大学英语精读第三册 Unit Nine:The Death of Hit

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In the last days of World War 11, Adolf Hitler and his closest associates had sought shelter in a command bunker before the fall of Berlin. He knew that defeat was close at hand and that he must prepare for his own death. Here is a detailed¹ description of how he ended his life.

The Death of Hitler

William L. Shirer
During the afternoon of April 29, news arrived at the bunker where Adolf Hitler and Eva Braun were separated from the outside world. Mussolini, Hitler's fellow fascist² dictator and partner in aggression³, had met his end, and it had been shared by his mistress, Clara Petacci.
They had been caught by Italian guerrillas on April 27 while trying to escape to Switzerland and executed after a brief trial. On the Saturday night of April 28 the bodies were brought to Milan in a truck and dumped on the town square. The next day they were strung up by the heels from lampposts and later cut down so that throughout the rest of Sunday, they lay in the gutter⁴. On May Day Benito Mussolini was buried beside his mistress in the paupers⁶' plot of a Milan cemetery⁷. In such a horrible climax⁸ of degradation⁹ Mussolini and Fascism passed into history.
It is not know how many of the details of Mussolini's shabby end were communicated to the Fuehrer. One can only guess that if he heard many of them he was only strengthened in his resolve not to allow himself or his bride to be made a spectacle —— not their live selves or their bodies.
Shortly after receiving the news of Mussolini's death, Hitler began to make the final preparations for his. He had his favorite Alsatian dog poisoned and two other dogs in the household shot. Then he called in his two remaining women secretaries and handed them capsules of poison to use if they wished to when the advancing Russians broke in. He was sorry, he said, not to be able to give them a better farewell gift, and he expressed his appreciation¹⁰ for their long and loyal service.
Evening had now come, the last of Adolf Hitler's life. He instructed Mrs. Junge, one of his secretaries, to destroy the remaining papers in his files, and he sent out word that no one in the bunker was to go to bed until further orders. This was interpreted by all as meaning that he judged the time had come to make his farewells. But it was not until long after midnight, at about 2:30 AM of April 30, as several witnesses recall, that the Fuehrer emerged from his private quarters and appeared in the general dining passage where some 20 persons, mostly the women members of his group of associates, were assembled. He walked down the line shaking hand with each and mumbling¹¹ a few words that were inaudible. There was a heavy film of moisture on his eyes and, as Mrs. Junge remembered, "They seemed to be looking far away, beyond the walls of the bunker."
After he retired¹², a curious thing happened. The tension which had been building up to an almost unendurable point in the bunker broke, and several persons went to the canteen —— to dance. The weird¹³ party soon became so noisy that word was sent from the Fuehrer's quarters requesting more quiet. The Russians might come in a few hours and kill them all —— though most of them were already thinking of how they could escaped —— but in the meantime, for a brief spell, now that the Fuehrer's strict control of their lives was over, they would seek pleasure where and how they could find it. The sense of relief among these people seems to have been enormous, and they danced on through the night.
Berlin was no longer defensible. The Russians already had occupied almost all of the city. It was now merely a question of the defense¹⁴ of he Chancellery. It too was doomed¹⁶, as Hitler and Bormann learned at the situation conference at noon on April 30, the last that was ever to take place. The Russians were just a block away. The hour for Adolf Hitler to carry out his resolve had come.
His bride apparently¹⁷ had no appetite for lunch that day, and Hitler took his meal with his two secretaries and with his vegetarian¹⁸ cook, who perhaps did not realize that she had prepared his last meal. While they were finishing their lunch at about 2:30 PM, Erich Kempka, the Fuehrer's chauffeur¹⁹, who was in charge of the Chancellery garage, received an order to deliver immediately 200 liters of gasoline in cans to the Chancellery garden. Kempka had some difficulty in rounding up so much fuel, but he managed to collect some 180 liters and with the help of three men carried it to the emergency exit of the bunker.
While the oil to provide the first for the Viking funeral was being collected, Hitler, having done with his last meal, fetched Eva Braun for another and final farewell to his most intimate collaborators: Dr. Goebbels, Generals Krebs and Burgdorf, the secretaries, and Miss Manzialy, the cook.
They finished their farewells and retired to their rooms. Outside in the passageway, Dr. Goebbels, Bormann and a few others waited. In a few moments a revolver shot was heard. They waited for a second one, but there was only silence. After a decent interval²¹ they quietly entered the Fuehrer's quarters. They found the body of Adolf Hitler sprawled²² on the sofa dripping blood. He had shot himself in the mouth. At this side lay Eva Braun. Two revolvers had fallen to the floor, but the bride had not used hers. She had swallowed poison.
It was 3:30 PM on Monday, April 30, 1945, ten days after Adolf Hitler's fifty-sixth birthday, and twelve years and three months to the day since he had become Chancellor²³ of Germany and had instituted the Third Reich. It would survive him but a week.

