Joseph Goebbels

Home > ... > People > History > German History: Biographies > ...

Joseph Goebbels

The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition | 2008 | The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. Copyright 2008 Columbia University Press. (Hide copyright information) Copyright

Joseph Goebbels (Paul Joseph Goebbels) , 1897-1945, German National Socialist propagandist. He was kept out of the service in World War I by a clubfoot. After graduating from the Univ. of Heidelberg (Ph.D., 1921), be began a journalistic career and wrote some unsuccessful novels. He joined the National Socialist, or Nazi, party and worked with Gregor Strasser, who controlled the party in N Germany. As the split between Hitler and Strasser developed, he switched his loyalty to Hitler and was appointed (1926) district party leader in Berlin, where he founded a new organ for party propaganda, Der Angriff [ Attack ]. By exploiting mob emotions and by employing all modern methods of propaganda he helped Hitler into power. In 1928, Goebbels was elected to the Reichstag, and when Hitler seized power in 1933 he made Goebbels propaganda minister. This position gave him complete control over radio, press, cinema, and theater; later he also regimented all German culture. Goebbels placed his undeniable intelligence and his brilliant insight into mass psychology entirely at the service of his party. His most virulent propaganda was against the Jews. As a hypnotic orator he was second only to Hitler, and in his staging of mass meetings and parades he was unsurpassed. Utterly cynical, he seems to have believed only in the self-justification of power. He remained loyal to Hitler until the end; in Apr., 1945, he killed his family and himself while Berlin was falling to Soviet troops.

Bibliography: See The Early Goebbels Diaries 1925-1926, ed. by H. Heiber (1963); The Goebbels Diaries, 1942-43, ed. and tr. by L. P. Lochner (1948, repr. 1970); The Secret Conferences of Dr. Goebbels: The Nazi Propaganda War, 1939-43, ed. by W. A. Boelcke (tr. 1970); biographies by R. Manvell and H. Fraenkel (1960), H. Heiber (tr. 1972), and R. G. Reuth (tr. 1993); studies by E. K. Bramsted (1965), R. Lemmons (1994), and F. Moeller (tr. 2000); L. Hachmeister, dir., The Goebbels Experiment (documentary film, 2005).

Hide all research tools
Print this article Print all entries for this topic Cite this article Link to this article
Link to this article

CloseClose

Create a link to this page

Copy and paste this link tag into your Web page or blog:

<a href="http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/.aspx#1E1-Goebbels" title="Facts and information about Joseph Goebbels">Joseph Goebbels</a>

Add this article to Del.icio.usBookmark this article on DiigoShare this article on FacebookSubmit this article to RedditGive this article a thumbs-up on StumbleUpon
Show all research tools

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

  • MLA
  • Chicago
  • APA

"Joseph Goebbels." The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. 29 Nov. 2009 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"Joseph Goebbels." The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. (November 29, 2009). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-Goebbels.html

"Joseph Goebbels." The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2008. Retrieved November 29, 2009 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-Goebbels.html

Learn more about citation styles

Goebbels, Joseph

A Dictionary of Contemporary World History | 2004 | | © A Dictionary of Contemporary World History 2004, originally published by Oxford University Press 2004. (Hide copyright information) Copyright

Goebbels, Joseph (b. 29 Oct. 1897, d. 1 May 1945). Nazi propaganda minister 1933–45 After finishing his studies in literature, art history, and philosophy with a doctorate, he joined the Nazi Party in 1924, and was made the party leader of the Berlin and Brandenburg area in 1926, when he demonstrated his exceptional talents for demagoguery. In 1929 Hitler made him the party head of propaganda. As Minister of Public Enlightenment and Propaganda, through skilful use of new means of mass communication (radio and film) he created a cult around Hitler and the myth of his infallibility. Whereas until 1939 he was careful to demonstrate the new glory of Nazi Germany to Germans and the international community alike, after the defeat of Stalingrad in early 1943 especially he successfully aroused stiff defiance and a stubborn belief amongst Germans that ultimately Hitler would overcome the enemy. He committed suicide after witnessing Hitler's own suicide hours before.

Hide all research tools
Print this article Print all entries for this topic Cite this article Link to this article
Link to this article

CloseClose

Create a link to this page

Copy and paste this link tag into your Web page or blog:

<a href="http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/.aspx#1O46-GoebbelsJoseph" title="Facts and information about Joseph Goebbels">Joseph Goebbels</a>

Add this article to Del.icio.usBookmark this article on DiigoShare this article on FacebookSubmit this article to RedditGive this article a thumbs-up on StumbleUpon
Show all research tools

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

  • MLA
  • Chicago
  • APA

JAN PALMOWSKI. "Goebbels, Joseph." A Dictionary of Contemporary World History. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. 29 Nov. 2009 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

JAN PALMOWSKI. "Goebbels, Joseph." A Dictionary of Contemporary World History. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. (November 29, 2009). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O46-GoebbelsJoseph.html

JAN PALMOWSKI. "Goebbels, Joseph." A Dictionary of Contemporary World History. 2004. Retrieved November 29, 2009 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O46-GoebbelsJoseph.html

Learn more about citation styles

Goebbels, (Paul) Joseph

World Encyclopedia | 2005 | © World Encyclopedia 2005, originally published by Oxford University Press 2005. (Hide copyright information) Copyright

Goebbels, (Paul) Joseph (1897–1945) German Nazi leader. He joined the Nazi Party in 1924, and in 1926 founded the newspaper Der Angriff. When the Nazis came to power in 1933, he became minister of propaganda. He took total control of the media, which he exploited to support Nazi aims. He committed suicide with his entire family in April 1945.

