Joseph Goebbels
Paul Joseph Goebbels was born on the 29th of October 1897 in Rheydt, an industrial town south of Mönchengladbach near Düsseldorf. He suffered from a deformed right foot that turned inwards due to a congenital disorder or bone infection. The limb was thicker and shorter than his left leg. Just before starting grammar school he underwent an operation that failed to correct the problem. He wore a metal brace and a special shoe for the rest of his life. He walked with a limp that marked him as different among peers. Doctors rejected him for military service in World War I because of this condition. Historians Richard J. Evans and Roger Manvell speculate that his lifelong pursuit of women compensated for this physical disability. The rejection from the army fueled a deep-seated resentment toward weakness. This early struggle forged a personality obsessed with power and control. He studied literature and history at universities including Bonn, Würzburg, Freiburg and Munich. He received a doctorate in philology from Heidelberg University on the 21st of April 1922. His doctoral thesis focused on Wilhelm von Schütz, a minor 19th-century romantic dramatist. He wrote a semi-autobiographical novel called Michael which appeared in 1929. The book contained antisemitic content and material about a charismatic leader. Goebbels felt he was writing his own story through these pages. He later published fourteen books by 1940 but struggled financially. Lack of income forced him to work as a bank clerk in Cologne. He detested the job and was dismissed in August 1923. He returned home to Rheydt where he read avidly. He absorbed works by Oswald Spengler and Houston Stewart Chamberlain. These texts shaped his extreme right-wing views during those formative years.
Goebbels joined the Nazi Party around February 1924 after following Hitler's trial for treason. He became member number 8762. In late 1924 he offered services to Karl Kaufmann who was Gauleiter for the Rhine-Ruhr District. Kaufmann connected him with Gregor Strasser who hired him for secretarial work. Strasser founded the National Socialist Working Association on the 10th of September 1925. Goebbels became its business manager and edited its biweekly journal NS-Briefe. Members of this northern branch held more socialist views than the Munich group. Strasser disagreed with Hitler on many party platform points. In November 1926 Hitler summoned sixty Gauleiters including Goebbels to Bamberg. The leader gave a two-hour speech repudiating Strasser's new political programme. Hitler stated socialism meant political bolshevization of Germany. Goebbels wrote in his diary that he no longer fully believed in Hitler. His inner support had been taken away by these words. Later that month Hitler sent his own car to meet three Greater Ruhr Gau leaders at the railway station. That evening both men gave speeches at a beer hall rally. Hitler offered his hand in reconciliation the next day. Goebbels capitulated completely offering total loyalty. He wrote: I love him. Such a sparkling mind can be my leader. As a result of these meetings the National Socialist Working Association disbanded. Hitler's position as party leader grew greatly strengthened. Goebbels was first offered the position of party Gauleiter for Berlin in August 1926. He traveled there mid-September and accepted by middle October. He reduced party membership from about one thousand to six hundred active members. To raise money he instituted membership fees and charged admission to meetings. He deliberately provoked beer-hall battles and street brawls against the Communist Party of Germany. This tactic led police to ban the Nazi Party from the city on the 5th of May 1927. Violent incidents continued including young Nazis attacking Jews randomly. Goebbels faced a public speaking ban until end of October. During this period he founded Der Angriff newspaper as a propaganda vehicle. It was a modern-style paper with an aggressive tone. One hundred twenty-six libel suits were pending against him at one point. Circulation reached only two thousand initially. Material in the paper targeted Jewish Deputy Chief of Police Bernhard Weiß. Goebbels gave him the derogatory nickname Isidore. He subjected him to relentless Jew-baiting campaigns.
Hitler appointed Goebbels head of the newly created Reich Ministry of Public Enlightenment and Propaganda in March 1933. The ministry set up offices in the 18th-century Ordenspalais across from the Reich Chancellery. Its role centralized Nazi control over all aspects of German cultural and intellectual life. On the 25th of March 1933 Goebbels stated he hoped to increase popular support from thirty-seven percent to one hundred percent. An unstated goal was presenting the impression that the entire population backed the party. One of his first productions staged the Day of Potsdam ceremony held on the 21st of March. This event passed power from Hindenburg to Hitler. Later that month he traveled back to Rheydt where townsfolk lined the main street renamed in his honor. He declared himself a local hero the following day. Goebbels converted the 1st of May holiday into a celebration for the Nazi Party instead of workers' rights. A huge party rally took place at Tempelhof Field in Berlin. Trade union offices were forcibly disbanded by SA and SS the next day. Less than two weeks later he gave a speech at the Nazi book burning in Berlin on the 10th of May. The regime passed the Schriftleitergesetz Editor's Law on the 4th of October 1933. This law defined anyone who wrote or edited texts as a Schriftleiter. Individuals were chosen based on experiential educational and racial criteria. Journalists had to regulate their work according to National Socialism philosophy. In June 1933 the Reich Film Chamber required all film industry members to join. Anyone wishing to pursue careers in arts had to be a member of corresponding chambers. Members could not leave the country without prior permission. A committee censored books and works could not be re-published unless approved. Many German artists left Germany rather than work under these restrictions. Goebbels gained control of radio stations nationwide placing them under Reichs-Rundfunk-Gesellschaft in July 1934. Manufacturers produced inexpensive Volksempfänger receivers. By 1938 nearly ten million sets had been sold. Loudspeakers placed in public areas allowed party broadcasts to reach almost all Germans. On the 2nd of September 1939 it became illegal to listen to foreign radio stations. Disseminating news from foreign broadcasts carried the death penalty. Albert Speer later said the regime made complete use of technical means for domination. Eighty million people were deprived of independent thought through devices like radios.
