The Bunker (book)

The Bunker is a non-fiction book written by James P. O'Donnell, published in 1978. It provides an account of the final days of Adolf Hitler and his inner circle within the Führerbunker in Berlin, during the Battle of Berlin in World War II.

O'Donnell, an American journalist and historian, reconstructed events based on extensive interviews with survivors who were present in the bunker, including officers, secretaries, and guards. The book details the deteriorating physical and mental state of Hitler, the infighting among Nazi leaders, and the pervasive sense of despair as the Soviet Red Army advanced on the city.

The Bunker explores the psychological dynamics within the confined space, the loyalty and betrayal that characterized the Nazi regime's collapse, and the various attempts to escape or negotiate surrender. It covers the period from January 1945 until Hitler's suicide on April 30, 1945.

The book became a significant source for understanding the final phase of the Nazi regime and has been adapted into several films, including the 1981 film The Bunker, starring Anthony Hopkins as Hitler, and served as source material for other dramatic and documentary portrayals of Hitler's last days. O'Donnell's work remains a key historical account, although it has also been subject to scrutiny and debate regarding the reliability of certain sources and interpretations of events.