Hide all research tools
Print this article Print all entries for this topic Cite this article Link to this article
Link to this article

CloseClose

Create a link to this page

Copy and paste this link tag into your Web page or blog:

<a href="http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/.aspx#1O142-GoebbelsPaulJoseph" title="Facts and information about Joseph Goebbels">Joseph Goebbels</a>

Add this article to Del.icio.usBookmark this article on DiigoShare this article on FacebookSubmit this article to RedditGive this article a thumbs-up on StumbleUpon
Show all research tools

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

  • MLA
  • Chicago
  • APA

"Goebbels, (Paul) Joseph." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 29 Nov. 2009 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"Goebbels, (Paul) Joseph." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (November 29, 2009). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-GoebbelsPaulJoseph.html

"Goebbels, (Paul) Joseph." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Retrieved November 29, 2009 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-GoebbelsPaulJoseph.html

Learn more about citation styles

Related topics

  Edit this list

Related articles from newspapers, magazines, and more

Dr Goebbels: the man who made Hitler? Robert Pearce investigates the career of the Third Reich's 'evil genius'.(PROFILES IN POWER)(Joseph Goebbels, Adolf Hitler)(Biography)
Magazine article from: History Review; 9/1/2008; ; 700+ words ; Dr Joseph Goebbels was probably the greatest propagandist...different. Paradoxically, the more ably Goebbels performed this work the less significant...ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The Love Affair Paul Joseph Goebbels was born on 29 October 1897 in the...
OBITUARY: Fritz Hippler Nazi film director under Joseph Goebbels
Newspaper article from: The Independent - London; 10/18/2002; ; 700+ words ; ...he oversaw film production in Joseph Goebbels' Ministry for Popular Enlightenment...directed by Veit Harlan, who, said Goebbels, had rewritten it "marvellously...job helping out on newsreels. Joseph Goebbels, since 1933 Adolf Hitler's...
When Fritz Lang met Joseph Goebbels
Newspaper article from: The Independent - London; 5/25/1996; ; 542 words ; ...Republic, had been summoned by Dr Joseph Goebbels of the Third Reich. The interview...film. Lang was alarmed. Recently Goebbels had spoken to producers about the...ancestry on his mother's side. Goebbels noted that such a drawback might...
That's Killing.(comedy on Joseph Goebbels)(Brief Article)
Magazine article from: Newsweek; 6/12/2000; 398 words ; ...slapstick comedy about Nazi propaganda minister Joseph Goebbels, the first German Third Reich comedy. In the made-for-TV movie called "Goebbels und Geduldig," Harry Geduldig is Goebbels's perfect look-alike. Jewish and imprisoned...
Privatising history: Nazi diaries. (diaries of Joseph Goebbels)
Magazine article from: The Economist (US); 7/11/1992; 700+ words ; ...two rows concerns the diaries of Joseph Goebbels, Hitler's "minister of enlightenment...have acquired the copyright from Goebbels's stepson; and David Irving...transcription of the diaries (Goebbels had them copied in miniature on...
At WTO, Brazil accuses rich countries of deception akin to Joseph Goebbels
News Wire article from: AP Worldstream; 7/19/2008; ; 597 words ; ...reminiscent of Nazi propaganda chief Joseph Goebbels. Excuse me for quoting the author...manufacturers and service providers. Goebbels used to say if you repeat a lie...industrial markets. I am reminded of Goebbels, he said. Amorim arrived in Geneva...
Der bunker. (a World War II bunker built for Nazi minister Joseph Goebbels is discovered during excavation of a site planned for a Holocaust memorial)(Brief Article)
Magazine article from: U.S. News & World Report; 2/9/1998; 387 words ; Berlin authorities last week identified a World War II bunker as having been built for Nazi propaganda minister Joseph Goebbels. Workmen found it near the site of a planned memorial to the Holocaust. No decision has been made on whether to...
'The Goebbels Experiment': insight into Third Reich's #2 man
Newspaper article from: Cleveland Jewish News; 1/13/2006; ; 700+ words ; ...that decision after viewing "The Goebbels Experiment," a documentary having...disparate parts together. "The Goebbels Experiment" is different. Accompanying...sole "talking head/narrator": Joseph Goebbels, Hitler's mastermind propaganda...
`Goebbels' explores twisted mind.(Arts and Lifestyle)
Newspaper article from: The Boston Herald; 11/11/2005; ; 596 words ; Byline: CHELSEA BAIN "The Goebbels Experiment." Not rated. In German...Germany began to form on the horizon, Joseph Goebbels was lurking in the shadows. Hitler...thought throughout his country. "The Goebbels Experiment," a unique, delicately...
Irving's `Goebbels' -- No Need to Be Timid
Newspaper article from: The Washington Post; 6/4/1996; ; 700+ words ; ...to all extents, banned book, "Goebbels." It was to be published in this...massive (80,000 pages) diaries of Joseph Goebbels, the Nazis' propaganda minister...up to. This book all but blames Goebbels for the Holocaust. In Irving...

Pictures from Google Image Search

Click to see an enlarged picture
Click to see an enlarged picture
Click to see an enlarged picture

For students and teachers!

Encyclopedia.com provides students and teachers facts, information, and biographies from verified, citable sources, including:

Encyclopedia.com provides students and teachers facts, information, and biographies from verified, citable sources, including:

Current Joseph Goebbels News:

Cruise's Lawyer Rips Dr. Drew

(6/13/2008 4:20:01 PM)