Born Paul
Joseph Goebbels in 1897, the infamous Doctor was actually a PhD that graduated from Heidelberg University after writing his thesis on the subject of 19
th century romantic drama. He was a writer for many years and it is likely his creative skills that made him such a powerful man behind the Nazi propaganda machine. Goebbels discovered the Nazi Party in 1923 and joined in 1924, where he was able to share and use his hatred of capitalism and communists to his advantage. By 1928, he was one of the most notorious members of the Nazi Party.
In 1933 when Hitler rose to power, Goebbels rose with him. He was appointed the Minister of Propaganda, and started his position by burning books. He overtook the country and gained total control over arts, media and information in Germany during Hitler's rule. From the beginning, Goebbels was hell-bent on attacking the Jews, as he saw them to be the biggest problem in the country. This includes his organization of the boycott of Jewish businesses that took place on April 1, 1933.
Joseph Goebbels also participated in the
Night of Broken Glass, which is said to be the night that the Holocaust turned from simple discrimination to serious murder. He also helped produced many anti-Semitic films and books to make sure that people knew everything they needed to know according to Nazi beliefs. He was infamous with his modern propaganda techniques to get people on Hitler's side and convince them that war against the Jews was not only necessary, but the solution to Germany's problems.
Goebbels spurred propaganda and is actually held responsible alongside
Adolf Hitler for giving the term the negative connotation that it has today. Until the Holocaust, the term 'propaganda' was rather neutral in its meaning. He was very intelligent and had a way with words that allowed people to fall into what he said with ease. He fueled Hitler's propaganda machine right up until the very end. In fact, his late speeches and writings seemed rather apocalyptic, making the Holocaust out to be a 'world-ending' event rather than just the tragedy it is known as today.
Goebbels was appointed chancellor after Hitler committed suicide in 1945, but he only had one act as a leader. He dictated a letter that was to be delivered to the Soviets under a white flag on May 1
st, and then later that day he had his six children killed before he and his wife committed suicide.