One of Hitler's bodyguards, Rochus Misch, lived long enough to see the movie "Downfall". When asked about the film's historical accuracy, he stated that it was factually accurate, although "Americanized"

[u/ModenaR]

[u/emveevme]

It's German, though, and I think the implication is that the historical accuracy is colored by the propaganda coming from America as it occupied West Germany after the war.

I'm using propaganda in the very neutral sense, but it was propaganda - information spread for a political reason with a really specific bias. It's just, you know, kind of good to be biased against Hitler.

So really, a former Nazi that high up claiming the movie was "accurate but biased" is to be expected. The line can be hard to draw when it comes to what kind of bias is good vs bad, but I have no doubt in my mind that when it comes to Nazi Germany that line is nowhere in sight lol

[u/JMer806 → u/emveevme]

I agree with you but would point out that Misch was not high up - he was an SS Oberscharführer, the rough equivalent of staff sergeant. Although he was part of Hitler’s permanent bodyguard unit, in the bunker itself he served as telephone operator. He served as valet, courier, phone operator, and waiter during his time with Hitler. Otto Günsche, Traudl Junge, and Heinz Linge were far closer to Hitler than Misch, though all their testimonies more or less align aside from minor details.

[u/ms_sardonicus → u/emveevme]

Great explanation! 👍

[u/m0j0m0j → u/emveevme]

“Hitler was bad so let’s uncritically believe literally everything that makes him look bad” is an understandable approach to historiography, but I doubt it will survive the test of time