A harrowing look at the life of one of historys greatest monsters, goebbels delivers fresh insight into how the nazi message of hate was conceived, nurtured, and disseminated. May 07, 2015 longerichs book brings goebbels to life through the mans diaries, and is invaluable for anyone studying the propaganda minister andor the political machinations within the nazi party. Joseph goebbels simple english wikipedia, the free. While longerichs book is an excellent scholarly work, it is long and tedious if one is interested in a more leisurely historical.
Expertly tracing his early life and beginnings in the nazi party, through his work to bring the party to power and his tenure as propaganda minister, to his wartime work to shore up the home front, thackers research will astound while the narrative itself is nothing short of chilling. At its best, this aspect of the book is keyhole history. What the story of goebbels secretary can teach us today. The only shortfall in this book is that the author is deadbent on performing a psychoanalysis of goebbels, maintaining the hypothesis that the latters deeds can be explained by a childhood trauma. Joseph goebbels biography childhood, life achievements. One doesnt read a book about goebbels, put it down and say, i love it, which is the tag line amazon. See all books authored by joseph goebbels, including final entries 1945. It is written from the german point of view rather than that of the allies. He was one of adolf hitlers closest and most devoted associates, and was known for his skills in public speaking and his deeply virulent antisemitism, which was evident in. Goebbels was a good actor, says brunhilde pomsel in the trailer for a german life. He was the third child of the family and grew up with five siblings. A german life what the story of goebbels secretary can teach us today. Brendan simms, peterhouse, cambridge university, uk thackers biography really is the first step towards a reassessment of the role and significance of joseph goebbels in national socialism. Paul joseph goebbels was a leader and propagandist during nazi germany.
Goebbels was the third of five children of friedrich goebbels, a pious roman catholic factory clerk, and katharina. He was charged with presenting hitler to the public in the most favorable light, regulating the content of all. The first account to use all of goebbels surviving diaries, it sheds new light on his personality, private life and political convictions, as well as his relationship. Having recently engaged in a casual discussion about the proverbial big lie, i found my education wanting and thought it would be worthwhile to delve deeper into the topic by studying the supposed master of the big lie, dr. In life and in his grisly family suicide, goebbels was one of hitlers most loyal acolytes.
A biography, by peter longerich the new york times. Dec 21, 2017 a german life is likely to be the last new movie of its kind. Often, endoflife statements such as these are suffused with a sense of guilt. Goebbels was adolf hitlers propaganda chief and number two, famously committing suicide with his wife and six children straight after hitler and eva braun in april 1945. Jul 22, 2015 peter longerich, the author of previous works on the holocaust, as well as a biography of heinrich himmler, has now written the most comprehensive account we have of goebbelss life. Impressive, welltranslated from the german life of the notorious nazi propaganda chief and antisemite, much of it drawn from new sources.
A biography, lj 3189 depends heavily on goebbelss diaries and related papers. It is an english translation of the 2010 german book goebbels. Joseph goebbels, life and death toby thacker the first account to use all of goebbels surviving diaries, it sheds new light on his personality, private life and political convictions, as well as his relationship with hitler. Longerichs book brings goebbels to life through the mans diaries, and is invaluable for anyone studying the propaganda minister andor the political machinations within the nazi party. Berlin was the center of the political life of the weimar republic, and goebbels became an actor upon this frenetic stage in 1926, becoming gauleiter of berlins nazis. A harrowing look at the life of one of history s greatest monsters, goebbels delivers fresh insight into how the nazi message of hate was conceived, nurtured, and disseminated. The book is at times awash in such details, and this reader could have used at least one fewer reference to the propaganda ministers sonorous baritone pp. It is well written and helpful is understanding the many sides of this complex man. Toby thacker this book is an insightful new biography of joseph goebbels, propaganda minister of the third reich and one of the most important and troubling figures of the twentieth century.