NEW WORDS
bunker
n. strongly-built shelter for soldiers, esp. one built underground 地堡

fascist
a. 法西斯主义的
n. 法西斯分子

dictator
n. a ruler who has absolute power over a country, esp. one who has obtained such power by force 独裁者

partner
n. 伙伴

aggression
n. the starting of a war, fight, or quarrel without just cause 侵略

mistress
n. 情妇

Italian
a. 意大利的
n. 意大利人；意大利语

guer(r)illa
n. 游击队员

execute
vt. kill (sb.) by law; carry out, perform 处死；实施，执行

executive
a. & n.

dump
vt. drop or unload (sth.) in a heap or carelessly 倾倒

string
vt. hang with a string or rope

heel
n. （脚）后跟

lamppost
n. post for a street lamp 路灯柱

pauper⁵
n. a person with no means of livelihood²⁴, esp. one who is supported by charity 贫民

plot
n. a piece of land (usu. small)

cemetery
n. place for burying the dead 公墓；墓地

horrible
a. causing a feeling of great shock, fear or dislike

horror n.

climax
n. the point of greatest interest or intensity²⁵ 高潮

degradation
n. 羞辱

Fascism
n. 法西斯主义

shabby
a. dishonourable; mean; worn out 不光彩的；卑鄙的；破旧的

Fuehrer
n. （德）元首

strengthen
v. make or become strong(er) 加强

resolve
n. resolution 决心

bride
n. a girl or woman just married or about to be married 新娘

spectacle
n. an object of contempt or disrespect; a public show or scene 引入鄙视的对象；场面

preparation
n. things done to get ready for sth.

Alsatian
a. 阿尔萨斯的
n. 阿尔萨斯狼犬

poison
vt. 毒死，放毒
n. 毒药

farewell
n. goodbye

appreciation
n. understanding of the qualities or worth of sth.; grateful feelings 欣赏；感激

loyal
a. true to one's friends, group, country, etc. faithful 忠诚的

instruct
vt. give orders or directions to 命令；指示

file
n. 卷宗；档案

word
n. order

interpret
vt. explain or tell the likely meaning of (sth.)

interpretation²⁶ n.

private
a. personal; one's own 私人的；个人的

mostly
ad. chiefly; almost all

associate
n. a person connected with another, esp. in work

assemble
vt. gather or collect together 集合

inaudible
a. that can not be heard

moisture
n. slight wetness; water or other liquid spread in small drops in the air or on a surface 潮湿，湿气

retire
vi. withdraw; go away 退出

unendurable
a. unbearable²⁷

canteen
n. a place in a military camp, factory, etc. where people may buy and eat food, meals, drinks, sweets, etc. 食堂

weird
a. strange; unnatural²⁸

request
vt. Demand politely 请求

meantime
n. & ad. (in) the time between

spell
n. a period of time

strict
a. rigid²⁹ 严厉的

relief
n. the fact or state of lessening³⁰ or freeing from anxiety, fear, or pain （忧虑等的）减轻，解除

enormous
a. very large

defensible
a. that can be defended

doom¹⁵
vt. cause to suffer sth. unavoidable and unpleasant, such as death or destruction

noon
n. midday

apparently
ad. evidently; it seems (that)

apparent a.

vegetarian
a. relating to a person who eats vegetables but no meat （有关）素食的

chauffeur
n. a person employed to drive someone's car

liter
n. （容量单位）升

gasoline
n. 汽油

fuel
n. 燃料

intimate
a. close in relationship 亲密的

collaborator²⁰
n. partner in an activity 协作者，同伙

passageway
n. 走廊

revolver
n. 左轮手枪

decent
a. right and suitable 合宜的；得休的

interval
n. time between two events 间隔

sofa
n. 沙发

drip
v. fall or let fall in drops

swallow
vt. 吞咽

chancellor
n. chief minister of state (in some countries e.g. Germany)总理（或首相）

institute
vt. set up for the first time 建立

PHRASES & EXPRESSIONS
meet one's end
die

string up
hang (sth.) high with strings³¹; put to death by hanging 用绳吊起；吊死

call in
ask to come or go in

break in
enter a building by force （非法）强行进入

build up
increase, strengthen gradually

in the meantime
meanwhile

in charge of
responsible for

round up
collect, gather together 集拢

have done with
finish with; stop doing or using 结束；终止

to a/ the day
exactly (in time)