Goebbels was antisemitic from a young age but his views grew more radical after joining the Nazi Party. He began seeing Jews as a destructive force with negative impact on society. In 1930 he criticized Italian Fascist dictator Benito Mussolini for lack of hostility toward Jews. After Nazis seized control he repeatedly urged Hitler to take action against Jewish people. Discriminatory measures instituted in Berlin included bans against using public transport. Jewish shops were required to be marked as such. In November 1938 German diplomat Ernst vom Rath was killed in Paris by Herschel Grynszpan. Goebbels arranged inflammatory antisemitic material release by the press resulting in pogroms. Synagogues destroyed all over Germany while at least one hundred Jews were killed. Several hundred synagogues damaged or thousands of Jewish shops vandalized. Around thirty thousand Jewish men sent to concentration camps. The destruction stopped after a conference held on the 12th of November where Göring pointed out property destruction equaled German property loss. Goebbels continued intensive antisemitic propaganda campaigns culminating in Hitler's the 30th of January 1939 Reichstag speech. While pressing for expulsion of Berlin Jews since 1935 sixty-two thousand still lived there in 1940. Deportations of German Jews began October 1941 with first transport leaving the 18th of October. Some shot immediately upon arrival in destinations like Riga and Kaunas. Goebbels ordered all German Jews wear identifying yellow badge as of the 5th of September 1941. On the 6th of March 1942 he received minutes from Wannsee Conference indicating indirect extermination plans. His diary entries show awareness of fate awaiting Jews. He wrote: A judgment is being carried out on the Jews which is barbaric but thoroughly deserved. Goebbels had frequent discussions with Hitler about Jewish fate almost every meeting. He was aware throughout that Jews were being exterminated and completely supported this decision. He stood among few top Nazi officials doing so publicly.
By early 1943 war produced labor crisis for regime creating three-man committee Dreierausschuß. Committee met eleven times between January and August 1943 before declining into irrelevance by September. Goebbels pressured Hitler to introduce measures producing total war including closing non-essential businesses. He pushed conscripting women into labor force and enlisting exempt men into Wehrmacht. Some implemented via edict of the 13th of January though Göring demanded favorite restaurants remain open. Lammers successfully lobbied Hitler to exempt women with children from conscription even if childcare available. After enthusiastic response to speech of the 30th of January 1943 Goebbels believed German people supported call for total war. Next speech Sportpalast speech of the 18th of February 1943 demanded audience commit to total war as only way stop Bolshevik onslaught. Speech presented live on radio and filmed with strong antisemitic element hinting at Jewish extermination. During live version Goebbels accidentally mentions extermination omitted in published text. Efforts had little impact initially because Hitler not prepared implement changes over minister objections. On the 25th of August 1943 Reichsführer-SS Heinrich Himmler took interior ministry post replacing Wilhelm Frick. Intensive air raids killed thousands across Berlin and other cities. In December 1943 Hitler asked Goebbels take job Stadtpräsident City President of Berlin. Goebbels agreed obtaining direct control municipal authorities though formal appointment delayed months. He took administrative control when named Stadtpräsident on the 7th of April 1944 uniting party and government offices. As air raids continued V-1 flying bombs launched mid-June 1944 had little effect reaching twenty percent targets. To boost morale Goebbels published propaganda claiming further improvements decisive impact. Throughout July 1944 Goebbels and Speer pressed Hitler bring economy total war footing. the 20th of July plot where bomb nearly killed Hitler played into hands pushing change: Bormann Goebbels Himmler Speer. Over Göring objections Goebbels appointed the 23rd of July as Reich Plenipotentiary for Total War. Charged maximizing manpower Wehrmacht armaments industry at expense non-critical sectors. Through efforts free up additional half million men military service. However new recruits came from armaments industry putting conflict with Speer. Untrained workers not readily absorbed armaments industry while new Wehrmacht recruits waited barracks training. Hitler ordered nationwide militia Volkssturm People's Storm formed the 25th of September 1944 launched the 18th of October. Goebbels named Führer des Deutschen Volkssturms im Gau Groß-Berlin same day administering oath assembled Berlin troops the 12th of November. Diary recorded one hundred thousand recruits sworn in from Gau alone. Men mostly age forty-five to sixty received rudimentary training many improperly armed.