This book is a good description of his life, family, ambition and his dedication to hitler. Named one of the best books of the year by the telegraph from renowned german holocaust historian peter longerich comes the definitive. Aug 15, 2016 goebbels was a good actor, says brunhilde pomsel in the trailer for a german life. A riveting and groundbreaking biography of joseph goebbels, nazi propaganda minister and one of hitlers closest confidants. Paul joseph goebbels was born on 29 october 1897 in rheydt, an industrial town south of monchengladbach near dusseldorf. What are the best biography or books about joseph goebbels. He had become chancellor of germany after adolf hitler s suicide one day earlier, on april 30, as the nazi state was collapsing. Joseph goebbels has 90 books on goodreads with 3349 ratings. List of illustrations acknowledgements a note on translation introduction 1this awful waiting 2starting to.
As a permanent memorial to his oldest daughter josephine 19631999, david irving invites you to accept this free download of his biography of hitlers propaganda minister dr joseph goebbels, the first work to be based on the longlost diaries of the minister which mr irving retrieved from the former kgb archives in moscow. Joseph goebbels was born as paul joseph goebbels in monchengladbach on 29 october 1897. In life, and in the grisly manner of his death, joseph goebbels was one of adolf hitlers most loyal acolytes. Though powerful in the party and in wartime germany, longerichs goebbels is a man dogged by insecurities and consumed by his fierce adherence to the nazi cause. In this comprehensive volume, peter longerich documents goebbels descent into antisemitism and ideology and ascent through the ranks of the nazi party, where he became an integral member hitlers inner circle and where he shaped a brutal campaign of nazi propaganda. To tell the story of goebbelsa leading architect of nazi.
The first account to use all of goebbels surviving diaries, it sheds new light on his personality, private life and political convictions, as well as his relationship with hitler. Joseph goebbels served as minister of propaganda for the german third reich under adolf hitler, and as german chancellor for a day. The book presents an account and analysis of the life of nazi propaganda minister joseph goebbels, with extensive material from his diary which he kept from 1923 to 1945. Nowadays, many people think that the dangers of fascism have long been overcome. The book presents an account and analysis of the life of nazi propaganda minister joseph goebbels.
Joseph goebbels quotes 9 quotes quotes of famous people. From renowned german holocaust historian peter longerich comes the definitive onevolume biography of adolf hitlers malevolent minister of propaganda. An insightful new biography of joseph goebbels, propaganda minister of the third reich and one of the most important and troubling figures. Brunhilde pomsel got closer to one of the worst criminals in world history than anyone else presently alive. The diaries of joseph goebbels, and diaries, and more on. Both of his parents were roman catholics with modest family backgrounds. Life and death by toby thacker 2009, paperback at the best online prices at ebay. Joseph goebbels 18971945, was the reich minister of propaganda of nazi germany. This book follows the trail of goebbels from a devout roman catholic family to an apostate monster who seemed to worship hitler and who committed suicide and murdered his wife and several children at the very end. Longerichs account of joseph goebbels is a wellwritten and concise presentation of the life of one of the 3rd reichs top men. Her life mirrors the major historical ruptures of the 20th century. Magda goebbels wife of nazi joseph goebbels lived the last decade and a half of her life among the third reichs leadership a few years later, he declared. Joseph goebbels s most popular book is the goebbels diaries, 19391941.
Ever since it was published more than 150 years ago, louisa may alcotts classic novel about the four march sisters, meg, jo, beth, and amy, has been revered and adored for its portrait of american life, its depiction of growing from adolescence into maturity, its exploration of the bonds among the siblings at the heart of the story, and its. New biography details life of goebbels war history online. I recommend this book for you joseph goebbels coming generations will ask themselves how it was possible that millions of people, victims of an artificially induced enthusiasm, could be moved to do the very things which led to their own. Joseph goebbels books list of books by author joseph goebbels. In life and in his grisly family suicide, goebbels was one of hitlers most. From frustrated writer to narcissistic nazi womaniser, a life of goebbels shows us a man in need of recognition especially from his fuhrer. His father, friedrich goebbels, was a bookkeeper and his mother was maria goebbels born oldenhausen. A german life is likely to be the last new movie of its kind.