PROPER NAMES
Adolf Hitler
阿道夫.希特勒

Eva Braun
爱娃.勃劳恩

Benito Mussolini
本尼托.墨索里尼

Clara Petacci
克拉拉.贝塔西

Switzerland
瑞士

Milan
米兰（意大利城市）

May Day
劳动节

the Fuehrer
元首（纳粹统治时期对希特勒的称呼）

Junge
荣格（姓氏）

Berlin
柏林（德国首都）

the Chancellery
（德国）总理府

Bormann
鲍曼（姓氏）

Erich Kempka
埃里希.肯普卡 Viking
（八至十世纪劫掠欧洲海岸的）北欧海盗

Goebbels
戈培尔（姓氏）

Krebs
克莱勃斯（姓氏）

Burgdorf
布克道夫（姓氏）

Manzialy
曼齐阿里（姓氏）

the Third Reich
第三帝国

1 detailed   

adj.详细的，详尽的，极注意细节的，完全的

参考例句：

• He had made a detailed study of the terrain.他对地形作了缜密的研究。
• A detailed list of our publications is available on request.我们的出版物有一份详细的目录备索。

2 fascist   

adj.法西斯主义的；法西斯党的；n.法西斯主义者，法西斯分子

参考例句：

• The strikers were roughed up by the fascist cops.罢工工人遭到法西斯警察的殴打。
• They succeeded in overthrowing the fascist dictatorship.他们成功推翻了法西斯独裁统治。

3 aggression   

n.进攻，侵略，侵犯，侵害

参考例句：

• So long as we are firmly united, we need fear no aggression.只要我们紧密地团结，就不必惧怕外来侵略。
• Her view is that aggression is part of human nature.她认为攻击性是人类本性的一部份。

4 gutter   

n.沟，街沟，水槽，檐槽，贫民窟

参考例句：

• There's a cigarette packet thrown into the gutter.阴沟里有个香烟盒。
• He picked her out of the gutter and made her a great lady.他使她脱离贫苦生活，并成为贵妇。

5 pauper   

n.贫民，被救济者，穷人

参考例句：

• You lived like a pauper when you had plenty of money.你有大把钱的时候，也活得像个乞丐。
• If you work conscientiously you'll only die a pauper.你按部就班地干，做到老也是穷死。

6 paupers   

n.穷人( pauper的名词复数 )；贫民；贫穷

参考例句：

• The garment is expensive, paupers like you could never afford it! 这件衣服很贵，你这穷鬼根本买不起！ 来自互联网
• Child-friendliest among the paupers were Burkina Faso and Malawi. 布基纳法索，马拉维，这俩贫穷国家儿童友善工作做得不错。 来自互联网

7 cemetery   

n.坟墓，墓地，坟场

参考例句：

• He was buried in the cemetery.他被葬在公墓。
• His remains were interred in the cemetery.他的遗体葬在墓地。

8 climax   

n.顶点；高潮；v.(使)达到顶点

参考例句：

• The fifth scene was the climax of the play.第五场是全剧的高潮。
• His quarrel with his father brought matters to a climax.他与他父亲的争吵使得事态发展到了顶点。

9 degradation   

n.降级；低落；退化；陵削；降解；衰变

参考例句：

• There are serious problems of land degradation in some arid zones.在一些干旱地带存在严重的土地退化问题。
• Gambling is always coupled with degradation.赌博总是与堕落相联系。

10 appreciation   

n.评价；欣赏；感谢；领会，理解；价格上涨

参考例句：

• I would like to express my appreciation and thanks to you all.我想对你们所有人表达我的感激和谢意。
• I'll be sending them a donation in appreciation of their help.我将送给他们一笔捐款以感谢他们的帮助。

11 mumbling   

含糊地说某事，叽咕，咕哝( mumble的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• I could hear him mumbling to himself. 我听到他在喃喃自语。
• He was still mumbling something about hospitals at the end of the party when he slipped on a piece of ice and broke his left leg. 宴会结束时，他仍在咕哝着医院里的事。说着说着，他在一块冰上滑倒，跌断了左腿。

12 retired   

adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的

参考例句：

• The old man retired to the country for rest.这位老人下乡休息去了。
• Many retired people take up gardening as a hobby.许多退休的人都以从事园艺为嗜好。

13 weird   

adj.古怪的，离奇的；怪诞的，神秘而可怕的

参考例句：

• From his weird behaviour,he seems a bit of an oddity.从他不寻常的行为看来，他好像有点怪。
• His weird clothes really gas me.他的怪衣裳简直笑死人。

