Joseph Goebbels
Joseph Goebbels was born on October 29th, 1987, in Rheydt, Germany. When World War I first started, Goebbels attempted to join the army. However, he was rejected because he was not even five feet tall and had a permanent limp. Starting in 1918, Goebbels began attending Bonn University. In 1918, Germany signed the armistice ending World War I, which surprised Goebbels. Joseph had right-wing nationalist views and was very shocked when Berlin was declared a republic on November 9th, 1918. In 1920, Goebbels nearly committed suicide. However, when his father told him he would pay for the rest of his college, he changed his mind. In 1921, he received his PhD at Heidelberg University. For the next ten years, Goebbels spent his time writing plays, novels, and poems. However, no publishers would publish his work. Goebbels became a part of the Nazi Party in 1926. Joseph Goebbels was a committed follower of Gregor Strasser, who established a left-wing newspaper. The newspaper supported Lenin and the Bolshevik government. Adolf Hitler was thought to feel threatened by Gregor Strasser. However, Goebbels switched to the side of Adolf Hitler in 1926, when at the NSDAP annual conference. Hitler and Goebbels both had a love for propaganda and planned how the NSDAP would win support of Germany. Goebbels and eleven other Nazis were elected to the Reichstag in 1928. Goebbels became the groups Propaganda Leader. Also, in December 1931, Goebbels married Magda Quandt. Joseph became Germany’s Minister for Public Enlightenment and Propaganda when Hitler became chancellor in 1933. Joseph Goebbels began to censor the German media, so the people only saw the good. Joseph Goebbels did not get along with some of the other top men in Germany, including Heinrich Himmler.
As World War II started, Goebbels helped build an enormous hatred for the allies. He encouraged Hitler to invade many places, including the Soviet Union. Also, Goebbels shared the same hatred of Jews that Hitler did. In fact, Goebbels first started the talk of discriminating against Jews in 1938 when he said they should not be allowed in German movie theaters. He also had a large role in the beginning of the Holocaust and the final solution.
When the Soviet army invaded Germany, Hitler let Goebbels stay with him in his bunker. Goebbels brought his children with him and when he realized the Germans would not win the war, he poisoned his children with cyanide. Not long after, Magda and Joseph also took their own lives using cyanide. Joseph Goebbels and his family died on May 1st, 1945.
As World War II started, Goebbels helped build an enormous hatred for the allies. He encouraged Hitler to invade many places, including the Soviet Union. Also, Goebbels shared the same hatred of Jews that Hitler did. In fact, Goebbels first started the talk of discriminating against Jews in 1938 when he said they should not be allowed in German movie theaters. He also had a large role in the beginning of the Holocaust and the final solution.
When the Soviet army invaded Germany, Hitler let Goebbels stay with him in his bunker. Goebbels brought his children with him and when he realized the Germans would not win the war, he poisoned his children with cyanide. Not long after, Magda and Joseph also took their own lives using cyanide. Joseph Goebbels and his family died on May 1st, 1945.
Works Cited
Simkin, John. "Spartacus Educational." Spartacus Educational. Spartacus Educational Publishers Ltd., 2014. Web. 08 May 2016.
<http://spartacus-educational.com/GERgoebbels.htm>.
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<http://spartacus-educational.com/GERgoebbels.htm>.
Page by SH