreds of names of the English upperclass, I keep reading that Unity is quite a very stup..."

I think the timing may have been wrong for Traudl Junge to have met Unity Mitford. Junge joined Hitler's inner circle after Mitford had left it.

Yes, indeed, Ian, you are so right! I should have realized that! Unity shot herself at the official proclamation of WWII and Traudl did not start working for Hitler until 1942.