14 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

15 doom   

n.厄运，劫数；v.注定，命定

参考例句：

• The report on our economic situation is full of doom and gloom.这份关于我们经济状况的报告充满了令人绝望和沮丧的调子。
• The dictator met his doom after ten years of rule.独裁者统治了十年终于完蛋了。

16 doomed   

命定的

参考例句：

• The court doomed the accused to a long term of imprisonment. 法庭判处被告长期监禁。
• A country ruled by an iron hand is doomed to suffer. 被铁腕人物统治的国家定会遭受不幸的。

17 apparently   

adv.显然地；表面上，似乎

参考例句：

• An apparently blind alley leads suddenly into an open space.山穷水尽，豁然开朗。
• He was apparently much surprised at the news.他对那个消息显然感到十分惊异。

18 vegetarian   

n.素食者；adj.素食的

参考例句：

• She got used gradually to the vegetarian diet.她逐渐习惯吃素食。
• I didn't realize you were a vegetarian.我不知道你是个素食者。

19 chauffeur   

n.(受雇于私人或公司的)司机；v.为…开车

参考例句：

• The chauffeur handed the old lady from the car.这个司机搀扶这个老太太下汽车。
• She went out herself and spoke to the chauffeur.她亲自走出去跟汽车司机说话。

20 collaborator   

n.合作者，协作者

参考例句：

• I need a collaborator to help me. 我需要个人跟我合作，帮我的忙。
• His collaborator, Hooke, was of a different opinion. 他的合作者霍克持有不同的看法。

21 interval   

n.间隔，间距；幕间休息，中场休息

参考例句：

• The interval between the two trees measures 40 feet.这两棵树的间隔是40英尺。
• There was a long interval before he anwsered the telephone.隔了好久他才回了电话。

22 sprawled   

v.伸开四肢坐[躺]( sprawl的过去式和过去分词)；蔓延；杂乱无序地拓展；四肢伸展坐着（或躺着）

参考例句：

• He was sprawled full-length across the bed. 他手脚摊开横躺在床上。
• He was lying sprawled in an armchair, watching TV. 他四肢伸开正懒散地靠在扶手椅上看电视。

23 chancellor   

n.(英)大臣；法官；(德、奥)总理；大学校长

参考例句：

• They submitted their reports to the Chancellor yesterday.他们昨天向财政大臣递交了报告。
• He was regarded as the most successful Chancellor of modern times.他被认为是现代最成功的财政大臣。

24 livelihood   

n.生计，谋生之道

参考例句：

• Appropriate arrangements will be made for their work and livelihood.他们的工作和生活会得到妥善安排。
• My father gained a bare livelihood of family by his own hands.父亲靠自己的双手勉强维持家计。

25 intensity   

n.强烈，剧烈；强度；烈度

参考例句：

• I didn't realize the intensity of people's feelings on this issue.我没有意识到这一问题能引起群情激奋。
• The strike is growing in intensity.罢工日益加剧。

26 interpretation   

n.解释，说明，描述；艺术处理

参考例句：

• His statement admits of one interpretation only.他的话只有一种解释。
• Analysis and interpretation is a very personal thing.分析与说明是个很主观的事情。

27 unbearable   

adj.不能容忍的；忍受不住的

参考例句：

• It is unbearable to be always on thorns.老是处于焦虑不安的情况中是受不了的。
• The more he thought of it the more unbearable it became.他越想越觉得无法忍受。

28 unnatural   

adj.不自然的；反常的

参考例句：

• Did her behaviour seem unnatural in any way?她有任何反常表现吗？
• She has an unnatural smile on her face.她脸上挂着做作的微笑。

29 rigid   

adj.严格的，死板的；刚硬的，僵硬的

参考例句：

• She became as rigid as adamant.她变得如顽石般的固执。
• The examination was so rigid that nearly all aspirants were ruled out.考试很严，几乎所有的考生都被淘汰了。

30 lessening   

减轻，减少，变小

参考例句：

• So however much he earned, she spent it, her demands growing and lessening with his income. 祥子挣多少，她花多少，她的要求随着他的钱涨落。 来自汉英文学 - 骆驼祥子
• The talks have resulted in a lessening of suspicion. 谈话消减了彼此的怀疑。

31 strings   

n.弦

参考例句：

• He sat on the bed,idly plucking the strings of his guitar.他坐在床上，随意地拨着吉他的弦。
• She swept her fingers over the strings of the harp.她用手指划过竖琴的琴弦。