In last months war Goebbels speeches took increasingly apocalyptic tone. By beginning 1945 Soviets on Oder River Western Allies preparing cross Rhine River. He could no longer disguise inevitability German defeat. Berlin lacked fortifications artillery even Volkssturm units short supply. Goebbels noted millions Germans fleeing westward January 21. Tentatively discussed peace overtures Western Allies but Hitler refused again. Privately conflicted pushing case since did not want lose confidence. When other Nazi leaders urged Hitler leave Berlin establish National Redoubt Bavaria Goebbels opposed arguing heroic last stand Berlin. Family except Magda son Harald moved house Berlin await end. He and Magda may have discussed suicide fate young children long meeting night the 27th of January. Knew outside world view criminal acts committed regime desire subject himself debacle trial. Burned private papers night the 18th of April. Knew how play on Hitler fantasies encouraging see hand providence death United States President Franklin D. Roosevelt the 12th of April. By time gained position wanted so long at Hitler side. Göring utterly discredited though not stripped offices until the 23rd of April. Himmler also disgrace with Hitler after appointment Army Group Vistula led disaster Oder. Most inner circle including Göring Himmler Ribbentrop Speer prepared leave Berlin immediately after birthday celebration the 20th of April. Even Bormann not anxious meet end Hitler side. On the 22nd of April Hitler announced stay Berlin until end then shoot self. Goebbels moved family into Vorbunker connected lower Führerbunder Reich Chancellery garden central Berlin same day. Told Vice-Admiral Hans-Erich Voss would not entertain surrender escape idea. After midnight the 29th of April Soviets advancing ever closer bunker complex Hitler married Eva Braun small civil ceremony Führerbunker. Hosted modest wedding breakfast. Then took secretary Traudl Junge another room dictated last will testament. Goebbels Bormann two witnesses. In last will Hitler named no successor Führer leader Nazi Party instead appointed Goebbels Reich Chancellor Grand Admiral Karl Dönitz Reich President Bormann Party Minister. Goebbels wrote postscript stating categorically refuse obey Hitler order leave Berlin first time life complied orders. Felt compelled remain Hitler reasons humanity personal loyalty. Wife children stay well. End lives side by side Führer. Mid-afternoon the 30th of April Hitler shot himself. Goebbels depressed said walk around Chancellery garden killed Russian shelling. Voss later recounted Goebbels saying great pity man not with us anymore nothing done way out left one chose follow example. On the 1st of May Goebbels carried sole official act Chancellor: dictated letter General Vasily Chuikov ordered German General Hans Krebs deliver white flag. Chuikov commanded Soviet forces central Berlin. Letter informed Chuikov Hitler death requested ceasefire. Rejected decided further efforts futile. Later evening the 1st of May arranged SS dentist Helmut Kunz inject six children morphine unconscious ampule cyanide compound crushed mouths. According Kunz testimony gave injections Magda Goebbels Ludwig Stumpfegger administered cyanide. Around 20:30 Goebbels Magda left bunker walked up garden Chancellery killed themselves. Accounts differ one bit cyanide ampule near where Hitler buried given coup de grâce immediately afterward. Schwägermann testified walked ahead stairs outside heard shots saw lifeless bodies. Following prior order Schwägermann had soldier fire several shots body did not move. Contradictory account Rochus Misch claimed mechanic Johannes Hentschel told early the 2nd of May Goebbels killed self room Führerbunker while Magda did Vorbunker. Corpses doused petrol partially burned not buried. Few days Soviets brought Voss back identify partly burned bodies. Remains family Krebs Hitler dogs repeatedly buried exhumed last burial SMERSH facility Magdeburg the 21st of February 1946. In 1970 KGB director Yuri Andropov authorized operation destroy remains. the 4th of April 1970 Soviet team used detailed burial charts exhume five wooden boxes Magdeburg SMERSH facility. Burned crushed scattered Biederitz river tributary nearby Elbe.
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Common questions
When and where was Joseph Goebbels born?
Paul Joseph Goebbels was born on the 29th of October 1897 in Rheydt, an industrial town south of Mönchengladbach near Düsseldorf. He suffered from a deformed right foot that turned inwards due to a congenital disorder or bone infection.
What role did Joseph Goebbels hold during World War II?
Hitler appointed Goebbels head of the newly created Reich Ministry of Public Enlightenment and Propaganda in March 1933. The ministry set up offices in the 18th-century Ordenspalais across from the Reich Chancellery to centralize Nazi control over all aspects of German cultural and intellectual life.
How did Joseph Goebbels die and when did his death occur?
On the 1st of May 1945 Goebbels and Magda left the bunker to walk up the garden of the Chancellery where they killed themselves with cyanide. Their bodies were doused with petrol and partially burned before being buried by Soviet forces at a SMERSH facility in Magdeburg.
Why did Joseph Goebbels support the extermination of Jewish people?
Goebbels was antisemitic from a young age but his views grew more radical after joining the Nazi Party. His diary entries show awareness of fate awaiting Jews and he stated publicly that a judgment is being carried out on the Jews which is barbaric but thoroughly deserved.
What happened to Joseph Goebbels' remains after World War II?
In 1970 KGB director Yuri Andropov authorized an operation to destroy the remains found in Magdeburg. A Soviet team used detailed burial charts to exhume five wooden boxes from the SMERSH facility and scattered the ashes into the Biederitz river tributary near the Elbe.