Biographie by longerich following its publication, goebbels estate sued publisher random house, because. Peter longerich, the author of several important books on the history of nazi germany and the founder. Fests biography of hitler as one of the key sources of information for those interested in understanding the personalities and events that brought about the advent of the third reich and all the horrendous events that it spawned. May 05, 2015 this book also reveals, as never before, goebbelss twisted personal lifehis mawkish sentimentality, manipulative nature, and voracious sexual appetite. Joseph goebbels and his wife poisoned their six children and killed themselves on may 1, 1945. Feb 14, 2019 i recommend this book for you joseph goebbels coming generations will ask themselves how it was possible that millions of people, victims of an artificially induced enthusiasm, could be moved to do the very things which led to their own. Expertly tracing his early life and beginnings in the nazi party, through his work to bring the party to power and his tenure as propaganda minister, to his wartime work to shore up the home front, thackers research will astound while the narrative itself is. The key longerich chooses to unlock goebbelss life is a species of psychoanalysis. Goebbels devoted much of his journal to describing his emotions banal, love life promiscuous, and marriage dysfunctional. He was certainly a good propagandist, almost as good as our present administration. He was one of adolf hitler s closest and most devoted associates, and was known for his skills in public speaking and his deeply virulent. Goebbels was a dreadful man though a family mana dichotomy. Apr 27, 2020 joseph goebbels and his wife poisoned their six children and killed themselves on may 1, 1945. Life and death is a good study of one of the most powerful figures of the third reich.
The story is well told but it is like sucking lemons not a pleasure but bitter and educational in that we should recognize the. After graduating from heidelberg university in 1922 with a doctorate in german philology, goebbels pursued literary, dramatic, and journalistic efforts, writing an expressionist novel in diary form in the 1920s. As is his custom, longerich modern german historyroyal holloway univ. Yet he was hitlers top enforcer, in charge of the gestapo, the ss, and the socalled final solution. Books by joseph goebbels author of the goebbels diaries. How could the son of a prosperous bavarian catholic public servant become the organizer of a system. Harald, hedwig johanna, heidrun elisabeth, helga susanne, helmut christian, hildegard traudel, holdine kathrin. Aug 02, 2019 joseph goebbels served as minister of propaganda for the german third reich under adolf hitler, and as german chancellor for a day. Joseph goebbelss most popular book is the goebbels diaries, 19391941. Often, end of life statements such as these are suffused with a sense of guilt. This book also reveals, as never before, goebbels s twisted personal life his mawkish sentimentality, manipulative nature, and voracious sexual appetite. Goebbelss path to his death in the bunker below the ruins of hitlers chancellery began in 1924, when he became a founding member of a chapter of the national socialist workers party in his.
She used to work as secretary and stenographer for the nazipropaganda minister joseph goebbels. This book, he writes, is the product of a double process. This book is a must for anybody interested in hitlers germany and the origins of the holocaust. Joseph goebbels was obsessed by fear hitler was sleeping. Despite the claims here, the burnings were not a spontaneous act on the part of the german students association, the name taken by the nazi student group of the university of berlin but a carefully planned and orchestrated event carried out by the association and nazi private police. Joseph goebbels simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. From renowned german holocaust historian peter longerich comes the. We can only wonder, as biographer peter longerich asks, how could such a banal personality attain such a historically unique position of power. Although not yet involved in politics, goebbels, in common with most of his contemporaries.
In a german life, goebbelss secretary explains her. Paul joseph goebbels was a german nazi politician and reich minister of propaganda of nazi germany from 1933 to 1945. Born on october 29, 1897, in rheydt, germany, joseph goebbels served as minister of propaganda for the nazi german government of the third reich, and is generally held responsible for. This book is an insightful new biography of joseph goebbels, propaganda minister of the third reich and one of the most important and troubling figures of the twentieth century. Joseph goebbels books list of books by author joseph. Due to an illness in his childhood in 1901, goebbels right foot was malformed and he was 165 cm 5 ft 5 in. As goebbels, in an early, mawkish piece, wrote, all modern artistsare to a greater or lesser degree insanelike all of us who have active minds. A life, 2012 draws on psychology to characterize goebbels as a classic narcissist. A new biography of dr joseph goebbels has been written and published by historian peter longerich. May 17, 2015 goebbelss path to his death in the bunker below the ruins of hitlers chancellery began in 1924, when he became a founding member of a chapter of the national socialist workers party in his. It details these events through the eyes of goebbels as recorded in his diaries, while at the same time providing a personal history of goebbels life. This book provides an inside view of the events during the rise of the third reich from its beginning to the end of ww ii.